Elliptic Semiconductor Announces Partnership with Certicom to Strengthen Digital Rights Management Offering

Tuesday, December 06, 2005 - Ottawa, Ontario: Elliptic Semiconductor Inc, a leading supplier of cryptographic semiconductor intellectual property (SIP), today announced a partnership with Certicom Corp. (TSX: CIC), to provide high performance, scaleable security solutions for digital rights management (DRM). Through this partnership, Certicom is able to offer Elliptic’s cryptographic (SIP) cores that enable chip designers to implement cryptographic acceleration for DRM in cell phones, media co-processor chips and set top box applications.

This partnership provides a comprehensive, integrated security platform that addresses the evolving needs of device manufacturers and content vendors. Elliptic IP Cores are fully integrated and tested with the Certicom Security Architecture (CSA) for DRM, so that designers can exploit the performance and security benefits derived from implementing cryptography and key management functions in hardware.

“Our customers need to see a complete DRM solution that spans the content server down to the crypto cores embedded in their integrated circuits,” said Al Hawtin, vice president of sales & marketing at Elliptic. “This partnership with Certicom offers them a complete, fully tested solution that offers support for Microsoft WDRM, the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) and proprietary implementations to allow our customers to span a broad range of DRM solutions.”

“Certicom’s approach to DRM offers a comprehensive solution from silicon up to the application layer,” said Jim Alfred, director of product management at Certicom. “This partnership empowers DRM vendors to raise the bar against would be hackers and protect OEM investment and revenues.”

DRM enabled devices empower consumers to purchase digital content (videos, music, ring tones and games) via the Internet or wireless networks from trusted sources. Content providers are motivated to provide content because DRM ensures that their creations are protected and delivered only to authorized subscribers. Certicom Security for DRM with the Elliptic Semiconductor IP Cores is available from Certicom this quarter. For more information, visit http://www.certicom.com/drm.

About Elliptic Semiconductor

Headquartered in Ottawa, Elliptic Semiconductor Inc (www.ellipticsemi.com) provides semiconductor intellectual products (SIP) for secure communications ranging from low power TCP/IP implementations with associated IPsec and SSL security through ultra-high speed link security solutions at multiple Gigabit per second throughput rates. All designs consist of comprehensive reference implementations including semiconductor IP blocks, software drivers and APIs and supporting software designed to speed time to market and offer complete, proven interoperability to customers. Visit www.ellipticsemi.com