Abstract: System and methods for manipulating rights expressions for use in connection with a rights management system include one or more tokenized templates. Each tokenized template includes one or more rights expression language statements and one or more tokens associated with at least one of the rights expression language statements. Further, the tokens can be place holders for data items or rights expression elements. The system further includes a license template module that creates the tokenized templates, and a license instance creation module that replaces at least one of the tokens in one or more selected license templates with one or more of the data items or rights expression elements to generate a license instance. Additionally, the system includes a license instance analysis module having sub-modules for validating and interpreting license instances, and a data parsing module for extracting data from created license instances.

Abstract: Extensible grammar-based rights expression system for processing rights expressions including an interpreter with plug-in subcomponents, a validator, and a framework. In another embodiment, system includes a framework having an extensible architecture with extensibility points for adding extensions to the grammar, and an interpreter, the extensions defining semantics and syntax of new rights expressions. A method for processing rights expressions is also provided having the steps of registering plug-in components, making a programmatic call, finding and invoking appropriate plug-in components, evaluating the request against the grant, and returning an authorization result. In another embodiment, method includes the steps of providing an extensible grammar-based rights expression system having an extensible architecture with an interpreter, evaluating the request against the grant using the interpreter, and returning an authorization result.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing access to resources that integrates both authorization and protection for a wide range of resources. The rights to access a protected resource are based on conditions. Conditions are associated with both resource the resource and the state of the resource to thereby protect the resource at various stages during its life cycle. Conditions that are associated with the entire life cycle of the protected resource can be expressed by use of a grammar including data structures, sets of rules or a language.

Abstract: The publishing system and method automates at least some portion of a publishing process. The system publishes content using metadata, rights templates and/or specifications, publishing profiles and business rules.