System and method for managing copyrighted electronic media
First Claim
1. A method for managing copyrighted electronic media, comprising:
- formatting the media into a secure electronic container, the container including a digital representation of the media and a minimum permissions data set specifying the minimum authorized use of the media;
registering the electronic media on a server and assigning a registration identifier to the container, the server being connected for on-line data transfers with at least one computer;
transmitting licensing terms from the server to the computer in response to a request to license the media; and
augmenting the permissions data set with auxiliary permissions when the computer indicates acceptance of the terms, the auxiliary permissions providing authorization to utilize the media beyond what is authorized in the minimum permissions data set.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Copyrighted electronic media are packaged in a secure electronic format, and registered on associated registration server, which serves to provide on-line licensing and copyright management for that media. Users are connected to the server, e.g., through a computer network or the Internet, to enable data transfers and to transact licenses to utilize the media. Packaged electronic media are typically created by an author or derivative user of the work. Once the packaged media is registered on the server, the media is made available for limited use and possible license through an authorization server. This limited use is specified within the minimum permissions data set assigned to each packaged media. Without a license, users are typically permitted to view the packaged media—through a system which unpackages the media—but cannot save or otherwise transfer the media without obtaining auxiliary permissions to do so from the authorization server. The electronic media is authenticated through digital signatures and optional encryption.
457 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for managing copyrighted electronic media, comprising:
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formatting the media into a secure electronic container, the container including a digital representation of the media and a minimum permissions data set specifying the minimum authorized use of the media;
registering the electronic media on a server and assigning a registration identifier to the container, the server being connected for on-line data transfers with at least one computer;
transmitting licensing terms from the server to the computer in response to a request to license the media; and
augmenting the permissions data set with auxiliary permissions when the computer indicates acceptance of the terms, the auxiliary permissions providing authorization to utilize the media beyond what is authorized in the minimum permissions data set. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for authorizing access to copyrighted electronic media, comprising an authorization server connected for data transfer between an internal memory and at least one external data processor, the server having
(A) first storage means for storing selected information about the electronic media; -
(B) relay means, responsive to a request signal by the data processor, for communicating the selected information to the data processor;
(C) data comparison means for receiving response signals from the data processor and comparing the selected information with the response signals, the data comparison means generating an acceptance signal when the response signals correspond to at least a part of the selected information, and communicating the acceptance signal to the data processor to authorize access to the media; and
(D) a sourceworks extension module for storing a bibliographic record of the media, the bibliographic record forming a digital representation that specifies authorship information and access restrictions associated with the media.
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8. A system for authorizing access to copyrighted electronic media, comprising an authorization server connected for data transfer between an internal memory and at least one external data processor, the server having
(A) first storage means fair storing selected information about the electronic media; -
(B) relay means, responsive to a request signal by the data processor, for communicating the selected information to the data processor;
(C) data comparison means for receiving response signals from the data processor and comparing the selected information with the response signals, the data comparison means generating an acceptance signal when the response signals correspond to at least a part of the selected information, and communicating the acceptance signal to the data processor to authorize access to the media; and
(D) access control means for withholding access authorization to a portion of the media, the access control means being responsive to the acceptance signal to remove access restrictions to the portion.
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9. A method for authorizing data transfers of copyrighted digital media, comprising:
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affixing content-specific permission information to the media, the permission information specifying actions which are restricted and require augmented access privileges to perform, and specifying actions which are allowed under minimum privileges without the augmented access privileges;
storing selected information about the media on an authorization server connected for data transfer with at least one computer;
electronically communicating selected information about the media to the computer;
receiving response signals from the computer and comparing the selected information with the response signals; and
generating an acceptance signal when the response signals correspond to at least a part of the selected information, thereby authorizing access to the media. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method for maintaining an electronic bibliographic record of digital media, comprising:
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opening an object container containing the digital media, the object container including a representation of the media, a data identifier of media, and data specifying minimum permissions required to access the media;
editing the digital media in an application environment; and
attaching the data identifier and minimum permissions data to the edited media into a sourceworks list, the sourceworks list thereby providing a bibliographic record of the media. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A system for packaging electronic media within a secure digital document, comprising:
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means for enclosing the media as a binary data object within a data container;
means for attaching identification data to the data container; and
means for attaching minimum permissions data to the data container, the minimum permissions data specifying minimum uses authorized for the media without a license to the media, the data container, identification data, and minimum permissions thereby forming the digital document. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for protecting electronic media, comprising:
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packaging the electronic media within a secure electronic container by (i) attaching a data identifier to the media, and (ii) attaching data specifying minimum permissions required to use the media;
registering the container on a server connected for data transfer with at least one data processor; and
transferring auxiliary permissions from the server to the data processor upon acceptance of licensing terms associated with the media. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system for registering electronic media, comprising an authorization server connected for data transfer between an internal memory and at least one external data processor, the server having
(A) request means for receiving a request signal from the data processor, the request signal representing a request to register the media on the server; -
(B) authentication means for determining the authenticity of the media and the data processor based upon informal ion about the media and the request signal; and
(C) means generating an acceptance signal when the media is authenticated, thereby indicating that the server accepts the media for registration.
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24. A method for unpackaging electronic media configured within an electronic container, comprising:
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recognizing minimum permission data associated with the media, the minimum permission data specifying one or more authorizations needed to electronically access the media;
utilizing the media in a manner corresponding to the minimum permission data without requiring additional authorizations;
upon providing a predetermined signal, receiving updated permission data associated with the media, the updated permission data specifying one or more authorizations needed for expanded access to the media; and
utilizing the media in a manner corresponding to the updated permission data when a user has the requisite authorizations to do so.
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25. A method for managing copyrighted electronic media, comprising:
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receiving a request at a server to register a secure electronic container, the container including a digital representation of the media and a minimum permissions data set specifying the minimum authorized use of the media;
registering the electronic media on a server and assigning a registration identifier to the container, the server being connected for on-line data transfers with at least one computer;
providing licensing terns for transmission from the server to the computer, the transmission to occur in response to a request to license the media; and
providing an augment permissions data set, the augmented permission data set to augment the minimum permission data set when the computer indicates acceptance of the licensing terms, the auxiliary permissions providing authorization to utilize the media beyond what is authorized in the minimum permissions data set.
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26. A method for protecting electronic media, comprising:
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receiving a request at a server to register a container including the electronic media packaged within a secure electronic container, the container including at least;
i) a data identifier to the media, and ii) data specifying minimum permissions required to use the media;
registering the container on the server, the server being connected for data transfer with at least one data processor; and
transferring auxiliary permissions from the server to the data processor upon acceptance of licensing terns associated with the media.
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Specification