Patent ID: 7499550

Claim:
A processor-implemented method of protecting a title key for a recordable media content in a secure distribution system, comprising: creating an encrypted content and title key package by encrypting the title key along with the recordable media content; transmitting the encrypted content and title key package to a media recording device; extracting an encrypted title key from the encrypted content and title key package; obtaining a media key block and a media ID from a physical media; transmitting the encrypted title key, a digest of the media key block, and the media ID to a clearinghouse server utilizing a title key decryption and encryption module, wherein the clearinghouse server does not pre-store the title key which comprises an underlying title key upon which a plurality of encrypted title keys, including the encrypted title key, are based; wherein the title key decryption and encryption module determines whether or not a complete media key block corresponding to the digest of the media key block has been previously seen by the title key decryption and encryption module and, if so, the title key decryption and encryption module utilizing the previously seen media block; and, if the complete media key block corresponding to the digest of the media key block has not been previously seen by the title key decryption and encryption module, then the title key decryption and encryption module requesting the complete media key block from the media recording device; decrypting the encrypted title key; deriving a unique media key for the physical media; creating a re-encrypted title key by encrypting the title key with the unique media key; and transmitting the re-encrypted title key to the media recording device to record on the physical media with the recordable media content.