A method is disclosed for rendering content encrypted according to a
cryptographic key, where the content has corresponding rights data
including a decryption key (KD) for decrypting the encrypted content, and
where (KD) in the rights data is encrypted according to a public key of a
rights management (RM) server (PU-RM) to result in (PU-RM(KD)). The RM
server normally delivers (KD) within a license, but upon being
decommissioned can no longer issue such license. In the method, a
notification is received that the RM server has been decommissioned, and
thereafter an attempt is made to render a piece of content. Such content
is determined to be protected to the decommissioned RM server, and a
request is sent to the decommissioned RM server for the content key (KD)
for the content rather than any license. Thereafter (KD) is received from
the decommissioned RM server.
