Patent · US Expired

System for controlling the distribution and use of digital works having attached usage rights where the usage rights are defined by a usage rights grammar

US5715403A · kind A · utility

1,458Cited by
28References
28Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 23, 1994
Grant dateFeb 3, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 23, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F2221/2135
  • WIPO fieldIT methods for management
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A system for controlling use and distribution of digital works. The present invention allows the owner of a digital work to attach usage rights to their work. The usage rights define how the individual digital work may be used and distributed. Instances of usage rights are defined using a flexible and extensible usage rights grammar. Conceptually, a right in the usage rights grammar is a label associated with a predetermined behavior and conditions to exercising the right. The behavior of a usage right is embodied in a predetermined set of usage transactions steps. The usage transaction steps further check all conditions which must be satisfied before the right may be exercised. These usage transaction steps define a protocol for requesting the exercise of a right and the carrying out of a right.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.