System and method for controlling rights expressions by stakeholders of an item

• US 7,685,642 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2003
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc. (Pendrell Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ContentGuard Holdings, Inc. (Pendrell Corporation)
• Inventors: Chen, Eddie J, Gilliam, Charles P
• Primary Examiner(s): Song; Hosuk
• Application Number:
  US10/606,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20040267552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,462 Days
• Field of Search: 726 26- 30, 713/193, 705/51, 705/59, 380200-202
• US Class Current: 726/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management

Abstract

A system and method for controlling a rights expression specifying a manner of use of an item, including specifying by a provider of an item a rights expression indicating a manner of use of the item by a recipient of the item and a condition for use of the item by the recipient, the condition indicating that the use by the recipient of the item is subject to control; associating the rights expression with the item; and controlling the use by the recipient of the item based on the condition in the rights expression. In further exemplary embodiments, the use by the recipient of the item is subject to control by a stakeholder and/or a provider of the item and can be used to provide consumer protection based on parameters of use.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for controlling use of an item, said method comprising:

specifying, by a provider of an item, a computer-readable rights expression, wherein said rights expression indicates a manner of use of said item by a recipient of said item and a condition for use of said item by said recipient, said condition indicating that said use of said item by said recipient is subject to an authorization by a stakeholder;

associating said rights expression with said item;

receiving a request, at a repository computing device, for use of said item from said recipient;

granting by said stakeholder said authorization for use of said item by said recipient, in accordance with said condition; and

controlling said repository computing device by said stakeholder to thereby control said use of said item by said recipient based on said rights expression and said authorization granted by said stakeholder, wherein said controlling step comprises;

employing a master license that at least one of references said rights expression and is referenced by said item, said master license including a latest version of said rights expression;

checking said master license for said latest version of said rights expression; and

controlling said master license by said stakeholder to control said use of said item by said recipient.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

granting said use of said item by a first repository from a second repository; and

controlling said second repository by said stakeholder to control said use of said item by said recipient.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

employing a digital ticket that references said rights expression;

specifying in said rights expression that presentment of said digital ticket is required for granting said use of said item by said recipient; and

controlling said digital ticket by said stakeholder to control said use of said item by said recipient.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

specifying by said stakeholder in a fights expression a condition for use of said item by said recipient; and

associating said rights expression of said stakeholder with said item.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

indicating in said condition specified by said stakeholder that said use of said item by said recipient is subject to authorization by a stakeholder.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

specifying by said stakeholder in said fights expression that said condition for use of said item by said recipient is subject to control by another stakeholder.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

specifying by a plurality of stakeholders in respective fights expressions respective conditions for use of said item by said recipient; and

associating said rights expressions of said stakeholders with said item.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

indicating in at least one of said respective conditions that said use of said item by said recipient is subject to authorization by one or more of said plurality of stakeholders.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

specifying by said provider in said rights expression a condition indicating that said use of said item by said recipient is subject to respective conditions of a plurality of stakeholders.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

specifying in said fights expression said conditions of said plurality of stakeholders indicating that said use of said item by said recipient is subject to authorization by one or more of said plurality of stakeholders.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said master license includes at least one rights expression indicating a manner of use of said item in accordance with applicable legislation, law or regulation.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said master license is under the control of a regulatory or governmental unit.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing one or more pointers that references said master license to perform said checking step.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

changing said one or more of said pointers to reference another master license instead of said master license or in addition to said master license.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing one or more pointers that reference one or more pointers to said master license to perform said checking step.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said rights expression includes a prohibited manner of use by said recipient of said item.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said manner of use comprises a usage right.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said use of said item includes access to said item.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said recipient includes at least one of a user of said item, a distributor of said item and a consumer of said item.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said item includes at least one of digital content, digital goods, digital services, non-digital content, non-digital goods and non-digital services.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said stakeholder is a third party.

22. A computer-implemented system for controlling use of an item, said system comprising:

means for specifying, by a provider of an item, a computer-readable rights expression, wherein said rights expression indicates a manner of use of said item by a recipient of said item and a condition for use of said item by said recipient, said condition indicating that said use of said item by said recipient is subject to an authorization by a stakeholder;

means for associating said rights expression with said item;

means for receiving a request, at a repository computing device, for use of said item from said recipient;

means for granting by said stakeholder said authorization for use of said item by said recipient, in accordance with said condition; and

means for controlling said repository computing device by said stakeholder to thereby control said use of said item by said recipient based on said fights expression and an authorization granted by said stakeholder, wherein said means for controlling comprises;

means for employing a master license that at least one of references said rights expression and is referenced by said item, said master license including a latest version of said rights expression;

means for checking said master license for said latest version of said rights expression; and

means for controlling said master license by said stakeholder to control said use of said item by said recipient.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

means for granting said use of said item by a first repository from a second repository; and

means for controlling said second repository by said stakeholder to control said use of said item by said recipient.

24. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

means for employing a digital ticket that references said rights expression;

means for specifying in said fights expression that presentment of said digital ticket is required for granting said use of said item by said recipient; and

means for controlling said digital ticket by said stakeholder to control said use of said item by said recipient.

25. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

means for specifying by said stakeholder in a fights expression a condition for use of said item by said recipient; and

means for associating said fights expression of said stakeholder with said item.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

means for specifying by said stakeholder in said rights expression that said condition for use of said item by said recipient is subject to control by another stakeholder.

27. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

means for indicating in said condition specified by said stakeholder that said use of said item by said recipient is subject to authorization by a stakeholder.

28. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

means for specifying by a plurality of stakeholders in respective rights expressions respective conditions for use of said item by said recipient; and

means for associating said rights expressions of said stakeholders with said item.

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising:

means for indicating in at least one of said respective conditions that said use of said item by said recipient is subject to authorization by one or more of said plurality of stakeholders.

30. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

means for specifying by said provider in said rights expression a condition indicating that said use of said item by said recipient is subject to respective conditions of a plurality of stakeholders.

31. The system of claim 30, further comprising:

means for specifying in said rights expression said respective conditions of said plurality of stakeholders indicating that said use of said item by said recipient is subject to authorization by one or more of said plurality of stakeholders.

32. The system of claim 22, wherein said master license includes at least one rights expression indicating a manner of use of said item in accordance with applicable legislation, law or regulation.

33. The system of claim 22, wherein said master license is under the control of a regulatory or governmental unit.

34. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

means for accessing one or more pointers that references said master license to perform said checking.

35. The system of claim 34, further comprising:

changing said one or more of said pointers to reference another master license instead of said master license or in addition to said master license.

36. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

means for accessing one or more pointers that reference one or more pointers to said master license to perform said checking.

37. The system of claim 22, wherein said rights expression includes a prohibited manner of use by said recipient of said item.

38. The system of claim 22, wherein said manner of use comprises a usage right.

39. The system of claim 22, wherein said use of said item includes access to said item.

40. The system of claim 22, wherein said recipient includes at least one of a user of said item, a distributor of said item and a consumer of said item.

41. The system of claim 22, wherein said item includes at least one of digital content, digital goods, digital services, non-digital content, non-digital goods and non-digital services.

42. The system of claim 22, wherein said stakeholder is a third party.

43. A computer-readable medium including one or more computer-readable instructions embedded therein for controlling use of an item, said computer-readable instructions comprising:

instructions for specifying, by a provider of an item, a computer-readable rights expression, wherein said rights expression indicates a manner of use of said item by a recipient of said item and a condition for use of said item by said recipient, said condition indicating that said use of said item by said recipient is subject to an authorization by a stakeholder;

instructions for associating said fights expression with said item;

instructions for receiving a request, at a repository computing device, for use of said item from said recipient;

instructions for granting by said stakeholder said authorization for use of said item by said recipient, in accordance with said condition; and

instructions for controlling said repository computing device by said stakeholder to thereby control said use of said item by said recipient based on said fights expression and an authorization granted by said stakeholder, wherein said instructions for controlling comprise;

instructions for employing a master license that at least one of references said rights expression and is referenced by said item, said master license including a latest version of said fights expression;

instructions for checking said master license for said latest version of said fights expression; and

instructions for controlling said master license by said stakeholder to control said use of said item by said recipient.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, further comprising:

instructions for granting said use of said item by a first repository from a second repository; and

instructions for controlling said second repository by said stakeholder to control said use of said item by said recipient.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, further comprising:

instructions for employing a digital ticket that references said rights expression;

instructions for specifying in said rights expression that presentment of said digital ticket is required for granting said use of said item by said recipient; and

instructions for controlling said digital ticket by said stakeholder to control said use of said item by said recipient.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, further comprising:

instructions for specifying by said stakeholder in a rights expression a condition for use of said item by said recipient; and

instructions for associating said rights expression of said stakeholder with said item.

47. The computer-readable medium of claim 46, further comprising:

instructions for indicating in said condition specified by said stakeholder that said use of said item by said recipient is subject to authorization by a stakeholder.

48. The computer-readable medium of claim 46, further comprising:

instructions for specifying by said stakeholder in said rights expression that said condition for use of said item by said recipient is subject to control by another stakeholder.

49. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, further comprising:

instructions for specifying by a plurality of stakeholders in respective rights expressions respective conditions for use of said item by said recipient; and

instructions for associating said rights expressions of said stakeholders with said item.

50. The computer-readable medium of claim 49, further comprising:

instructions for indicating in at least one of said respective conditions that said use of said item by said recipient is subject to authorization by one or more of said plurality of stakeholders.

51. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, further comprising:

instructions for specifying by said provider in said rights expression a condition indicating that said use of said item by said recipient is subject to respective conditions of a plurality of stakeholders.

52. The computer-readable medium of claim 51, further comprising:

instructions for specifying in said rights expression said respective conditions of said plurality of stakeholders indicating that said use of said item by said recipient is subject to authorization by one or more of said plurality of stakeholders.

53. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein said master license includes at least one rights expression indicating a manner of use of said item in accordance with applicable legislation, law or regulation.

54. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein said master license is under the control of a regulatory or governmental unit.

55. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, further comprising:

instructions for accessing one or more pointers that references said master license to perform said checking.

56. The computer-readable medium of claim 55, further comprising:

changing said one or more of said pointers to reference another master license instead of said master license or in addition to said master license.

57. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, further comprising:

instructions for accessing one or more pointers that reference one or more pointers to said master license to perform said checking.

58. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein said rights expression includes a prohibited manner of use by said recipient of said item.

59. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein said manner of use comprises a usage right.

60. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein said use of said item includes access to said item.

61. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein said recipient includes at least one of a user of said item, a distributor of said item and a consumer of said item.

62. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein said item includes at least one of digital content, digital goods, digital services, non-digital content, non-digital goods and non-digital services.

63. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein said stakeholder is a third party.

64. A computer-implemented method for controlling use of an item, said method comprising:

specifying, by a provider of an item, a computer-readable rights expression, wherein said rights expression indicates a manner of use of said item by a recipient of said item and a condition for use of said item by said recipient, said condition indicating that said use of said item by said recipient is subject to an authorization by a stakeholder;

associating said rights expression with said item;

receiving a request, at a repository computing device, for use of said item from said recipient;

granting by said stakeholder said authorization for use of said item by said recipient, in accordance with said condition; and

controlling said repository computing device by said stakeholder to thereby control said use of said item by said recipient based on said rights expression and said authorization granted by said stakeholder, wherein said controlling step comprises;

employing a central control repository that at least one of references said rights expression and is referenced by said item, said central control repository including a latest version of said rights expression;

checking said central control repository for said latest version of said rights expression; and

controlling said central control repository by said stakeholder to control said use of said item by said recipient.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein said central control repository includes at least one rights expression indicating a manner of use of said item in accordance with applicable legislation, law or regulation.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein said central control repository is under the control of a regulatory or governmental unit.

67. A computer-implemented system for controlling use of an item, said system comprising:

means for specifying, by a provider of an item, a computer-readable rights expression, wherein said rights expression indicates a manner of use of said item by a recipient of said item and a condition for use of said item by said recipient, said condition indicating that said use of said item by said recipient is subject to an authorization by a stakeholder;

means for associating said rights expression with said item;

means for receiving a request, at a repository computing device, for use of said item from said recipient;

means for granting by said stakeholder said authorization for use of said item by said recipient, in accordance with said condition; and

means for controlling said repository computing device by said stakeholder to thereby control said use of said item by said recipient based on said fights expression and an authorization granted by said stakeholder, wherein said means for controlling comprises;

means for employing a central control repository that at least one of references said fights expression and is referenced by said item, said central control repository including a latest version of said fights expression;

means for checking said central control repository for said latest version of said fights expression; and

means for controlling said central control repository by said stakeholder to control said use of said item by said recipient.

68. The system of claim 67, wherein said central control repository includes at least one rights expression indicating a manner of use of said item in accordance with applicable legislation, law or regulation.

69. The system of claim 67, wherein said central control repository is under the control of a regulatory or governmental unit.

70. A computer-readable medium including one or more computer-readable instructions embedded therein for controlling use of an item, said computer-readable instructions comprising:

instructions for specifying, by a provider of an item, a computer-readable rights expression, wherein said rights expression indicates a manner of use of said item by a recipient of said item and a condition for use of said item by said recipient, said condition indicating that said use of said item by said recipient is subject to an authorization by a stakeholder;

instructions for associating said fights expression with said item;

instructions for receiving a request, at a repository computing device, for use of said item from said recipient;

instructions for granting by said stakeholder said authorization for use of said item by said recipient, in accordance with said condition; and

instructions for controlling said repository computing device by said stakeholder to thereby control said use of said item by said recipient based on said fights expression and an authorization granted by said stakeholder, wherein said instructions for controlling comprise;

instructions for employing a central control repository that at least one of references said fights expression and is referenced by said item, said central control repository including a latest version of said fights expression;

instructions for checking said central control repository for said latest version of said fights expression; and

instructions for controlling said central control repository by said stakeholder to control said use of said item by said recipient.

71. The computer-readable medium of claim 70, wherein said central control repository includes at least one rights expression indicating a manner of use of said item in accordance with applicable legislation, law or regulation.

72. The computer-readable medium of claim 70, wherein said central control repository is under the control of a regulatory or governmental unit.