Kilopass and Certicom Partner to Deliver Comprehensive Security for High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection

Update: Synopsys Expands DesignWare IP Portfolio with Acquisition of Kilopass Technology (Jan. 10, 2018)

Certicom KeyInject Integrated into Kilopass XPM Xtend to Protect Against Security Breaches during HDCP Chip Manufacturing Process

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario – November 6, 2007 -- Certicom Corp. (TSX: CIC) and Kilopass Technology Inc., a leading CMOS Logic Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) IP vendor, have partnered to develop and introduce a new embedded key storage product. The solution interoperates with Certicom’s KeyInject™ technology to automate key logistics, diminish liability, improve tracking and reduce costs related to chip manufacturing and silicon testing of enhanced High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) keys. 

Through this partnership and joint product agreement, the new Kilopass Extra Permanent Memory Xtend (XPM Xtend™) licensable intellectual property will give Kilopass customers a secure memory solution made specifically for protecting HDCP keys.  Supported by Certicom’s KeyInject infrastructure, XPM Xtend automates and secures manufacturing of HDCP keyed chips.  This solution has become increasingly important given the growing number of extremely expensive security breach penalties involving HDTVs, recording and playback devices and the manufacturing processes that create these products.

Today, HDCP licensees, such as manufacturers of HDMI and DisplayPort products, face soaring liabilities for lost, stolen or vulnerable keys – approximately $8 million for each HDCP key exposed.  For this very reason, companies who license HDCP keys are re-evaluating whether an in-house key management system provides sufficient protection. 

“There are many challenges that organizations face concerning the secure manufacturing of chips that use HDCP keys.  Quite often, security breaches are perpetrated by inside employees, making this a real problem for any HDCP licensee,” said Bernard Crotty, president and CEO of Certicom.  “With the proliferation of high-definition content, the issue of content protection is clearly on the rise.  We are pleased that Kilopass has partnered with us to offer cost-effective, end-to-end security for their customers through their XPM Xtend solution.”

Powered by Certicom KeyInject, Kilopass XPM Xtend keeps all keys private – from company headquarters down to the chips manufactured worldwide.  KeyInject encrypts keys using industry-standard protocols and techniques based on Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) and the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), so that it’s possible to secure HDCP chips during production by controlling access to keying information.   

Now, with Certicom’s KeyInject technology embedded in XPM Xtend, Kilopass customers will benefit from an additional level of security not available previously.  XPM Xtend provides protection against key theft, human error or flaws in cryptographic designs and implementation.

“There’s no doubt that intellectual property theft can be very costly if a device, system or manufacturing process is breached.  By leveraging Certicom’s KeyInject technology in our XPM Xtend solution, we are able to offer the highest, most trusted security available for our customers’ keys,” said Bernie Aronson, CEO of Kilopass.  “Our partnership with Certicom ensures that our customers can securely and cost-effectively manufacture HDCP-enabled chips.”

About Certicom KeyInject and XPM Xtend

Working closely, Certicom and Kilopass provide a secure path for sensitive cryptographic keys directly from the licensor of the key through to the target device.  Keys that are unique to individual devices need both a secure NVM storage technology and a solution that protects these keys throughout the manufacturing supply chain.  Combined, KeyInject and XPM Xtend provide security for modern semiconductor manufacturing processes as well as at the device level with physical layer security that protects key information inside the target device.  XPM Xtend is supported for mainstream TSMC process technologies between 180nm and 65nm today.  

For more detailed information online, the datasheet for Certicom KeyInject may be obtained at:
http://www.certicom.com/

The datasheet for XPM Xtend may be obtained at:
http://www.kilopass.com/public/XPM_Xtend_DS-1.pdf

About Certicom

Certicom protects the value of content, applications and devices with government-approved security. Adopted by the National Security Agency (NSA) for government communications, Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) provides the most security per bit of any known public-key scheme. As the global leader in ECC, Certicom security offerings are currently licensed to more than 300 customers including General Dynamics, Motorola, Oracle, Research In Motion and Unisys. Founded in 1985, Certicom's corporate offices are in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada with worldwide sales and marketing headquarters in Reston, Virginia and offices in the U.S., Canada, Europe and China. Visit www.certicom.com.

About Kilopass Technology

Kilopass Technology, Inc., a fast-growing supplier of embedded non-volatile memory intellectual property, leverages standard logic CMOS processes to deliver one-time programmable structures based on its extra-permanent memory (XPM) technology. The memory arrays can be used for the storage of firmware, security codes, calibration data and other application critical information. Kilopass is headquartered at 3333 Octavius Dr. Suite 101, Santa Clara, CA 95054, USA. For more information, please visit http://www.kilopass.com, call (408) 980-8808 or email info@kilopass.com.