Digital media distribution method and system
First Claim
1. A method of distributing electronic media comprising the steps of:
- downloading a media file including an integral decryption engine and encrypted media content;
requesting a decryption key from a remote server; and
responding to receipt of said decryption key from said remote server by;
decrypting said media content using said integral decryption engine.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention presents a method and system for secure distribution of digital media files including text, video, audio and combinations of these. The preferred embodiment describes the distribution of audio files (particularly music) which are presently being widely distributed over the Internet without compensating the various rights holders. The invention encrypts the audio content (except for an optional preview section) in a single executable file, allowing it to be freely distributed. When Consumers want to access the encrypted portion of the file, a decryption key is obtained from a remote server, but because the file includes an integral decryption engine, a decrypted copy of the file never appears on the Client side. Thus, there is no unprotected copy that the Consumer can illegally distribute. The invention also describes other advantageous techniques, such as bonding the decryption key to the consumer'"'"'s computer, so it cannot be used by others.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of distributing electronic media comprising the steps of:
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downloading a media file including an integral decryption engine and encrypted media content;
requesting a decryption key from a remote server; and
responding to receipt of said decryption key from said remote server by;
decrypting said media content using said integral decryption engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 12, 14, 15, 16)
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4. A method of managing distribution of proprietary electronic media comprising the steps of:
downloading a single file executable to;
decrypt an integral media file using an integral decryption engine and a decryption key; and
view said decrypted media file using an integral viewer. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11)
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9. A method of securely distributing media files comprising the steps of:
generating an executable, encrypted media file which will execute to play only a portion of the corresponding original media file, without use of a decryption key.
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13. A method of secure distribution of content over a communication network comprising the steps of:
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a Consumer sending a request to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) for a media file; and
said ISP returning said media file to said consumer, said media file being wrapped in a single executable file including an integral decryption engine.
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Specification