Delays in the adoption of robust digital rights management (DRM) technology is holding up the delivery of content over the internet, the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG) has warned.

A report by the BSG's DRM division said that compelling content is needed to drive the adoption of broadband.

If barriers to the adoption of DRM technology were removed, it could ensure that content providers, such as record companies, get paid for the use of content online.

It would also mean that e-government initiatives, such as putting health records online, could be accessed only by those entitled to see them.

But the report's author, Nic Garnett, warned that there is still uncertainty about the technology.

"The problem is that people are still confused about DRM. They get stuck on areas such as piracy and protection," he said.

"But there is already a lot of technology and laws for this and DRM covers wider issues.

"It is about the application of trusted computing technologies to manage content: who can have access to what and where, for commercial use, non-commercial and a combination of these."

Garnett added that a lack of micro-payment systems, and ongoing negotiations over new business models involving DRM, are also holding back adoption.

The government needs to talk to other countries to push through common global standards demanded by consumers, along the lines of the World Trade Organisation standards that regulate international trade, he said.

Downing Street should also show its support by implementing public programmes adopting these standards, and investigate whether DRM standards can be included into European consultations.

Ian Fogg, an analyst at Jupiter Research, agreed that the government should get involved, but warned that DRM still doesn't figure high on the radar of many internet service providers.

"The internet industry has been looking at how to drive uptake and offer higher speeds, so few are looking at value added services," he said.

"This has left DRM development to just a few and the government's role should be to enable a competitive environment."