Piracy Protection: Open Kernel Labs Eliminates Threat of IP Theft in Consumer Electronics Devices

May 14, 2008

OK Labs Secure HyperCell™ technology used by the Headplay Group of Companies to protect proprietary technology in set-top boxes for IPTV


CHICAGO – May 14, 2008 – Open Kernel Labs (OK Labs) announced today that the Headplay Group of Companies (Headplay), which specialize in visual entertainment and technology, has selected the OK Labs OKL4 open source secure virtualization software to safeguard Headplay’s software intellectual property (IP) in IPTV set-top boxes that will deliver HD content in Asia. OKL4 features Secure HyperCell™ technology that can be used to protect IP of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and technology providers from IP theft, including reverse engineering and piracy. This implementation showcases OK Labs Secure HyperCell technology for consumer electronics applications traditionally viewed as high risk to IP.

Headplay selected OK Labs OKL4 to protect its proprietary FreefallTM compression technology and to enable secure remote updates of the software over the Internet once the devices are deployed in the homes of millions of end users

“OK Labs Secure HyperCell technology represents a superior solution to protect our IP from theft,” said Headplay’s President, Kevin Greenwood. “OLK4 gives us the confidence to pursue a new market opportunity with assurances that our proprietary code will not be at risk and that we’ll be able to securely update the application in the field.”

According to a study by KPMG International and the Alliance for Gray Market and Counterfeit Abatement, one of every 10 tech products sold is counterfeit, leading to an estimated direct loss of more than $100 billion a year. As such, software and data security is a major concern of embedded software developers. Without appropriate security measures in place, proprietary software IP remains accessible to any hacker with access to the device on which the code is stored. This can lead to code theft, reverse engineering and system cloning which, in turn, can lead to major revenue loss.

OKL4 with Secure HyperCell technology provides an isolated environment where valuable codecs and other software can be protected. Using OKL4 as a trusted platform, developers can encapsulate critical components into individual cells. A Secure HyperCell environment protects contents in cells from the rest of the system and from unwanted communication with other cells, making it possible to protect valuable IP from unauthorized access.

“Already in millions of phones, OK Labs has a proven reputation for providing secure virtualization solutions for mobile device developers and the digital TV segment of the consumer electronics market is a natural extension for our Secure HyperCell technology,” said Steve Subar, president and chief executive officer, OK Labs. “The design win with Headplay is further evidence of our software product’s readiness for use in the high volume, leading-edge consumer electronics market, and expands our presence in new global markets.”

OKL4 with Secure HyperCell technology and remote updating supports OEMs in the development of consumer devices, helping OK Labs customers stay competitive in the marketplace. “More and more, we find that to execute on new market opportunities globally, our time to market must be accelerated,” added Greenwood. “OK Labs expertise in the market helped Headplay to quickly develop a secure product that meets the needs of the fast-paced digital TV market.”

OKL4, available under an open source or a commercial license, is now shipping and is available for download, general use, evaluation and prototyping. In addition, OK Labs offers professional services including customization, processor architecture porting and training for OKL4 supporting ARM, x86 and MIPS processors. For more information or to download software, visit http://www.ok-labs.com/. For those interested in learning more about the technology, understanding use cases and to get answers to specific questions, developers can join the OK Labs technical community mailing list (http://www.ok-labs.com/community/mailing-list-signup/).


About HEADPLAY

The Headplay Group of Companies consists of Headplay International Inc. and its subsidiary corporations which develop and market cutting-edge visual entertainment and technology products with operations in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Bridgetown, Barbados and Beijing, China. Headplay is dedicated to developing new and visionary products for the consumer electronics market, www.headplay.com

Open Kernel Labs

The Open Kernel Labs leading technology in embedded systems software and virtualization enables the development of safe, trustworthy and affordable devices. Backed by the largest, independent team of microkernel developers, OK Labs delivers OKL4, an advanced microkernel solution, which offers the highest performance combined with strong protection and security features. OKL4 provides developers with a robust, open source platform for building secure, differentiated embedded applications. For more information about OK Labs and its products visit www.ok-labs.com. OK Labs is a spin out from NICTA, Australia’s preeminent Center of Excellence for Information and Communications Technology, www.nicta.com.au.

Open Kernel Labs, OK Labs and Secure HyperCell are trademarks or registered trademarks of Open Kernel Labs or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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Chris Walker
Connect Public Relations
(801) 373-7888
chrisw@connectpr.com

Marti Konstant
Open Kernel Labs
(312) 933-0101
marti@ok-labs.com

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