System and method for multi-tiered license management and distribution using networked clearinghouses

• US 20040039916A1
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Arvato Digital Service LLC (Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Arvato Digital Service LLC (Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: Muecke, Innes, Riebe, Heinrich Henning, Kejser, Brian, Aldis, David
• Application Number:
  US10/434,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20040039916A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/177
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/105 Arrangements for software license management or administration, e.g. for managing licenses at corporate level
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1075 Editing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1078 Logging; Metering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A system and method are provided for the distribution of digital licenses through a multi-level distribution chain using one or more clearinghouses. The system supports content providers, distributors, and end users. Content providers create and provide licenses. Distributors acquire licenses from content providers and upstream distributors, and can modify them in accordance with the terms of the original licenses. Distributors digitally sign modified licenses before providing to other users. Distributors optionally extend licenses to create new licenses and distribute them. End users acquire, download and activate licenses. Content providers and distributors can obtain tracking reports from clearinghouses detailing transactions (e.g., purchases, acquisitions, activations, and license compliance) associated with licenses as they progress down the distribution chain and are finally activated.

Claims

1. A method for distributing digital licenses comprising the steps of:

creating a new license;

storing said license in a license database at a license clearinghouse along with a plurality of licenses already stored in said license database;

making at least a subset of said licenses in said license database available for browsing, selection and acquisition by license demand chain entities;

distributing said licenses to said license demand chain entities; and

activating said licenses in response to requests from said license demand chain entities.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said license demand chain entities comprises at least two of a content provider, a distributor and an end user, said content provider being operable to provides licenses for acquisition by said distributor and said end user, said distributor being operable to acquire licenses, optionally modify licenses and offer said licenses acquired and optionally modified by said distributor to other said license demand chain entities, and said end user being operable to acquire licenses from said distributor and said content provider.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of collecting and storing data in said license database relating to usage of said licenses by selected said license demand chain entities, status of selected said licenses, activity associated with selected said licenses comprising at least one of acquisitions, purchases, registrations, activations, downloads and installations, license distribution chain usage, licenses abuses, and sales.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

receiving queries from said license demand chain entities;

processing said queries by accessing said license database to obtain selected information stored therein; and

outputting said selected information in response to said queries.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

maintaining respective license inventories in said license database corresponding to different license demand chain entities.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least one of a distributor and a content provider can mark selected ones of said licenses in their corresponding license inventories for browsing and acquisition.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

collecting and storing data in said license database relating to the status of selected said license inventories, usage of said licenses by selected said license demand chain entities, status of selected said licenses, activity associated with selected said licenses comprising at least one of acquisitions, purchases, registrations, activations, downloads and installations, customized report information, license distribution chain usage, licenses abuses, and sales.

receiving queries from said license demand chain entities;

processing said queries by accessing said license database to obtain selected information stored therein; and

outputting said selected information in response to said queries.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request from an end users to download selected licenses from the clearinghouse;

locating corresponding license information in the database in response to said request;

generating a downloadable license package; and

optionally encrypting said license package.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said license package is encrypted using at least one of said end user'"'"'s public key and signing with said end user'"'"'s private key.

10. A method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

downloading said license package by said end user;

verifying the clearinghouse signature in said package;

decrypting said license package if encrypted; and

installing said licenses.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said licenses are installed in a license server.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of activating all of said licenses in said license package with a single activation code.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said creating step comprises the step of selecting, by at least one of a content provider and a distributor, whether said activating step comprises activation only for authentication, activation with mandatory registration for authentication, or activation with optional registration for authentication, end users not being required to supply any personal information associated with said registration to activate a license if activation-only is selected.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising the step of modifying the selection of said activation-only, said activation with mandatory registration, or said activation with optional registration, for authentication after creation and offering of said license for acquisition.

15. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein licensed content associated with said license comprises software code, and said creating step comprises the steps of:

defining different license terms for respective data elements in said software code that are critical to the operation of said software code;

offering said licensed content for acquisition in a format that allows searching for installed licenses and acquisition of selected licenses therein for decryption of the corresponding said data elements.

16. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said creating step comprises the steps of:

associating a serial number with at least one of said license, and a license bundle having said license and other licenses; and

storing said serial number in said license database.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein serial numbers corresponding to licenses are stored in said database, said creating step comprises the steps of:

obtaining said serial numbers from said license database that correspond to selected said licenses; and

bundling said serial numbers of the selected said licenses to create a new product.

18. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said storing step comprises the step of storing said serial numbers of said licenses of respective said license demand chain entities in separate license inventories.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising the step of allowing said serial number in said license inventories to be browsed.

22. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said creating step further comprises the steps of:

obtaining a second serial number that is to be cross-referenced to said serial number; and

storing said second serial number in said license database.

23. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said activating step further comprises the step of allowing a license demand chain entity to commence activation regardless of which of said serial number and said second serial number is provided.

24. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said serial number is generated via at least one of a plurality of methods comprising manual uploading of externally generated serial numbers, automatic on-the-fly generation, importation by a content provided of serial numbers generated externally thereto, via a publisher-supplied generation modules, in a proprietary format, and said second serial number is obtained from one of a third party and a manufacturer.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein said proprietary format is cryptographically random.

26. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein said proprietary format supports at least one of flags and binary data that are individually defined for respective distribution channels for said license.

27. A method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising the step of collecting and storing in said license database data relating to the use of said serial numbers during activations and sales of said license among different distribution channels employed by said license demand chain entities.

20. A method as claimed in 16, wherein said creating step further comprises the steps of:

offering at least one type of discount with said serial number; and

storing discount information in said license database.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein said discount information comprises e-coupons to be supplied to one of an end user of a distributor via said license clearinghouse when activation is requested using said serial number.

28. A method for creating a license in a digital license distribution system by a content provider, comprising the following steps:

authenticating the content provider with a license clearinghouse;

generating a new product identifier at the clearinghouse upon a request by the content provider to create a new license;

receiving at least one of distribution rules and data, and license terms from the content provider by the license clearinghouse;

providing content access control data from the content provider to the license clearinghouse;

encrypting the content access control data by the clearinghouse with a license key of the content provider;

digitally signing a license body by the content provider at the license clearinghouse, the license body comprising at least said distribution rules and data, said license terms, and said encrypted content access control data;

generating a license identifier for the license by the license clearinghouse;

attaching the content provider'"'"'s digital certificate to the license comprising said license identifies and license body; and

storing the license in a license database at the license clearinghouse.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein said license terms comprise a tolerance term indicating that said license can be activated a first number of times, the license clearinghouse being operable to decrement a counter each time the license is activated and to disable the license when said first number of times for activation is exceeded.

30. A method as claimed in claim 29, further comprising the step of modifying said tolerance term to allow additional activations of the license.

31. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein an end user has activated said license said first number of times, and further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request from said end user for additional activations of the license;

querying the license database to activate a record of activations stored therein; and

modifying the license to allow additional activations and storing data relating to said modifying in said license database if the end user does not appear from said record to have misused the license.

32. A method as claimed in claim 28, further comprising the step of receiving at least one of extended distribution rules and data and extended license terms, which extend the period during which the license can be activated, from the content provider by the license clearinghouse to create a renewal/upgrade digital license corresponding to one of the existing licenses in said license database.

33. A method as claimed in claim 28, further comprising the steps of:

downloading the licenses a license pack from the clearinghouse to a local license store at the content provider; and

distributing the licenses with the associated content on a content distribution network by the content provider.

34. A method for authenticating and activating a license in a digital license distribution system by an end user comprising the steps of:

receiving a license for licensed content from a content provider or distributor;

installing the license in a license store at the end user;

generating an installation code comprising a user identifier corresponding to the processing device employed by the end user in said installing step;

transmitting a license identifier provided in the license and said installation code to a license clearinghouse;

receiving an activation code from the license clearinghouse, the license clearinghouse using said license identifier to locate a license key stored therein and to generate said activation code using said license key and said user identifier;

installing said activation code from the license clearinghouse; and

decrypting an encrypted portion of the license using the installed activation code.

35. A method as claimed in claim 34, wherein the end user processing device comprises a license compliance module operable to grant access to said licensed content after determining that the license is installed and valid.

