The present invention enforces digital rights within the confines of a
content license by validating an entity certificate. Cryptographic
information within a entity certificate is utilized to unlock protected
content and authenticate the entity certificate. The entity certificate
includes personal credentials, which have information that the entity is
unwilling or uncomfortable to share publicly. For example, the personal
credentials may include private information, or information associated
with a personal object that cannot consume the protected content, or
both.