Frequently Asked Questions

	1. What is XrML?
	2. What is the goal of XrML?
	3. Is XrML a standard?
	4. Do I need a license to use XrML and digital rights languages?
	5. Is there a fee associated with using XrML?
	6. Why should I use XrML to specify rights and conditions?
	7. Is XrML a complex language to use?
	8. How big is an XrML license?
	9. Do you have a tool to help me use XrML?
	10. Is Microsoft a supporter of XrML?
	11. Who else supports XrML?
	12. How will the industry benefit from XrML?
	13. How does XrML fit in with a digital rights management system?
	14. Where can I learn more about XrML?
	15. Where can I get technical support for XrML?
	16. Who else can I contact for more information about XrML?
	17. How can I provide feedback on XrML?
	18. What about future releases of XrML from standards bodies like OASIS & MPEG?
1.	What is XrML?
	The eXtensible rights Markup LanguageTM (XrMLTM) is a general-purpose, XML-based specification grammar for expressing rights and conditions associated with digital content, services, or any digital resource.
2.	What is the goal of XrML?
	The goal of XrML is to expand the usefulness of digital content, resources, and web services to rights holders, technology developers, service providers and users by providing a flexible, extensible, and interoperable industry standard language that is platform, media, and format independent.
3.	Is XrML a standard?
	ContentGuard Inc. submitted XrML 2.0 in November 2001 to the MPEG working group (ISO/IEC) for consideration in response to their Call for Proposals for a Rights Data Dictionary and Rights Description Language. After an intensive challenge and response process, XrML was selected as the basis for MPEG-21 REL (Rights Expression Language.) MPEG-21 REL, based on XrML, is expected to achieve Final Committee Draft status in 1Q2003 and to become an international standard in 3Q2003. XrML has been selected by the Open eBook Rights and Rules Working Group (RRWG) as the rights expression language for its Rights Grammar specification. ContentGuard contributed XrML to the OASIS Rights Language Technical Committee as a foundation for their development of a rights language standard. XrML was also submitted to the TV Anytime Forum in response to their Call for Requirements for Content Referencing, Meta Data and Rights Management. In addition, ContentGuard is working with several other standards bodies and intends to propose XrML to each of them as they issue requirements for a Rights Language. ContentGuard's vision is to have a single rights language that is open, extensible, and meets everyone's needs regardless of industry, platform, media type, or format of business model.
4.	Do I need a license to use XrML and digital rights languages?
	ContentGuard has a portfolio of patented technologies in the area of digital rights management, among other things. They are not specific to XrML. Claims in the patents cover the distribution and use of digital works and the use of a grammar in connection with the distribution of digital works. You may need to be licensed to use XrML in a context covered by the patents. You can contact ContentGuard at licensing@contentguard.com.
5.	Is there a fee associated with using XrML?
	There is no fee to obtain the XrML specification and schema. However, if you use XrML in a context covered by the ContentGuard patents, then there may be a fee. You need to contact ContentGuard at licensing@contentguard.com to discuss if you need a license for your proposed use. ContentGuard will license its patents throughout the world on reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms and conditions.
6.	Why should I use XrML to specify rights and conditions?
	There are many benefits to using XrML to specify rights and conditions. Here's a partial list of technical benefits: XrML is precise and unambiguous. Inherits the benefits of using XML (flexibility, extensibility, namespaces, aliases, schemas, etc.) Leverages other standards to specify digital signatures, digital identifiers, content metadata, etc. Supports digital products and Web services Defines entities to allow interoperability across multiple systems and applications It's independent of media type, format, and platform and delivery architecture It's secure - all XrML labels and licenses are digitally signed. Has tools available now to assist with development Privides a comprehensive framework for specifying rights (tools, documentation, examples, tutorials, use cases, etc.)
7.	Is XrML a complex language to use?
	No. XrML is a comprehensive rights language that addresses both simple and complex business models. If you are solving a simple business model with only one right, e.g., play, and only two conditions, e.g., a fixed time period and a specific username, then XrML can specify such logic with a few lines of XML. However, if you have a complex business model that, for example, requires you to verify a person's subscription status, check for the most recent version of a document, or allow the loaning of a digital work, then XrML provides the more advanced syntax to express the more complex business models.
8.	How big is an XrML license?
	The size of the license varies depending on the simplicity of the business case. A typical size ranges from 3 Kbytes to 6 Kbytes. This does not include the overhead of specifying digital signatures and encryption keys.
9.	Do you have a tool to help me use XrML?
	Yes. We have an XrML SDK to help you create, manipulate, and validate XrML. In addition, the XrML SDK allows you to plug-in your own custom XrML interpretation modules. The size of the SDK is about 600 Kbytes not including the XML parser, the custom interpretation plug-ins and the documentation. Find out more about the XrML SDK at www.contentguard.com.
10.	Is Microsoft a supporter of XrML?
	Yes. Microsoft has stated publicly that it plans to use XrML in its own products and services. Microsoft has also stated that a rights language is the best way to express usage rights and promote interoperability amongst different systems.
11.	Who else supports XrML?
	XrML's wide support is evidenced by the many companies participating in the MPEG-21 and OASIS Rights Language Technical Committee ("RLTC") to create standards based on XrML. These include IBM, HP, Cisco, Verisign, Universal Music Group, among many others. Currently, there are several products using or planning to use XrML from companies such as Microsoft, Sony, Zinio, OverDrive, Integrated Management Concepts, DMDsecure and Contents Works. These companies are a group of early adopters who are using XrML in their own systems or services.
12.	How will the industry benefit from XrML?
	Here are some key benefits for the industry: Provides a standard, robust rights language to help expand business models and solve problems in the management of digital rights Enables interoperability between multiple system components based on information contained in XrML licenses Enables the creation of new revenue streams based on the ability to control the use and access of digital content and services across simple or complex value chains Enables eContent/eService initiatives to proceed with less concern about locking a business model into a proprietary approach, or to a vendor with an uncertain future, since it is extensible and flexible and can easily be used for any purpose, thereby minimizing the cost of change Allows the pursuit of enhanced business initiatives that combine digital products and Web Services to take advantage of the future of ubiquitous connectivity
13.	How does XrML fit in with a digital rights management system?
	XrML, as a language for specifying rights and conditions, is a core component of a digital rights management system (DRM). It expands the capabilities of the DRM system and brings to it features often missing in proprietary implementations. If you already have a DRM system in place, then the DRM system would have to be modified to take advantage of XrML.
14.	Where can I learn more about XrML?
	The official home for XrML is www.xrml.org. You can find specifications, schemas, examples, white papers and presentations dedicated to XrML.
15.	Where can I get technical support for XrML?
	You can contact us at questions@xrml.org
16.	Who else can I contact for more information about XrML?
	You can contact us at info@xrml.org
17.	How can I provide feedback on XrML?
	You are encouraged to provide feedback on XrML by visiting our feedback page.
18.	What about future releases of XrML from standards bodies like OASIS & MPEG?
	ContentGuard will freeze its releases of XrML at Release 2.0. Future releases and upgrades will be issued by OASIS and MPEG consistent with the XrML architecture and design intent. The releases will be built on a common XrML core and Standard extension. More specific extensions (e.g. for Media Content) will be released by each standards body consistent with their requirement.