36. A method as claimed in claim 34, wherein said licensed content is distributed via a network selected from the group consisting of a distribution network that distributes both the license and said licensed content, and a content distribution network that is separate from a license distribution network used to distribute the license.

37. A method as claimed in claim 34, wherein said user identifier in said generating step is not obtained until after said installing step has commenced.

38. A method for activating a license in a digital license distribution system by a license clearinghouse comprising the steps of:

receiving a license identifier and an installation code from an end user, said installation code comprising a user identifier corresponding to the processing device employed by the end user to install the license and generated when said activating is commenced by the end user;

obtaining a license key based on the license identifier from a license database in the license clearinghouse;

generating an activation code using said license key and said user identifier; and

transmitting the activation code to the end user.

39. A method as claimed in claim 38, further comprising the steps of:

defining activation to be valid only during a selected time period;

storing data relating to said time period in said license database; and

disabling the license from activation when said time period has expired.

40. An apparatus for distributing digital licenses in a network comprising:

at least one license clearinghouse configured to communicate via said network with at least two of a group of license demand chain entities comprising a content provider, a distributor, and an end user, said content provider providing licenses for acquisition by said distributor and said end user, said distributor acquiring licenses, optionally modifying licenses and offering said licenses acquired and optionally modified by said distributor to other said license demand chain entities, and said end user acquiring licenses from said distributor and said content provider;

wherein said license clearinghouse comprises a license database and a plurality of modules for enabling said license demand chain entities connected thereto via said network to perform operations, said license database being configured to store said licenses associated with different license demand chain entities in respective license inventories, said plurality of modules comprising a license generation module, a license inventory module, a user authentication module and an activation module, said license generation module being configured to allow said content provider to create new said licenses and said distributor to modify acquired said licenses, and to create license identifiers and keys for activating said licenses which are stored in said license database, said license inventory module being configured to allow said content provider, said distributor and said end user to manage said licenses stored in their corresponding license inventories and to browse the corresponding license inventories of other said license demand chain entities, said authentication module being configured to identify said clearinghouse and said license demand chain entities to each other, and said activation module being configured to conduct activation transactions to activate licenses in response to activation requests from said distributor and said end user.

41. An apparatus for distributing digital licenses as claimed in claim 40, wherein at least one of said licenses comprises:

a license identifier;

a set of distribution rules and data;

a set of license terms;

an encrypted data portion that contains content access control information;

a digital signature corresponding to said content provider; and

a digital certificate for said content provider.

42. An apparatus for distributing digital licenses as claimed in claim 41, wherein said license comprises a plurality of license identifiers corresponding to the same license body, said license body comprising said set of distribution rules and data, said set of license terms, said encrypted data portion that contains content access control information, said digital signature corresponding to said content provider, and said digital certificate for said content provider, said license database being programmable to store said plurality of license identifiers separately from said license body.

43. An apparatus for distributing digital licenses as claimed in claim 41, wherein said license further comprises a product identifier.

44. An apparatus for distributing digital licenses as claimed in claim 41, wherein said license is extended by changing at least one of said distribution rules and data and said set of license terms, said extended license comprising:

at least one of an extended set of distribution rules and data, and an extended set of license terms;

a digital signature corresponding to said license demand chain entity that created said extended license; and

a digital certificate of said license demand chain entity that created said extended license.

45. An apparatus for distributing digital licenses as claimed in claim 44, wherein said extended license further comprises the original license body comprising said set of distribution rules and data;

said set of license terms;

said encrypted data portion that contains content access control information;

said digital signature corresponding to said content provider, and said digital certificate for said content provider.

46. An apparatus for distributing digital licenses as claimed in claim 41, wherein a digital license pack comprises:

a license pack identifier;

a list of one or more license identifiers corresponding to respective said licenses selected to create said license pack;

a license body comprising said set of distribution rules and data, said set of license terms, and said encrypted data of each of said licenses;

a digital signature corresponding to one of said content provider and distributor who created said license pack; and

a digital certificate of said one of said content provider and said distributor.

47. An apparatus for distributing digital licenses as claimed in claim 40, wherein said plurality of modules further comprises a report generation module configured to process queries from said license demand chain entities by accessing said license database to obtain selected information stored therein and outputting said selected information in response to said queries.

