On guard

On guard

Xerox and Microsoft have joined forces to launch ContentGuard, Inc., a new Internet company that will deliver a comprehensive software system to protect books, documents, music, software and other valuable content distributed over the Web. The system gives publishers and authors more control over their digital material, thus allowing them unprecedented freedom and ability to innovate in the delivery and marketing of digital content to consumers. ContentGuard's technology, originally developed at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC),is the foundation for various products and services and is supported by an extensive portfolio of Xerox patents. Xerox will retain a majority stake in ContentGuard formerly the Xerox Rights Management Group. Microsoft will be a minority investor, and other investors are expected to be announced in the future. Microsoft Reader, the software that displays "e-books" on screen is the first product to incorporate the new technology.