Product information
- What is Adobe® Flash® Access?
- Adobe Flash Access software is a robust content protection solution that lets content owners, distributors, and advertisers realize new sources of revenue by providing seamless access to premium content. Flash Access supports a wide range of business models, including video on demand, rental, and electronic sell-through. You can distribute content protected with Flash Access by streaming through Flash Media Server, offering by progressive download via HTTP, or permitting downloads to a content library for local playback at the consumer's convenience.
- What is the difference between Flash Access and Flash Media Server in the area of content protection?
- Flash Media Server 3.5 software protects streaming content between server and client using encrypted RTMP (RTMPE). Flash Access is a complete digital rights management (DRM) solution based on persistent content protection and usage rules that can be enforced on the client.
- What’s new in Flash Access 2?
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The main features added to Flash Access 2 are:
- Support for Flash Player — Now, you can stream or progressively download protected content to an upcoming version of the most ubiquitous plug-in worldwide.
- Dynamic Streaming support — Flash Access can protect multiple bit-rate files streamed by Flash Media Server.
- Output protection for Windows® devices — Flash Access consistently enforces policies for analog and digital outputs across all platforms, but currently only Windows platforms can specifically turn on output protection when required.
- Availability as an SDK — This enables easier integration without requiring Adobe LiveCycle® software.
- Who will be interested in Adobe Flash Access?
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- Content owners — Film and television studios and online video content creators/producers
- Content distributors — Online video retailers and rental outlets, online broadcasters, and companies with a significant Internet media presence such as sports and entertainment sites
- Service providers — Companies that want to offer a secure hosted service for content distributors
- Organizations — Companies that want to deliver video content more securely to employees, partners, or students
- How can I monetize my video content with Flash Access?
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Content owners and publishers can use the software to generate revenue through a variety of business models:
- Advertising-funded — Flash Access supports advertising-funded business models. Working with other components of the Adobe Flash Platform, retailers and distributors can insert ads, overlays, and branding into their streamed, progressively downloaded, or downloaded content.
- Electronic sell-through/digital copy — Users can acquire content online (for example, after paying a fee or submitting an access code), download it to their computer, and play it back even if they are offline. Flash Access protects content from unauthorized redistribution.
- Rental/pay-per-view — Service providers may offer a rental model either as a standalone subscription or as a video-on-demand offering. Flash Access enforces viewing window restrictions so that content can be played only for a certain period of time.
- Are there other use cases for Flash Access besides distribution of entertainment content to consumers?
- Yes. Enterprises can use Flash Access to protect the integrity and privacy of their training or announcements delivered via video. Studios can use Flash Access to develop "e-screener" solutions allowing protected distribution of prerelease content to retailers, reducing costs and piracy. Educators can use Flash Access for training and remote curriculums. Service providers can deploy Flash Access as part of a white label offering to content owners.
- How will Flash Access integrate with my existing infrastructure?
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Flash Access is offered as a Java™ based SDK that provides a number of APIs, permitting seamless integration into your existing infrastructure.
- What will I need to run Flash Access?
- Java: Sun™ JDK 1.5, Hardware Security Module (HSM) recommended.
- What is the client software for Flash Access?
- Flash Access will work with an upcoming version of Adobe Flash Player as well as Adobe AIR®.
- How does Flash Access protect downloaded video content from being misused?
- You can use Flash Access to encrypt content before it is made available for distribution. Protected content can be accessed only on trusted devices. In addition, Flash Access enables checking user credentials.
- Does Flash Access support output protection?
- Yes. New in version 2, Flash Access supports digital and analog output protection technologies — including HDCP, CGMS-A, and Rovi (formerly Macrovision) ACP — for Windows platforms.
- What constraints on content usage can Flash Access enforce?
