Stony Stevenson brings news from Rice learning mash about birth halt microprocessor circuits with diverse distinct identities, which could be used in new types of hardware-based DRM, among other things. From the news release: "'With "n-variant" microprocessor chip circuits, it is possible to design manageable media players that are inherently unique,' said Farinaz Koushanfar, assistant schoolteacher of electrical and data processor social contraception at Rice and principal sleuth on the project. 'New methods of digital rights supervision can be built upon such devices. For example, media files can be made such that they only run on a certain variant and cannot be played by another.' Koushanfar said content providers could also use n-variant chips to sell metered access to software, music or movies because the chips can be programmed to switch from one variant to another at a particular time or after a file has been accessed a certain number of times."

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