48. An apparatus for distributing digital licenses as claimed in claim 47, wherein said selected information comprises at least one of the status of selected said license inventories, usage of said licenses by selected said license demand chain entities, status of selected said licenses, activity associated with selected said licenses comprising at least one of acquisitions, purchases, registrations, activations, downloads and installations, customized report information, license distribution chain usage, licenses abuses, and sales.

49. An apparatus for distributing digital licenses as claimed in claim 40, wherein said plurality of modules further comprises a license download module configured to, facilitate downloading of different types of license products available from said license clearinghouse by said license demand chain entities, and to generate license packs from information available from said license database.

50. An apparatus for distributing digital licenses as claimed in claim 40, wherein said plurality of modules further comprises a communications module configured to allow said license clearinghouse to communicate with at least one other license clearinghouse via said network.

51. An apparatus for distributing digital licenses as claimed in claim 50, wherein said other license clearinghouse comprises a license database for storing licenses associated with license demand chain entities connected thereto, said license clearinghouse and said other license clearinghouse being operable to share information stored in each corresponding said license database.

52. An apparatus for distributing digital licenses as claimed in claim 40, wherein said plurality of modules further comprises a third-party processor module configured to allow said license clearinghouse to interact with third party processors.

53. An apparatus for distributing digital licenses as claimed in claim 52, wherein at least one of said third party processors is a payment processor for handling financial transactions associated with the purchase of said licenses.

54. An apparatus for distributing digital licenses as claimed in claim 40, wherein said license demand chain entities comprises at least said distributor, further comprising a management client and a license store provided at said distributor and configured to allow said distributor to perform at least one of a plurality of operations comprising registering with said license clearinghouse via said user authentication module, authenticating with said license clearinghouse via said user authentication module, modifying digital licenses via said license generation module, browsing said license inventories of other said license demand chain entities via said license inventory module, acquiring said licenses from said content provider and another said distributor via said license inventory module, providing licenses for acquisition by another said distributor and said end user via said license inventory module, and activating said licenses via said license activation module.

55. An apparatus for distributing digital licenses as claimed in claim 54, wherein said plurality of modules comprises at least one of a report generation module and a license download module, said report generation module being configured to process queries from said license demand chain entities by accessing said license database to obtain selected information stored therein and outputting said selected information in response to said queries, said selected information comprising at least one of status of selected said license inventories, usage of said licenses by selected said license demand chain entities, status of selected said licenses, activity associated with selected said licenses comprising at least one of acquisitions, purchases, registrations, activations, downloads and installations, customized report information, license distribution chain usage, licenses abuses, and sales, said license download module being configured to facilitate downloading of different types of license products available from said license clearinghouse by said license demand chain entities, and to generate license packs from information available from said license database, and said management client and said license store being configured to allow said distributor to generate reports via said report generation module, and to download license packs via said license download module.

56. An apparatus for distributing digital licenses as claimed in claim 40, wherein said license demand chain entities comprises at least said content provider, further comprising a management client and a license store provided at said content provider and configured to allow said content provider to register with said license clearinghouse via said user authentication module, authenticate with said license clearinghouse via said user authentication module, create new said licenses via said license generation module, provide said licenses for acquisition by said distributor and said end user via said license inventory module, and activate said licenses via said license activation module.

57. An apparatus for distributing digital licenses as claimed in claim 56, wherein said plurality of modules comprises report generation module and a license download module, said report generation module being configured to process queries from said license demand chain entities by accessing said license database to obtain selected information stored therein and outputting said selected information in response to said queries, said selected information comprising at least one of status of selected said license inventories, usage of said licenses by selected said license demand chain entities, status of selected said licenses, activity associated with selected said licenses comprising at least one of acquisitions, purchases, registrations, activations, downloads and installations, customized report information, license distribution chain usage, licenses abuses, and sales, said license download module being configured to facilitate downloading of different types of license products available from said license clearinghouse by said license demand chain entities, and to generate license packs from information available from said license database, and said management client and said license store being configured to allow said content provider to generate reports via said report generation module, and to generate license packs via said license download module.

