Installation of black box for trusted component for digital rights management (DRM) on computing device

A method for installing a black box on a computing device, the black box operating in combination with a trusted component on the computing device, the trusted component employing the black box to decrypt encrypted content for being rendered on the computing device only when rights and restrictions specified in a license corresponding to the encrypted content so allow, the method employing an administrator with access to the computing device and a black box server in communication with the administrator, the method comprising:

• the administrator querying the computing device for machine properties thereof and receiving same;
• the administrator sending the machine properties of the computing device to the black box server as part of a request for a new black box for the computing device;
• the black box server in response constructing the new black box based in part on the machine properties so as to tie the new black box to the computing device;
• the black box server delivering the new black box to the administrator;
• and
• the administrator installing the new black box on the computing device.

A method for deactivating a black box on a computing device, the black box operating in combination with a trusted component on the computing device, the trusted component employing the black box to decrypt encrypted content for being rendered on the computing device only when rights and restrictions specified in a license corresponding to the encrypted content so allow, the method employing an activation provider running on the computing device and an activation manager in communication with the activation provider, the method comprising:

• the activation manager querying the activation provider on the computing device for activation state information relating to a state of the black box on the computing device;
• the activation provider in response collecting the activation state information from the computing device and reporting same to the activation manger;
• the activation manager determining based on the activation state information whether the black box on the computing device remains trustworthy;
• and
• the activation manager directing the activation provider to deactivate the black box on the computing device if the activation manager determines based on the activation state information that the black box on the computing device does not remain trustworthy.