Tech companies launch SeeQVault drm for videos on mobile devices

Panasonic, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba have joined forces with the SeeQVault standard, a DRM-protected technology that should make it possible, among other things, to copy TV recordings on a set-top box to a mobile device.

Asian electronics manufacturers have been working on the new DRM mechanism since 2011. SeeQVault is primarily intended for media storage on flash media, TechRadar reports. For example, video recordings can be written to SD cards and USB sticks, but also embedded flash memory in a mobile phone. The video data that is written is stored encrypted in a proprietary file format. SeeQVault-compatible equipment, such as mobiles and tablets running on Android or Windows Phone, should then be able to play the videos, with support for UHD video content to be added to the standard soon. SeeQVault also provides DRM mechanisms.

Panasonic, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba have rallied behind SeeQVault technology. The first devices that are compatible with the standard are now being delivered in Japan and in the short term, Blu-ray players with an SD card reader, TVs and mobile devices must comply with the standard. However, Apple is not participating in the initiative that prevents iOS devices from working with SeeQVault content.

In addition to the Japanese market, the four electronics manufacturers also want to offer the technology in Europe and the US next year. In addition, the parties are still negotiating with content providers. For example, it remains to be seen whether consumers will be given the option of copying a Blu-ray film to an SD card so that it can be viewed on the road. So far, no permission has been given for this by the content industry.