58. An apparatus for distributing digital licenses as claimed in claim 40, wherein said license demand chain entities comprises at least said end user, further comprising a management client and a license store provided at said end user and configured to allow said end user to register with said license clearinghouse via said user authentication module, authenticate with said license clearinghouse via said user authentication module, to browse said license inventories of other said license demand chain entities via said license inventory module, to acquire licenses from said content provider and said distributor via said license inventory module, and to activate licenses via said license activation module.

59. An apparatus for distributing digital licenses as claimed in claim 40, wherein said license demand chain entities each comprise:

a management client and a license store configured to allow registration with said license clearinghouse via said user authentication module, authentication with said license clearinghouse via said user authentication module, creation of new said licenses by said content provider via said license generation module, browsing, selection and acquisition of said licenses by said distributor and said end user via said license inventory module, and activation of licenses via said license activation module; and

a license compliance module configured to use said licenses in said license store to control access to corresponding licensed content.

60. An apparatus for distributing digital licenses as claimed in claim 59, wherein said license compliance module is a license server that manages licenses for multiple internal client computers.

61. An apparatus for distributing digital licenses, the digital licenses and related information being maintained in a digital license clearinghouse, the apparatus comprising:

a license store at a content provider; and

a license management client at said content provider adapted to register with and authenticate said content provider to said license clearinghouse, create digital licenses and store them at said license clearinghouse, and designate a plurality of said digital licenses for acquisition by distributors and end users via a license inventory service at said license clearinghouse, said license inventory service being operable to maintain respective license inventories for license demand chain entities connected to said license clearinghouse via a network.

62. An apparatus are claimed in claim 61, said license management client further adapted to generate reports using said license database.

63. An apparatus for distributing digital licenses, the digital licenses and related information being maintained in a digital license clearinghouse, the apparatus comprising:

a license store at a distributor; and

a license management client at said distributor adapted to register with and authenticate itself to said license clearinghouse, designate a plurality of said digital licenses for acquisition by other distributors and end users via a license inventory service at said license clearinghouse, said license inventory service being operable to maintain respective license inventories for license demand chain entities connected to said license clearinghouse via a network, acquire a plurality of digital license types from a content provider or other distributor, modify and optionally extend the acquired plurality of digital license types via the license generation service of the first license clearinghouse, provide the acquired, modified and optionally extended acquired plurality of digital license types for acquisition by distributors and end users via a license inventory service of the first license clearinghouse, said license inventory service being operable to maintain respective license inventories for license demand chain entities connected to said license clearinghouse via a network.

64. An apparatus are claimed in claim 63, said license management client further adapted to perform at least one of a plurality of operations comprising browse said license inventories of other license demand chain entities to select licenses therefrom for acquisition, generate reports via said first license clearinghouse, download the acquired, modified and optionally extended plurality of digital license types via the license download service of said license clearinghouse, activate the acquired, modified and optionally extended plurality of digital license types via said first license clearinghouse.

65. An apparatus for distributing digital licenses, the digital licenses and related information being maintained in a digital license clearinghouse, the apparatus comprising:

a license store at an end user;

a license compliance module at an end user adapted to register with and authenticate itself to said license clearinghouse, acquire a plurality of license types from content providers and distributors via said license clearinghouse.

66. An apparatus are claimed in claim 65, said license management client further adapted to perform at least one of a plurality of operations comprising browse said license inventories of other license demand chain entities to select licenses therefrom for acquisition, obtain reports via said license clearinghouse, download the plurality of license types via said license clearinghouse, and activate the plurality of license types via said license clearinghouse.

67. The end user according to claim 65, wherein said license compliance module is a license server that manages licenses for multiple internal client computers.

68. An apparatus for distributing licenses in a network comprising at least one content provider and at least one of a distributor and an end user, said system comprising:

at least one license clearinghouse comprising a license database, a license generation module being configured to allow said content provider to create new said licenses, and at least one interface module configured to allow said at least one of a distributor and an end user to connect directly to said license clearinghouse, said license clearinghouse being configured to allow said at least one of a distributor and an end user to access said license database to browse and select from a plurality of licenses stored therein and to acquire selected said licenses;

wherein at least one of said licenses comprises a license identifier, a product identifier, distribution rules and data, license terms, an encrypted data portion that contains content access control information, a digital signature corresponding to said content provider, and a digital certificate for said content provider.

