Macrovision has made a significant move into the secure digital distribution space with the acquisition of market leader Trymedia Systems in a $34 million deal which is expected to complete this week. The deal will see Trymedia, which operates the world's largest distribution network for downloadable products on the PC thanks to its ActiveMARK suite of security and e-commerce products, becoming a part of a new games business unit.

Macrovision hopes that this unit will be positioned to provide an end-to-end solution for publishers of both core and casual games, giving them the ability to secure, distribute, promote and even patch their PC products.

Trymedia's solutions are also capable of protecting boxed games - but the main thrust of the technology is online, and Macromedia also plans to offer retailers, portals, ISPs and other such firms a service which can offer over a thousand downloadable games to their customers.