Method for selling, protecting, and redistributing digital goods
US7209901B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 29, 2001 |
| Grant date | Apr 24, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 21, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2221/2117
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
This is a method for limiting access to selected features of a freely distributed multimedia file, by disabling selected features of the file (using encryption, compression, or other access denial), distributing the file with some enabled features as an inducement to new users, and offering to enable more features when a new user attempts to use a disabled feature. A licensing system then receives a request from the user's system, identifying a specific operating context and one or more features desired by the corresponding user. Accounting is done and an authorization is sent to the user or the user's system to enable the features. However, the authorization is uniquely associated with the measured operating context of the user and the features remain enabled only for said operating context, thus limiting full operation to authorized users, while permitting new users access to limited operations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.