69. An apparatus for distributing licenses as claimed in claim 68, wherein said license clearinghouse is configured to be accessed by a distributor and to generate an extended license by changing at least one of said distribution rules and data and said license terms in accordance with instructions from said distributor.

70. An apparatus for distributing licenses as claimed in claim 69, wherein said extended license comprises:

an extended license identifier;

the original license body comprising said product identifier, said set of distribution rules and data, said set of license terms, said encrypted data portion that contains content access control information, said digital signature corresponding to said content provider, and said digital certificate for said content provider;

at least one of extended distribution rules and data and extended license terms that change at least one of said distribution rules and data and said license terms;

a digital signature corresponding to said distributor that created said extended license; and

a digital certificate of said distributor.

71. An apparatus for distributing licenses as claimed in claim 70, wherein an extended digital license pack comprises:

an extended license pack identifier;

a plurality of said extended digital license identifiers;

the original license body of each of said licenses selected to create said extended license pack comprising, respectively, said product identifier, said distribution rules and data, said license terms, said encrypted data portion that contains content access control information, said digital signature corresponding to said content provider, and said digital certificate for said content provider;

at least one of extended distribution rules and data and extended license terms that change at least one of said distribution rules and data and said license terms;

a digital signature of a distributor that created the extended digital license; and

a digital certificate of said distributor.

72. An apparatus for distributing licenses as claimed in claim 68, wherein a digital license pack comprises:

a license pack identifier;

a list of one or more license identifiers corresponding to said licenses selected to create said license pack;

the original license body of each of said licenses selected to create said license pack comprising, respectively, said product identifier, said distribution rules and data, said license terms, said encrypted data portion that contains content access control information, said digital signature corresponding to said content provider, and said digital certificate for said content provider;

a digital signature corresponding to one of said content provider and distributor who created said license pack; and

a digital certificate of said one of said content provider and said distributor.

73. An apparatus for distributing licenses as claimed in claim 68, wherein a renewal/upgrade digital license comprises:

a renewal/upgrade license identifier; and

a renewal/upgrade digital license body comprising the original said license identifier and said product identifier, renewal/upgrade distribution rules and data to extend the duration of the license corresponding to said license identifier, encrypted data comprising content access information, said digital signature of said content provider, and said digital certificate of said content provider.

74. An apparatus for distributing licenses as claimed in claim 73, wherein said encrypted data is encrypted with a license key generated by said license clearinghouse and stored in said license database.

75. An apparatus for distributing licenses as claimed in claim 73, wherein said content access information comprises data that is required to execute software or access digital content that is being licensed.

76. An apparatus for distributing licenses as claimed in claim 73, wherein a renewal/upgrade digital license pack comprises:

a renewal/upgrade license pack identifier;

a plurality of original renewal/upgrade license identifiers;

the original license body of each of said licenses selected to create said renewal/upgrade digital license pack comprising, respectively, said product identifier, said distribution rules and data, said license terms, said encrypted data portion that contains content access control information, said digital signature corresponding to said content provider, and said digital certificate for said content provider;

said digital signature of said content provider, and

said digital certificate of said content provider.

77. An apparatus for distributing licenses as claimed in claim 73, wherein an extended renewal/upgrade digital license comprises:

an extended renewal/upgrade license identifier; and

an extended renewal/upgrade digital license body comprising said renewal/upgrade digital license, and at least one of extended distribution rules and data and extended license terms than modify any of said distribution rules and data and said license terms in the original said license;

a digital signature of a distributor that created the extended renewal/upgrade digital license; and

a digital certificate of the distributor that created the extended renewal/upgrade digital license.

78. An apparatus for distributing licenses as claimed in claim 77, wherein an extended renewal/upgrade digital license pack comprises:

an extended renewal/upgrade license pack identifier; and

a plurality of said extended renewal/upgrade license identifiers;

said extended renewal/upgrade digital license body of each of said extended renewal/upgrade licenses selected to create said extended renewal/upgrade digital license pack;

a digital signature of a distributor that created the extended renewal/upgrade digital license pack; and

a digital certificate of said distributor that created the extended renewal/upgrade digital license pack.

