Hyperlink filter for “pirated” and “disputed” copyright material on the internet in a method, system and program

• US 6,684,254 B1
• Filed: 05/31/2000
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dutta, Rabindranath
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Krisna
• Application Number:
  US09/583,345
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 709/229, 709/225, 713/200, 380/201
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]

Abstract

A central repository server contains a reference list of Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) for copyright infringing or disputed material located on the Internet, with an indication of whether the material is categorized as infringing or disputed. A filter/transcode program operates with the reference list to test content for infringing links, comparing the URLs for links within the content to those within the reference list. When a match is determined, the category of the link within the reference list is checked. If the link is an infringing link, the filter/transcode program may automatically remove the link from the content. If the link is disputed, the filter/transcode program may modify the link to include a warning that the link may be directed to infringing material. Comments may be added to the tested content by the filter/transcode program to certify the test results. Additions to the reference list may be submitted by the copyright owner, subject to verification. Initial classification of links as disputed until infringement can be verified allow the reference list to be considered reliable by content builders and publishers.

Claims

1. A method for identifying infringing or disputed links, comprising:

searching content for links;

responsive to locating a link within the content, comparing an URL from the located link with URLs within a reference list of infringing or disputed content; and

responsive to identifying a match between the URL for the located link and an URL within the reference list, modifying the located link.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of modifying the located link further comprises:

removing the located link from the content, or

disabling the located link by deleting the URL for the located link from the content.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of modifying the located link further comprises:

transcoding the located link to add a warning to the link.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to identifying a match between the URL for the located link and an URL within the reference list, determining whether the URL within the reference list is categorized as infringing or disputed;

responsive to determining that the URL within the reference list is categorized as infringing,

removing the located link from the content, or

disabling the located link by deleting the URL for the located link from the content; and

responsive to determining that the URL within the reference list is categorized as disputed, transcoding the located link to add a warning to the located link.

5. A method for testing links within content, comprising:

identifying one or more links within the content;

initiating a comparison of URLs for the one or more links within the content with URLs in a reference list of infringing or disputed links maintained by an independent aggregator; and

responsive to receiving an indication of a match between an URL for a link within the content and an URL within the reference list, modifying the matching link within the content.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of initiating a comparison of URLs for the one or more links within the content with URLs in a reference list of infringing or disputed links maintained by an independent aggregator further comprises:

transmitting the URLs for the one or more links within the content to a server containing the reference list.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving the indication of a match between an URL for a link within the content and an URL within the reference list from the server containing the reference list, wherein the indication includes an identification of a category of the URL within the reference list.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of modifying the matching link within the content further comprises:

responsive to receiving the indication of a match between an URL for a link within the content and an URL within the reference list from the server, determining whether the URL within the reference list is categorized as infringing or disputed;

responsive to determining that the URL within the reference list is categorized as infringing,

removing the matching link from the content, or

disabling the matching link by deleting the URL for the matching link from the content; and

responsive to determining that the URL within the reference list is categorized as disputed, transcoding the matching link to add a warning to the matching link.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

associating with the content a data structure including at least one of the following;

a date on which the content was tested;

a version of the reference list employed in testing the content;

an electronic signature for the content which was tested;

a listing of links within the content which were modified;

a listing of links within the content which were not modified;

or

an authentication code for verifying testing of the content.

10. A method for certifying links, comprising:

maintaining a reference list of URLs for infringing or disputed content; and

responsive to receiving a request for clearance of a link, initiating a comparison of an URL for the link with URLs in the reference list of infringing or disputed content.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of initiating a comparison of an URL for the link with URLs in the reference list of infringing or disputed content further comprises:

transmitting the reference list to a client originating the request for clearance to enable comparison of the URL for the link with URLs in the reference list at the client.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of initiating a comparison of an URL for the link with URLs in the reference list of infringing or disputed content further comprises:

comparing the URL for the link with URLs in the reference list at a server containing the reference list.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

responsive to determination of a match between the URL for the link and an URL within the reference list, transmitting a notification of the match to a client originating the request for clearance.

14. A method for eliminating infringing links within content, comprising:

extracting an URL for an allegedly infringing link from a received notification the allegedly infringing link;

initiating a comparison of the URL for the allegedly infringing link with URLs in a reference list of infringing or disputed links maintained by an independent aggregator; and

responsive to receiving an indication of a match between the URL for the allegedly infringing link and an URL within the reference list, modifying the allegedly infringing link within the content.

