Content is encrypted according to a content key (CK) ((CK(content))), (CK) is protected according to a license server public key (PU-DRM), and rights data associated with the content is retrieved from a rights template and protected according to (PU-DRM). The protected items and a digital signature from the rights template are submitted as a rights label to the license server for signing. The license server verifies the rights template signature, and if such signature verifies signs the rights label to result in a signed rights label (SRL), and returns same. The SRL is concatenated with (CK(content)) and both are distributed to a user. To render the content, the user submits the SRL to the license server to request a license.