- Flash Access associates content with devices, so users cannot play content on devices that have not obtained a license. In addition, usage rules are tied to the content and are enforced by the client. For example, an end user renting content may be given the right to view content on his or her computer during a 72-hour playback window, after which time the content will no longer play. Flash Access also protects against deep linking by managing a white list of approved SWF or AIR applications. You can also define output protection controls for Windows devices to guard against recording. And you can set limits on how much end users can put their computer clocks backward, thwarting attempts to extend rental periods forever.
- How does Flash Access protect content from being pirated?
- Flash Access employs a number of security methods besides encryption. Flash Access associates usage rules with content, which can help limit piracy. For example, an end user renting content may be given the right to view content during a 72-hour playback window, after which time the content will no longer play. Flash Access also protects against deep linking by managing a white list of approved SWF or AIR applications. You can also define output protection controls for Windows devices.
- How does Flash Access integrate with existing end-user authentication and/or order management systems?
- You can use the SDK to integrate with any of your business logic, user authorization, and order management mechanisms, including those using Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP).
- Can content publishers control the look and feel of their content?
- Yes. Content publishers can incorporate protected content into their own Adobe AIR applications or deliver content to Flash Player. Both Flash Player and AIR support customizable interface elements and backgrounds, so content publishers can deliver content that coordinates with their brand.
- Can end users play content downloaded to their desktops even if they are offline?
- Yes, the content license may specify time-limited or open-ended offline playback. Content providers have the option of configuring Flash Access and the AIR application to download the license for the content together with the content, so no additional connection to the server is required to start the content playback.
- Can end users be required to "refresh" or check their license, even in an electronic sell-through model?
- Yes. Flash Access supports a license cache period on the client. You can require (invisible to the user) that the client periodically check their license with the License Server.
- How does revocation work?
- If a device is compromised and behaves in noncompliant ways, Adobe can revoke the key associated with that device. The revocation is propagated to all license servers so they won't issue licenses to revoked devices.
- Can an end-user license be limited to a particular computer?
- Yes. Content licenses are cryptographically bound to the specific device.
- Does Flash Access support domains?
- Yes. Flash Access supports binding content to a domain of devices, which can all share a license and content. Service providers can set the business rules that determine which devices can join the domain.
- Can end users access content anonymously?
- Yes, if the policy for the content states that the end user can be anonymous. If the end user must be identified, then the policy can, for example, specify an external authorization or authentication service. The Flash Access SDK lets developers create an interface between their existing end-user authorization/authentication mechanisms and the software.
- Does Flash Access support license chaining?
- Yes. For example, in the case of subscription models, if a user renews his or her subscription, Flash Access can update the root license for the user's device, which will automatically extend the validity period of all the leaf licenses associated with each piece of content.
- Is Flash Access approved by the studios?
- In general, studios approve content protection technologies in the context of a particular content distribution deal. Today, all major studios trust at least some of their content to content protection technologies provided by Adobe. We are working very closely with the major studios and other content owners to ensure that Flash Access is a trusted technology.
Support information
- What business rules does Flash Access support?
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Adobe supports a range of business rules or usage conditions consistent with established industry practices, including support for different business models such as advertising-supported, rental, and download-to-own. Specific rules that content owners can set include:
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- Time-limited playback, a set period of time (for example, 30 days) during which rental content is playable after being downloaded
- Time from playback, a limit on the amount of time end users have to finish watching content once they have started playing it (for example, 24 hours)
- Start date and end date
- Anonymous or user authenticated access
- Online and offline access for downloaded content
- Output protection (analog, digital, or both) for Windows devices
- Do I have to use Flash Media Server to deliver protected content?
- Content protected with Flash Access can be streamed with Flash Media Server, progressively downloaded via HTTP, or downloaded to a local content library on a user's desktop.
- What happens if the encryption on Flash Access is cracked?
- Adobe is committed to providing continued support for Flash Access to address any possible vulnerabilities. Flash Player and Adobe AIR runtimes support application and runtime updates, which can be required by the service provider before issuing additional licenses. The Flash Access client can be renewed proactively or in response to a vulnerability.
- When will Flash Access 2 be released?
- Flash Access is expected to be available in the first half of 2010.
