Redistribution of rights-managed content and technique for encouraging same

• US 8,775,320 B1
• Filed: 02/21/2007
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Lindeman, Thomas K., Hanan, Scott M., Beezer, John
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEUNG, CALVIN K
• Application Number:
  US11/677,315
• Time in Patent Office: 2,694 Days
• Field of Search: 705/51, 705/54, 705/57, 705/59
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1086 Superdistribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00

Abstract

Use of rights-managed content is enabled by a digital license that includes the identity of the licensee. The licensee redistributes the content by sending a package containing the content and the license to another party. That other party obtains a license to use the content by contacting a license server, and preferably pays a fee for this license. During the contact with the license server, the licensee'"'"'s identifying information is uploaded to the license server, which allows the license server to determine who distributed the content to the other party. The license server can use this information to reward the original licensee for having redistributed the content.

Claims

1. A physical computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:

defining a benefit specification that specifies a bounty payable by a licensor entity to a first licensee entity for promoting and distributing a piece of digital content;

providing a package comprising the benefit specification bound to the piece of digital content such that the benefit specification and the content are provided together, the package configured for transmitting to the licensor entity as part of a license request; and

transmitting to the first licensee entity, the package indicating to the first licensee entity, that the bounty is payable upon successful completion of a licensing transaction between the licensor entity and a second licensee entity that has received the package from the first licensee entity.

2. The physical computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the bounty is specified in a form other than money.

3. The physical computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the bounty is a percentage of a cost of a user license.

4. The physical computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the binding is carried out, at least in part, in response to receiving, from the first licensee entity, a request for a user license for the first licensee entity to use the piece of digital content.

5. The physical computer-readable medium of claim 4, wherein the binding is carried out, in further part, after ensuring that the first licensee entity satisfies at least one condition comprising payment of a licensing fee for the user license.

6. The physical computer-readable medium of claim 4, further comprising:

issuing, to the first licensee entity, the user license for the piece of digital content, wherein the user license includes the benefit specification.

7. The physical computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the benefit specification further indicates a commission payable by the licensor entity to the first licensee entity on one or more licenses sold for the piece of digital content, the commission being dependent upon a chain of referral between the first licensee entity and a purchaser of a given license.

8. A method comprising:

defining a benefit specification that indicates a bounty payable by a licensor entity to a first licensee entity for promoting and distributing a piece of digital content;

generating, by a processor, a package comprising the benefit specification bound to the piece of digital content, the package configured for transmitting to the licensor entity as part of a license request, such that the benefit specification and the content are transmitted together; and

transmitting to the first licensee entity, the package indicating to the first licensee entity, that the bounty is payable upon successful completion of a licensing transaction between the licensor entity and a second licensee entity that has received the package from the first licensee entity.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the bounty is non-monetary.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the binding is carried out, at least in part, in response to receiving, from the first licensee entity, a request for a user license for the first licensee entity to use the piece of digital content.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the binding is carried out after ensuring that the first licensee entity satisfies at least one condition comprising payment of a licensing fee for the user license.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

issuing, to the first licensee entity, the user license for the piece of digital content, wherein the user license includes the benefit specification.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the benefit specification further indicates a commission payable by the licensor entity to the first licensee entity on one or more licenses sold for the piece of digital content, the commission being dependent upon a chain of referral between the first licensee entity and a purchaser of a given license.

14. A processor comprising:

circuitry configured to generate a benefit specification that stipulates a referral fee payable by a licensor entity to a first licensee entity for promoting and distributing a piece of digital content;

circuitry for providing a package comprising the benefit specification bound to the piece of digital content such that the benefit specification and the content are provided together, the package configured for transmitting to the licensor entity as part of a license request; and

circuitry for transmitting to the first licensee entity, the package that provides an awareness of the benefit to the first licensee entity.

15. The processor of claim 14, wherein the binding is carried out, at least in part, in response to receiving, from the first licensee entity, a request for a user license for the first licensee entity to use the piece of digital content.

16. The processor of claim 15, wherein the binding is carried out after ensuring that the first licensee entity satisfies at least one condition comprising payment of a licensing fee for the user license.

17. The processor of claim 14, the circuitry further configured to:

issue, to the first licensee entity, the user license for the piece of digital content, wherein the user license includes the benefit specification.

18. The processor of claim 14, wherein the benefit specification further indicates a commission payable by the licensor entity to the first licensee entity on one or more licenses sold for the piece of digital content, the commission being dependent upon a chain of referral between the first licensee entity and a purchaser of a given license.