15. A system for identifying infringing or dispute links, comprising:

means for searching content for links;

means, responsive to locating a link within the content, for comparing an URL from the located link with URLs within a reference list of infringing or disputed content; and

means, responsive to identifying a match between the URL for the located link and an URL within the reference list, for modifying the located link.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

means, responsive to identifying a match between the URL for the located link and an URL within the reference list, for determining whether the URL within the reference list is categorized as infringing or disputed;

means, responsive to determining that the URL within the reference list is categorized as infringing, for

removing the located link from the content, or

disabling the located link by deleting the URL for the located link from the content; and

means, responsive to determining that the URL within the reference list is categorized as disputed, for transcoding the located link to add a warning to the located link.

17. A system for testing links within content, comprising:

means for identifying one or more links within the content;

means for initiating a comparison of URLs for the one or more links within the content with URLs in a reference list of infringing or disputed links maintained by an independent aggregator; and

means, responsive to receiving an indication of a match between an URL for a link within the content and an URL within the reference list, for modifying the matching link within the content.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for modifying the matching link within the content further comprises:

means, responsive to receiving an indication of a match between an URL for a link within the content and an URL within the reference list from a server containing the reference list, for determining whether the URL within the reference list is categorized as infringing or disputed;

means, responsive to determining that the URL within the reference list is categorized as infringing, for

removing the matching link from the content, or

disabling the matching link by deleting the URL for the matching link from the content; and

means, responsive to determining that the URL within the reference list is categorized as disputed, for transcoding the matching link to add a warning to the matching link.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

means for associating with the content a data structure including at least one of the following;

a date on which the content was tested;

a version of the reference list employed in testing the content;

an electronic signature for the content which was tested;

a listing of links within the content which were modified;

a listing of links within the content which were not modified;

or

an authentication code for verifying testing of the content.

20. A system for certifying links, comprising:

means for maintaining a reference list of URLs for infringing or disputed content; and

means, responsive to receiving a request for clearance of a link, for initiating a comparison of an URL for the link with URLs in the reference list of infringing or disputed content.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

means, responsive to determination of a match between the URL for the link and an URL within the reference list, for transmitting a notification of the match to a client originating the request for clearance.

22. A computer program product within a computer usable medium for identifying infringing or dispute links, comprising:

instructions for searching content for links;

instructions, responsive to locating a link within the content, for comparing an URL from the located link with URLs within a reference list of infringing or disputed content; and

instructions, responsive to identifying a match between the URL for the located link and an URL within the reference list, for modifying the located link.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, further comprising:

instructions, responsive to identifying a match between the URL for the located link and an URL within the reference list, for determining whether the URL within the reference list is categorized as infringing or disputed;

instructions, responsive to determining that the URL within the reference list is categorized as infringing, for

removing the located link from the content, or

disabling the located link by deleting the URL for the located link from the content; and

instructions, responsive to determining that the URL within the reference list is categorized as disputed, for transcoding the located link to add a warning to the located link.

24. A computer program product within a computer usable medium for testing links within content, comprising:

instructions for identifying one or more links within the content;

instructions for initiating a comparison of URLs for the one or more links within the content with URLs in a reference list of infringing or disputed links maintained by an independent aggregator; and

instructions, responsive to receiving an indication of a match between an URL for a link within the content and an URL within the reference list, for modifying the matching link within the content.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the instructions for modifying the matching link within the content further comprises:

instructions, responsive to receiving an indication of a match between an URL for a link within the content and an URL within the reference list from a server containing the reference list, for determining whether the URL within the reference list is categorized as infringing or disputed;

instructions, responsive to determining that the URL within the reference list is categorized as infringing, for

removing the matching link from the content, or

disabling the matching link by deleting the URL for the matching link from the content; and

instructions, responsive to determining that the URL within the reference list is categorized as disputed, for transcoding the matching link to add a warning to the matching link.

26. The computer program product of claim 24, further comprising:

instructions for associating with the content a data structure including at least one of the following;

a date on which the content was tested;

a version of the reference list employed in testing the content;

an electronic signature for the content which was tested;

a listing of links within the content which were modified;

a listing of links within the content which were not modified;

or

an authentication code for verifying testing of the content.

27. A computer program product within a computer usable medium for certifying links, comprising:

instructions for maintaining a reference list of URLs for infringing or disputed content; and

instructions, responsive to receiving a request for clearance of a link, for initiating a comparison of an URL for the link with URLs in the reference list of infringing or disputed content.

28. The computer program product of claim 27, further comprising:

instructions, responsive to determination of a match between the URL for the link and an URL within the reference list, for transmitting a notification of the match to a client originating the request for clearance.