LEAP

Sentinel LDK 7.5

Sentinel LDK is an out-of-the-box software monetization solution combining IP protection, licensing, and entitlement management.

The new features and improvements introduced with this release are as below:

• Enhanced Support on Android – Protect native and Java Android applications with the comprehensive licensing options offered with Sentinel LDK.
• Enhanced Support on Linux – Generate Sentinel HL as well as Sentinel SL protection keys on Linux ARM based platforms.
• EMS support for browsers without Java Runtime Environment – Following the removal of Java support from many popular web browsers, EMS can now be used without it, utilizing the LDK Runtime Environment instead.
• New Clone Protection Scheme for Virtual Machines – Assure additional security for running protected applications in virtual environments. The new VMType2 protection scheme prevents attacks (again a protected application) that are based on virtual machine rollback snapshots. The scheme enables the protected application on a virtual machine to detect that a time shift event may have occurred.
• Enhanced Video Content Protection – Increase the user base of your protected solutions by additional support of MP4 file protection which are played with HTML5.
• Alert for Battery Depletion of Vendor Keys – Proactively order a new Master or Developer key and continue business as usual without having any down-time while generating licenses or performing any Developer related activities.

Click here to learn more about Sentinel LDK, or download the latest version now!

Sentinel Fit 1.1

Sentinel Fit is the smallest footprint, secure licensing solution that combines software licensing with web-based entitlement management capabilities.

The new features and improvements introduced with this release are as below:

• Additional License Enforcement Options: Sentinel Fit licenses now offer protection by industry standard symmetrical AES cryptography in addition to the existing asymmetrical RSA cryptography.

• Ultra-Small Footprint Goes Even Smaller: Introduction of symmetric AES cryptography further reduces the licensing footprint size to 6.5KB Flash and 1.5KB of RAM as oppose to 34KB Flash and 13KB of RAM for asymmetric RSA cryptography.

Click here to learn more about Sentinel Fit and here to request a free trial.

Snell Chooses Sentinel for IP Protection and Licensing

The broadcast industry is rapidly changing. We need only look as far as over-the-top (OTT) services such as Hulu and Netflix to see that traditional billing models are in a state of disruption. Streaming video over the internet has become a popular alternative to traditional distribution channels, and the creation of that content requires a powerful set of software-based tools.

Snell, the world leader in broadcast and postproduction technology, is addressing these needs with Snell on Demand; a software framework that allows customers to run its image processing products on a per-use basis. We asked Jeremy Courtney, Business Leader at Snell, how the company went about licensing its new technology and protecting the valuable intellectual property contained in its source code.

LEAP: Snell is renowned for its high-quality media processing technology and has even won an Emmy award for its algorithms. At what point did the company realize it needed strong security to protect its intellectual property?

JC: Before we could offer our Quasar OD and Alchemist OD software commercially, we knew we had to protect our source code from reverse engineering and tampering. Our intellectual property is what differentiates our products, so it was critical that we have in place a licensing technology that offers maximum protection.

LEAP: How valuable is IP protection to Snell?

JC: It’s hard to quantify the ROI of implementing protection exactly, but if our IP was not protected and fell into the wrong hands, it could be financially devastating.

LEAP: Besides IP protection, what other requirements did Snell have when evaluating commercial software monetization solutions?

JC: We looked at various options for licensing and fulfilling software orders, and then managing them once in the field. It was important that our products could be ordered through the company’s online store and that the fulfilment and software activation process could be automated. It goes without saying that all licensing and enforcement operations had to be virtually invisible to the customer so as to ensure the best possible user experience. And because our increasingly digital-savvy customers want to consume media on different operating systems and devices, our ideal solution would also provide cross-platform support.

LEAP: Talk us through your choice of Gemalto Sentinel solutions.

JC: We needed to protect the intellectual property in our source code while offering and enforcing a variety of licensing models and packaging options for our products. Sentinel RMS did all that and more. It gave us the ability to easily enable or disable product features within our Snell on Demand software framework, saving us the added overhead of building custom hardware products.

LEAP: Snell also opted for our entitlement management solution, Sentinel EMS.

JC: That’s right. We use this to manage entitlements for our Quasar OD and Alchemist OD software, as well as back-office licensing operations such as fulfilment and activation. In fact, we integrated the Sentinel EMS license server with our Snell on Demand store to enable complete customer self-service; from online payment through upgrade. Gemalto even had the foresight to supply us with a Salesforce.com connector, ensuring future integration of Sentinel EMS with our CRM system.

LEAP: How has Snell benefitted from the integration of Sentinel RMS and Sentinel EMS?

JC: Sentinel has helped us in a number of ways; we are now able to protect our source code from reverse engineering and we can deploy our software packages easily and securely. It has eliminated the need for manual fulfilment processes, which not only saves us time, but also reduces operational costs and the potential for manual errors.
LEAP: What impact has this had on stakeholders in your organization?

JC: Our engineers use Sentinel RMS to protect the Snell on Demand software framework. At the same time, Sentinel enables product managers to decide which products to invest in, and how to package and price individual features.

LEAP: What were your expectations going into the licensing process and how does your experience of working with Gemalto compare?

JC: When we embarked on this process a year ago, I didn’t anticipate just how complex the licensing part of the project would be! Gemalto pre-sales staff helped us think through the problems we were trying to solve and then how to apply licensing so that there were no negative operational consequences downstream. They’re always thinking about the next step before it’s even an issue for us, so there is a solution ready to deploy as and when we need it.

LEAP: On balance, would you say that Snell has achieved what it set out to do?

JC: Indeed. Working with Gemalto, we’ve managed to secure our competitive advantage and grow our business through flexible and scalable licensing. Sentinel gives us the peace of mind that we aren’t leaving any money on the cutting room floor.

Passing the Torch

As summer draws to a close, Gemalto bids farewell to its CEO, Olivier Piou, who has served the company for the past 10 years. In his parting remarks, Piou lauded the combination of talent and teamwork that has enabled Gemalto to innovate and, ultimately, revolutionize the way consumers pay, bank, travel, and communicate. He also had high praise for his successor, Philippe Vallée, whom he describes as having a “visionary approach and superior skills” that will help prepare the company for its next phase of growth. Piou will continue to support Gemalto’s future expansion plans as a member of its Board of Directors.

Gemalto’s newly appointed CEO looks set to continue in the footsteps of his predecessor. Vallée shares the belief that human capital, as much as technology, makes Gemalto a leader in its field. He has stated that in our fast-paced world, where markets are rapidly converging, it is important to listen to the needs and challenges of customers in order to fuel investments and innovation. According to Vallée, the cornerstones of a successful business are agility, curiosity, and teamwork; core values he intends to promote during his tenure. He has stated that no further organizational changes are planned for the foreseeable future. Read the press release.

Monetizing the Med-Tech Market

Challenges within the med-tech industry have led to a rise in adoption of flexible usage-based business models. The Pay-Per-Use model enables independent physicians and small medical centers to access expensive equipment they otherwise could not afford, while keeping their capital expenditure low. The cost-saving benefits for all stakeholders are significant, opening up manufacturers to huge untapped markets.

Gemalto Sentinel is at the forefront of this evolution as it enables medical equipment manufacturers to extract the most value from the software embedded in their devices. To learn about our software monetization solutions for the med-tech market, visit the new medical section on our corporate website, which contains customer testimonials, case studies, presentations, and more. Click here to visit the page now!