Document template licensing

• US 8,725,650 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2012
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Mowatt, David, Farrell, Terry
• Primary Examiner(s): OBEID, MAMON A
• Application Number:
  US13/358,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20130198038A1
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 705/59, 705/51, 726 26- 30, 713/193
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Methods and systems for licensing a document template are provided herein. The method includes obtaining, within a computing device, a license for a document template from a marketplace service. The method also includes downloading the document template to the computing device. The method includes providing a functional experience of a document derived from the document template to a licensed user. The method further includes sharing a license-restricted document with an unlicensed user in response to an input from the licensed user, wherein the license-restricted document provides a reduced-functionality experience of the document derived from the document template to the unlicensed user.

Claims

1. A method for licensing a document template, comprising:

obtaining, at a computing device, a license for a document template comprising a style guide for a document from a marketplace service;

downloading the document template to the computing device;

providing a functionality of a document derived from the document template to a licensed user; and

sharing a license-restricted document with an unlicensed user in response to an input from the licensed user, wherein the license-restricted document provides a reduced-functionality of the document derived from the document template to the unlicensed user;

wherein sharing a license-restricted document with the unlicensed user comprises;

assigning a seat to the unlicensed user;

sending a token associated with the license to a third party service when the unlicensed user attempts to access the document template;

accepting the token at the marketplace service provided from the third party service;

verifying a validity of the token at the marketplace service;

sending a message from the marketplace service verifying the validity of the token to the third party service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the license for the document template from the marketplace service comprises:

sending a request for the license for the document template from the computing device to the marketplace service in response to an input by a purchaser;

accepting a token, in response to the license request, from the marketplace service at the computing device via a client platform; and

providing the user with access to specific levels of service within the document template in response to receiving the message verifying the validity of the token from the third party service.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the licensed user comprises the purchaser or the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the license for the document template from the marketplace service comprises:

sending a request for the license for the document template from the computing device to the marketplace service in response to an input by the user; and

directly downloading the license for the document template from the marketplace service to the computing device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the functionality of the document derived from the document template to the licensed user comprises providing the document derived from the document template for use in accordance with the license for the document template in response to determining that the licensed user has the license.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein sharing the license-restricted document with the unlicensed user comprises providing options for the unlicensed user to buy the document template or try the document template in response to determining that the unlicensed user does not have the license for the document template.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the functionality of the document derived from the document template comprises loading the document derived from the document template within a target application on the computing device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the document template is bound to a web add-in.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the license-restricted document comprises content with watermarks, sample content, content that has not been updated, or low quality content, or any combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the functionality of the document derived from the document template to the licensed user comprises providing the licensed user with an ability to access high quality resources within the document, an ability to edit certain content within the document, or an ability to obtain fresh content via a third party service which has verified that the user has the license for the document template, or any combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the license comprises a trial license or a paid license, and wherein the paid license comprises a premium paid license or a basic paid license.