79. A method for distributing digital licenses comprising the steps of:

defining user rights to licensed content upon attainment of a valid license, said user rights to be controlled on a basis selected from the group consisting of a content feature-specific basis, an application-specific basis, a release-specific basis, a distribution channel-specific basis, and a user-specific basis, said licensed content being configured to operate sub-optimally upon installation by an end user without said license; and

creating said license, said license comprising license terms relating to the selected said basis, and content access information needed to operate said licensed content better than sub-optimally.

80. A method as claimed in claim 79, further comprising the steps of:

storing said license in a license database at a license clearinghouse;

encrypting at least a portion of said license comprising said content access information using a license key;

assigning said license a license identifier; and

storing said license key and said license identifier in said license database.

81. A method as claimed in claim 80, further comprising the steps of:

distributing said license in a de-activated state; and

activating said license in response to a request to activate said license from a license demand chain entity to which said license was distributed.

82. A method as claimed in claim 79, wherein said licensed content is distributed via one of a distribution network that distributes both said license and said licensed content, and a content distribution network that is separate from a license distribution network used to distribute said license.

83. A method as claimed in claim 80, further comprising the steps of:

receiving said license in a de-activated state;

commencing installation of said license by generating an installation code comprising a user identifier corresponding to the processing device employed for said installation;

transmitting said license identifier and said installation code to a license clearinghouse;

receiving an activation code from said license clearinghouse, said license clearinghouse using said license identifier to locate a license key stored therein and to generate said activation code using said license key and said user identifier;

installing said activation code from the license clearinghouse; and

decrypting an encrypted portion of said license using the installed activation code.

84. A method for extending a license in a digital license distribution system by a distributor, comprising the following steps:

authenticating the distributor with a license clearinghouse;

receiving a request to extend the license;

receiving at least one of extended distribution rules and data and extended license terms from the distributor at the license clearinghouse;

digitally signing the extended said license body by the distributor at the license clearinghouse;

attaching the distributor'"'"'s digital certificate to the license;

generating a license identifier for the license by the license clearinghouse; and

storing the extended license in a license database at the license clearinghouse.

85. A method as claimed in claim 84, wherein the distributor obtains the content from the content provider through a content distribution network;

the distributor downloads licenses in a license pack that correspond to the content from the clearinghouse to their local license store; and

the distributor distributes the licenses with the content on a content distribution network.

86. A method for providing a license to an end user from a content provider in a digital license distribution system, comprising the following steps:

authenticating the content provider with a license clearinghouse;

accessing licenses at the license clearinghouse by the content provider making the licenses available for acquisition, authentication and activation to potential end users at the license clearinghouse;

providing licensed content and the licenses to one or more end users; and

authenticating and activating the license by an end user at the license clearinghouse.

87. A method as claimed in claim 86, further comprising the step of making a payment through a third-party payment processor to the license clearinghouse, the end user being required to complete a payment transaction with the content provider using the third-party payment processor in conjunction with the transfer of ownership of the licenses.

88. A method as claimed in claim 87, further comprising the steps of:

receiving the license and content from the content provider through the content provider'"'"'s distribution network; and

installing the license on their local license store or on a local license server;

89. A method of a distributor acquiring ownership of digital licenses from a content provider comprising the steps of:

the content provider authenticating with the clearinghouse and making licenses available for acquisition by the distributor via the clearinghouse;

the distributor authenticating with the clearinghouse and requesting ownership of selected ones of the licenses from the content provider;

the content provider transferring ownership of the licenses to the distributor via the clearinghouse;

the distributor modifying the licenses; and

distributing the modified licenses via at least one of a plurality of distribution channels comprising making the modified licenses available via the clearinghouse, and downloading the modified license for distribution by the distributor.

90. The method according to claim 89, wherein the distributor is required to complete a payment transaction with the content provider using a third-party payment processor in conjunction with the transfer of ownership of the licenses.

