초록 ▼

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

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.

대표청구항 ▼

[ Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and secured by Letters Patent is:] [1.] A method for managing copyrighted electronic media, comprising the steps of:formatting media into a secure electronic container, the container including a digital representation of the media and a minimu

[ Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and secured by Letters Patent is:] [1.] A method for managing copyrighted electronic media, comprising the steps of:formatting 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;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; andproviding, through the server, selected transactional information, the information including at least one of (i) a number of registrations at the server and (ii) a quantitative indication of licensing revenues generated through the server.