Controlling content items

• US 8,600,849 B1
• Filed: 03/19/2009
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Bauman, Shannon P., Chiang, Leslie
• Primary Examiner(s): Zare, Scott
• Assistant Examiner(s): Masud, Rokib
• Application Number:
  US12/407,181
• Time in Patent Office: 1,720 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 705/10, 705/26, 705/27, 705/40, 705/34
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products may be used for controlling use of a content item. A tag may be applied to a content item. The tag may include at least a unique identifier associated with the content item. When a first indication of a selection of the content item is received, the tag may be used to identify a sharing level associated with the content item and to control use of the content item based on the sharing level associated with the content item.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

applying, using a processor, a tag to a content item owned by a first entity, the tag including at least a unique identifier associated with the content item;

determining that a web page associated with a second entity uses the content item for display on the web page, wherein the second entity is different from the first entity;

using the tag, identifying a sharing level associated with the content item, the sharing level indicating permitted use of the content item by an entity;

determining a permission status of the use of the content item on the web page of the second entity based on the sharing level associated with the content item, the permission status being one of permitted use and not permitted use;

determining a plurality of cost-per-use amounts for the content item based on the sharing level and characteristics of an entity using the content item; and

adjusting at least one of the plurality of cost-per-use amounts for the content item based on a correlation between a click-through rate of an advertisement and the advertisement being displayed on a web page with the content item.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the sharing level from the first entity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sharing level indicates whether the content item can be used by an entity other than the first entity.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an indication from the second entity including acceptance of use restrictions based on the sharing level associated with the content item.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising, when the sharing level associated with the content item indicates that the content item can be used by the second entity, charging an account of the second entity associated with the web page a cost-per-use amount associated with the content item.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier includes an owner identification.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the sharing level is included in the tag.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the tag is included in metadata of the content item.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the content item is a multimedia content item.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising, in response to determining that the permission status is not permitted use, taking a first action that results in a notification of the not permitted use.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein taking a first action comprises notifying the first entity of the second entity'"'"'s not permitted use of the content item on the web page.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein taking a first action comprises notifying the second entity that use of the content item is not permitted on the web page.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein taking a first action comprises charging the second entity a fine for the use of the content item on the web page.

14. A system comprising:

one or more computers; and

a computer-readable medium coupled to the one or more computers having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising;

applying a tag to a content item owned by a first entity, the tag including at least a unique identifier associated with the content item;

determining that a web page associated with a second entity uses the content item for display on the web page, wherein the second entity is different from the first entity;

using the tag, identifying a sharing level associated with the content item, the sharing level indicating permitted use of the content item by an entity;

determining a permission status of the use of the content item on the web page of the second entity based on the sharing level associated with the content item, the permission status being one of permitted use and not permitted use;

determining a plurality of cost-per-use amounts for the content item based on the sharing level and characteristics of an entity using the content item; and

adjusting at least one of the plurality of cost-per-use amounts for the content item based on a correlation between a click-through rate of an advertisement and the advertisement being displayed on a web page with the content item.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise receiving the sharing level from the first entity.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the sharing level indicates whether the content item can be used by an entity other than the first entity.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise receiving an indication from the second entity including acceptance of use restrictions based on the sharing level associated with the content item.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise, when the sharing level associated with the content item indicates that the content item can be used by the second entity, charging an account of the second entity associated with the web page a cost-per-use amount associated with the content item.

19. A computer storage medium encoded with a computer program, the program comprising instructions that when executed by data processing apparatus cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

applying a tag to a content item owned by a first entity, the tag including at least a unique identifier associated with the content item;

determining that a web page associated with a second entity uses the content item for display on the web page, wherein the second entity is different from the first entity;

using the tag, identifying a sharing level associated with the content item, the sharing level indicating permitted use of the content item by an entity;

determining a permission status of the use of the content item on the web page of the second entity based on the sharing level associated with the content item, the permission status being one of permitted use and not permitted use;

determining a plurality of cost-per-use amounts for the content item based on the sharing level and characteristics of an entity using the content item; and

adjusting at least one of the plurality of cost-per-use amounts for the content item based on a correlation between a click-through rate of an advertisement and the advertisement being displayed on a web page with the content item.