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Unveiled earlier this year in an effort to claim some of the web content delivery territory dominated by Adobe's Flash, Silverlight already has mechanisms for protecting content, including streaming playlists, authentication, authorisation and encryption. The DRM will provide an additional level of restrictions that content providers can apply and is based on Microsoft's established Windows Media 10 PlayReady technology.

Details are scant, not least because Microsoft puts the onus on determining the extent of the DRM's reach onto the content provider. Among those who have already said they are prepared to deploy it are Nokia.

"In March we announced that we would bring Silverlight

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to S60, as well as our Series 40 and maemo platforms," said Lee Williams, senior vice president, Nokia Devices Software. "We have also been working with Microsoft for some time on digital rights management. The combination of Silverlight and PlayReady further extends business and monetisation opportunities for the industry and raises the bar for rich, interactive consumer experiences."

Unsurprisingly, Hollywood is also keen. According to Alan Bell, executive vice president and chief technology officer of Paramount Pictures, DRM will benefit internet users.

"As the dynamics of content distribution continue to accelerate toward the Internet, we need a flexible technology platform that allows us to explore a broad scope of business models and rich user experiences," he said. "Microsoft is bringing nearly a decade of heritage in DRM and content access to the table to deliver a solution with a strong technology foundation - allowing us to provide legal alternatives to our audiences enabling them to consume our content in whatever browser or platform they prefer."

Adobe added DRM support to Flash with the release of Flash Media Server 3 late last year. The technology is deployed by the BBC to run its iPlayer streams. ITV's Catch Up service, by contrast, uses Silverlight.