Abstract: The invention relates to a system and to a method for cost-effectively creating and distributing copy-protected and utilization-protected electronic audio and video media and their data contents, whereby the data contents of the electronic media are encrypted in such a way that they cannot be completely played or displayed without the execution of cryptographic processes at the recipient who is authorized within a certain scope of utilization and in such a way that, if the electronic media are transferred to third parties, complete playback is not possible at all or else not without once again carrying out appropriate cryptographic processes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and to a method for playing copy-protected and utilization-protected electronic audio and video media and their data contents, whereby the data contents of the electronic media are encrypted in such a way they cannot be completely played or displayed without the execution of cryptographic processes. According to the invention, this objective is achieved in that, for playing purposes, a playback unit decrypts the data contents of electronic audio and video media that are supplied in entirely or partially encrypted or enciphered form by means of one or more “melody” keys for encrypting the data contents, said key being transmitted via a secure channel from an authentic source into the playback unit, and then said playback unit transfers these data contents from the digital domain into the analog domain in such a way that the data contents of the electronic audio and video media are not present at any point in time in unencrypted form as a digital data stream that can be copied.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cryptographic module for storing and playing copy-protected and utilization-protected electronic audio and video media at a recipient, whereby the recipient's legitimate scope of utilization is regulated and enforced by the module. According to the invention, this objective is achieved in that the cryptographic module at the recipient completely or partially decrypts or deciphers encrypted or enciphered data contents of electronic audio and video media or else keys for decrypting these data contents—while observing the utilization rights and utilization conditions—and subsequently re-encrypts or re-enciphers them for purposes of storage or playback in such a way that license fees can be charged based on the utilization.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and to a method for copy-protected and utilization-protected encryption and decryption, transmission and storage of electronic audio and video media, whereby the data contents of the electronic media are processed, modulated and encrypted in such a way that their complete playback or display requires the execution of cryptographic decryption processes at the recipient who is authorized within a certain scope of utilization, and that, already during the encryption, it is possible to dynamically define the extent by which the display and playback quality as well as the utilization possibilities will be diminished if such cryptographic decryption processes are not carried out.