91. The method of a distributor acquiring ownership of a set of digital licenses from another distributor comprising the steps of:

distributor A authenticating with a clearinghouse and making licenses available for acquisition by distributor B via the clearinghouse;

distributor B authenticating with the clearinghouse and requesting ownership of selected ones of the licenses from distributor A;

distributor A transferring ownership of the licenses to distributor B via the clearinghouse;

the distributor modifying the licenses; and

distributing the modified licenses via at least one of a plurality of distribution channels comprising making the modified licenses available via the clearinghouse and downloading the modified license for distribution by the distributor.

92. The method according to claim 91, wherein distributor B is required to complete a payment transaction with distributor A using a third-party payment processor in conjunction with the transfer of ownership of the licenses.

93. A method of an end user acquiring ownership of a set of digital licenses from a distributor comprising the steps of:

the distributor authenticating with the clearinghouse and making the licenses available for acquisition by end users via the clearinghouse;

the end user obtaining the content from a distribution network;

the end user authenticating with the clearinghouse and requesting ownership of the corresponding licenses from the distributor;

the distributor transferring ownership of the licenses-to the end user via the clearinghouse; and

the end user activating the licenses via the clearinghouse to access the content.

94. The method according to claim 93, wherein the end user is required to complete a payment transaction with the distributor using a third-party payment processor in conjunction with the transfer of ownership of the licenses.

95. A method of an end user acquiring ownership of upgrade/renewal digital licenses from a content provider or a distributor comprising the steps of:

the content provider or distributor authenticating with the clearinghouse and making the upgrade/renewal licenses available for acquisition by end users via the clearinghouse;

the end user authenticating with the clearinghouse and browsing content provider or distributor license inventories for upgrade or renewal licenses;

the end user downloading selected licenses in the form of a license pack from the clearinghouse to one of a local license store and a local license server;

the end user requesting ownership of the licenses from the content provider or distributor via the clearinghouse;

the content provider or distributor transferring ownership of the licenses to the end user via the clearinghouse; and

the end user activating the licenses via the clearinghouse to access the content.

96. The method according to claim 95, wherein the end user is required to complete a payment transaction with the content provider or distributor using a third-party payment processor in conjunction with the transfer of ownership of the upgrade/renewal licenses.

97. The method according to claim 95, wherein the end user activating step comprises the steps of:

a compliance module on the end user'"'"'s computing device generating an installation code that contains a license identifier information and information specific to the end user'"'"'s computing device;

transmitting the license identifier and installation code from the end user to the clearinghouse;

the clearinghouse looking up the license identifier in a license database to obtain a license key;

generating a unique activation code for the end user'"'"'s device using information from the license key and the installation code;

transmitting the activation code from the clearinghouse to the end user;

the license compliance module accepting the activation code and using the embedded license key to decrypt the an encrypted portion of the license; and

using the decrypted portion of the license, which contains content access control information, to allow the end user to access to previously inaccessible portions of the content.

98. The method according to claim 97, wherein the end user authenticates with the clearinghouse prior to transmitting the license identifier and installation code.

99. The method according to claim 97, wherein a license pack identifier is used instead of the license identifier to activate all of the licenses in a license pack.

100. The method according to claim 95, wherein an end user activates a digital license via a proxy content provider, proxy distributor, or proxy end user, the method comprising the steps of:

a compliance module on the end user'"'"'s computing device generating an installation code that contains a license identifier and information specific to the end user'"'"'s computing device;

transmitting the license identifier and installation code from the end user to one of a proxy content provider, proxy distributor, or proxy end user;

the proxy content provider, proxy distributor, or proxy end user transmitting the license identifier and installation code to the clearinghouse;

the clearinghouse looking up the license identifier in the database to obtain a license key;

generating a unique activation code using information from the license key and the installation code;

transmitting the activation code from the clearinghouse to the proxy content provider, proxy distributor, or proxy end user;

transmitting the activation code from the proxy content provider, proxy distributor, or proxy end user back to the end user;

the license compliance module accepting the activation code and using the embedded license key to decrypt the an encrypted portion of the license; and

using the decrypted portion of the license, which contains content access control information, to allow the end user to access to previously inaccessible portions of the content.

101. The method according to claim 100, wherein the proxy content provider, distributor, or end user authenticates with the clearinghouse prior to transmitting the license identifier and installation code.

102. The method according to claim 100, wherein a license pack identifier is used instead of the license identifier to activate all of the licenses in a license pack.