Some companies, such as the Netherlands' Orangefield and Intertrust of Switzerland, focus primarily on the corporate-secretarial market.

ECONOMIST: Company formation

Software developer Intertrust Technologies filed a patent infringement suit against Apple over 15 patents related to security.

FORBES: Intertrust Sues Apple Over Patent Infringement

After a run as a public company, Intertrust became a private-joint venture in 2003 owned by Sony, Phillips and Stephens Inc.

FORBES: Intertrust Sues Apple Over Patent Infringement

InterTrust was already in the process of suing Microsoft for patent infringement, in a closely watched case that could have far-reaching implications.

FORBES: Showdown In The Digital Rights Corral

What Ando didn't expand upon are the plans Sony has for the digital rights management firm InterTrust, which it just acquired with the help of Phillips Electronics .

FORBES: Sony Launches Battle For Home Networks

Intertrust, founded in 1990, also has some important backers.

FORBES: Intertrust Sues Apple Over Patent Infringement

In accepting the money, with the exception of certain intertrust loans, the IRS agreed not to seek any further taxes then or in the future from the family's oldest offshore trusts.

FORBES: On The Cover/Top Stories

The most ambitious scheme so far is Intertrust's technology.

ECONOMIST: Digital rights and wrongs

Intertrust dubs it a DigiBox.

ECONOMIST: Digital rights and wrongs