1. A computer-implemented method for authenticating content, comprising: determining, by a content producing device, an original manifest which indicates at least an original name associated with a content object, wherein the name is a hierarchically structured variable length identifier (HSVLI) which comprises contiguous name components ordered from a most general level to a most specific level; renaming the content object with a new name; and creating a new manifest which indicates the new name, wherein the new manifest includes original authentication information associated with the original manifest, thereby facilitating redistribution of content objects with a different name without requiring re-computation of the original authentication information.