Company overview

Protexis is breaking open digital content distribution. Leading the market's evolution from dependency on proprietary channels and outsourced e-commerce sales models, Protexis enables the first and only open, neutral and efficient network for online digital content distribution. Protexis brings global retailers and publishers together, giving them trusted control, to reach an expanded global community of millions of customers, efficiently and securely.

Market Need

Today's $3 billion electronic software distribution (ESD) market is expected to triple by the end of the decade. Consumers have come to expect the immediate gratification of downloading digital content, but today's online retailers and content publishers are unable to participate in ESD because existing electronic distribution models are outsourced, inadequate and inefficient.

Even though consumers are demanding it, online retailers are unable to deliver digital content directly from their web site. They either have to strike complex agreements with multiple publishers individually, or use outsourced distribution processes that move their customers off their web sites to third-party competitors.

Without a trusted and efficient means for publishers to engage and manage online retail channels, aggregate markets of shopping consumers remain unreachable. It is inefficient for content publishers to manage multiple agreements and hundreds of titles directly with online retailers. And they lack a trusted technology-based system for real-time digital packaging, delivery, and verification of products sold.

Mission

Protexis enables open, neutral and efficient networks for online digital content distribution. By connecting content publishers with online retailers, Protexis secures the delivery of digital content through its on-demand system, REDSM – Retail Electronic Distribution. With RED, content publishers can expand their reach online while receiving trusted, real-time third-party verification; and online retailers can maintain their customer relationships through a seamless integrated shopping experience.

We believe that publishers and their channel partners need a technology-based neutral infrastructure for the sale and distribution of digital content from a non-competitive provider to fully leverage the promise of the Internet.

Publishers should be able to freely pursue maximum exposure for their titles, while minimizing costs and maintaining trust and security. Retailers should be able to provide consumers with a customized catalog of downloadable, digital content, while maintaining and strengthening their customer relationships. Protexis seeks to help publishers dramatically increase their reach and revenue, while enabling retailers to build digital inventory that is delivered through a seamless integrated shopping experience.

As a neutral provider of core services for online content distribution, Protexis brings value to publishers, retailers and consumers.

History

With over seven years of proven expertise in product activation and authentication technologies, Protexis is leading the industry with solutions that keep pace with today's rapidly growing digital content market. Founded in March 2000, Protexis pioneered the first commercially-available product activation technology, which is still in wide use today. Protexis also has a strong intellectual property portfolio validating the robust technology foundation of all of its products. The management team has decades of experience as thought-leaders in the industry.

Since 2004, Protexis has provided the underlying technology for CNET Network's Upload.com web site, powering the copy protection, trial enablement, customer registration and e-commerce services for products on Download.com. Protexis currently serves multi-billion dollar retailers and over 2,300 software publishers.

Recognizing the fact that online retailers cannot participate in ESD, Protexis made further fundamental advances in digital distribution and digital rights management, with the introduction, in 2006, of its Retail Electronic Distribution (RED) System – enabling open, neutral and efficient networks for online digital content distribution. TigerDirect.com was the first retailer to integrate RED into their online store, allowing their customers to purchase and immediately download software starting in February 2007.

With a strong intellectual property portfolio and a history of innovation, Protexis has four issued U.S. patents and another 12 U.S. and international patents pending. Protexis is privately held, with headquarters in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and an office in Seattle, WA.

Investors

Protexis investors include GrowthWorks managed funds and Trudell Medical.