Secure remote content activation and unlocking

A content playback device, comprising:

• a content reader to receive a unique identifier and protected content, the protected content locked by one or more copy protection mechanisms;
• a communication interface to transmit an unlock request to an authorization server over a communication network, the unlock request including a first subset of bits of the unique identifier associated with the protected content and not including a second subset of bits of the unique identifier, the communication interface to receive a response from the authorization server over the communication network, the response including a key to unlock the protected content, wherein the response is to be generated by the authorization sever based on a reconstruction of the unique identifier using the first subset of bits associated therewith, and,
• a processor to unlock the protected content using the key.

A method for authorizing the remote unlocking of content protected by one or more copy protection mechanisms, the method comprising:

• at an authorization server, receiving, from a content playback device via a communication network, an unlock request generated by the content playback device, the unlock request including a first subset of bits of a unique identifier associated with the content and not including a second subset of bits of the unique identifier;
• and,
• transmitting, by authorization server to the content playback device, a response over the communication network that enables the content playback device to unlock the content using a key, the response including the key to unlock the content, wherein the response is generated based on a reconstruction of the unique identifier using the first subset of bits associated therewith.