Digital rights management system and method

An industrial automation system, comprising:

• a first industrial automation device, comprising:
• a first processor configured to:
• generate at least one digital certificate;
• and
• define access rights to at least one program or at least one process based at least in part upon the at least one digital certificate;
• and
• a second industrial automation device that communicates with the first industrial automation device over a local area network, wherein the second industrial automation device comprises:
• a second processor configured to:
• download the at least one digital certificate and the access rights;
• and
• grant permission to the at least one program or the at least one process according to the access rights.

A method for employing digital rights management in an industrial automation environment, comprising:

• receiving a request to access at least one program or at least one process from a requesting entity;
• downloading a digital certificate corresponding to the requesting entity, wherein the digital certificate is generated by an industrial automation device accessible across a local area network;
• matching the digital certificate to a list of access rights for the at least one program or the at least one process to determine a level of access to the at least one program or the at least one process;
• and
• granting the level of access to the requesting entity.