A method and system for securely and traceably enabling playing back of content on a playback device of a plurality of playback devices, in which each of the plurality of playback devices comprises a cryptographic function module (CFM). In one embodiment, the method comprises accepting a first input in the playback device from a content licensing agency; generating, in the device, a first output from the first input according to a proprietary cryptographic function using the CFM, the first output necessary to enable playback of the content by the playback device, the proprietary cryptographic function being one of a family of proprietary cryptographic functions executable by the CFM of each of the plurality of playback devices; and enabling the playback of the content by the device at least in part according to the first output.