Abstract: A rights expression system and method for facilitating creation and/or modification of rights expressions in a rights expression language based on one or more schemas are provided. In one embodiment, the rights expression system comprises selectable layouts corresponding to a rights granting paradigm and comprises type selection components. Each type selection component is adapted to present REL terms and input components. The input components allow input of parameters required by the selected REL term. The rights expression system also includes a data engine that generates rights expressions in proper REL semantics defined by the one or more schemas based on the selected layout and parameter inputted. The type selection components and input components may be type selectors and input forms, respectively, that are implemented in a graphical user interface.

Abstract: A method, system and device for transferring usage rights associated with digital works, including generating, by a first party, first usage rights and hierarchical rights for a digital work, the first usage rights defining a use for the digital works, the first hierarchical rights specifying rights to derive usage rights or other hierarchical rights; presenting the first usage rights and hierarchical rights to a second party; receiving a selection from the second party indicating desired rights of the first usage rights and hierarchical rights; and granting the desired rights of the first usage rights and hierarchical rights to the second party.

Abstract: A method and system for managing the state of a protected resource in a system for granting access to a protected resource in accordance with usage rights. The usage rights include at least one state variable indicating a status of an associated protected resource. A message related to the state variable is transmitted from a resource control device to an interface framework. The resource control device is coupled to the resource to control use of the resource by enforcing the usage right. A state controller operative to track the value of the state variable is loaded into the framework and instructed to manipulate the value of the state variable in accordance with said message. For example, the message can be a query of the current value of the state variable.

Abstract: A method, system and software for controlling the number of times that a usage right associated with a digital work can be exercised, including creating a digital work; determining a usage right for the digital work, the usage right specifying a digital ticket, the digital ticket indicating a number of times the usage right may be exercised; requesting access to the digital work including an identification of the usage right; determining the validity of the usage right based on a number of times the digital ticket has been used; granting or denying access to the digital work based on the result of the determining step; and updating the digital ticket if access to the digital work is granted.

Abstract: A rendering method, system and software for enforcing usage rights associated with digital content, including exchanging information with a first repository for storing the digital content and the associated usage rights and for processing a usage transaction specifying the usage rights to determine if access to the digital content can be granted; and exchanging information with a second repository for generating the usage transaction. The grammar includes one or more symbols to indicate the manner of use, which can be used to specify how an authorized party is able to render the digital content, use the digital content to create a new digital content, make a back-up copy of the digital content, conceal the digital content on a device on which the digital content is stored, and delete the digital content from a device on which the digital content is stored.

Abstract: A method, system and software for enforcing execution of executable code in accordance with usage rights, including receiving a request generated by a user computing device to execute the executable code, and determining by a repository included in the user computing device whether the request should be granted based on usage rights associated with the executable code. The usage rights include a manner of use indicating a specific instance of how the executable code can be executed. The executable code is executed on the user computing device in accordance with the manner of use, if it is determined that the request should be granted. The request and the executing are accomplished through an interface. The executable code is executed in an address space of the user computing device. The user computing device is permitted to access the executable code only through the interface.

Abstract: A rendering method, system and software for use in a distributed system for managing use and rendering of content in accordance with usage rights associated therewith, and including a rendering device that renders the content; and a distributed repository coupled to the rendering device and including a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation. The first mode of operation receives content from another distributed repository and enforces usage rights associated with the content and permits the rendering device to render the content in accordance with a manner of use specified by the usage rights. The second mode of operation requests the rendering of content received from another distributed repository. The distributed repository permits the content to be rendered only if a manner of use specified in the request corresponds to a manner of use specified in the usage rights.

Abstract: A method, system, and device for indexing expressions for use in a system for processing the expressions, and including indexing an expression using a semantic value; receiving a query; generating a list of prospective expressions from indexed expressions based on the query; and processing the prospective expressions.

Abstract: A rendering method, system, repository and software for controlling use of digital works in accordance with usage rights associated therewith and including a manner of use therefor, including receiving requests for digital works; determining whether a request for a digital work should be granted based on usage rights associated with the digital work; and storing digital works in a removable storage device. Whether a manner of use specified in the request corresponds to a manner of use included in the usage rights is determined and if so the request is granted. A contents file of the digital work and a description file including the usage rights and associated with the contents file are stored on the removable storage device. A secure and trusted communication is established between the repository and the removable storage device.

Abstract: A method for creating a composite digital work having usage rights and composite digital works having usage rights. The method comprises creating a digital content portion of a composite digital work including a plurality of content parts, and creating a description structure for the composite digital work. The description structure comprises a plurality of description blocks containing usage rights associated with at least a corresponding at least one of said content parts. The usage rights specify a manner of use for the corresponding one of the content parts. The manner of use indicates one or more stated purposes for which the corresponding digital content portion can be at least one of used and distributed by an authorized user.

Abstract: A method, system and software for establishing a secure communications channel between repositories using a repository transaction protocol, including generating a registration identifier and registration message including an identification certificate, and an identifier of a master repository that encrypted the identification certificate; receiving the registration message and verifying the identity by verifying the identification certificate; validating the authenticity, including, generating a message to test the authenticity, sending the generated message, and verifying if upon receiving the generated message whether the generated message is correctly processed; and exchanging messages including a session key used for communications and transactions including generating a request for a digital work, associating usage rights information with the request for digital work, and determining if the usage rights information associated with the request corresponds to usage rights associated with the digital work.

Abstract: A method for facilitating distribution of a digital work within a system having at least one repository configured to enforce use of said digital work in accordance with rights. The digital work has one or more rights associated therewith. A copy right or other right is associated with a digital work. The copy right specifies a fee to be paid as a condition for the repository permitting a specified use of the digital work to be made. The digital work can be provided to a distributor for distribution to at least one other party. The fee is reported as a transaction in response to a distribution of said digital work.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for specifying and editing rights associated with a content includes a general model that comprehends rights specification at different levels of the content life cycle. The rights specification includes content association, and the protection of the content is a byproduct of the content and rights association. The general model includes a rights component, a conditions component, a rights offer component, and a rights label component. The rights offers specify the relationship between rights and conditions. The rights labels are collections of the offers.

Abstract: A client computer requests plural program parts from various servers. The plural parts are authorized in accordance with usage rights and combined to create a new computer program. The parts can be executed as the new computer program on the servers, on the client, or on both the servers and the client.

Abstract: A method, system and software for securely rendering digital documents, including storing a digital document in a document platform; and storing a usage right associated with the digital document. The usage right specifies a manner of use indicating the manner in which the digital document can be rendered by the document platform. The digital document comprises plural parts of digital content. The usage right includes plural usage rights respectively associated with each of the plural parts of digital content. Whether one of the parts of the digital document may be rendered by the document platform is determined based a respective usage right. If the respective usage right allows the digital document to be rendered on the document platform, the corresponding part of the digital document is rendered by the document platform.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for the secure distribution and consumption of electronic documents using a standard rendering engine. The documents have usage rights associated therewith. A server stores the documents in computer readable form. A user operates a client having a standard application program including a rendering engine capable of rendering unencrypted documents for viewing. The client and the server are coupled by a communications network. A rights management module receives a request from the client for at least one of the documents on the server and delivers the document and a set of rights associated with the document to the client. A connection module attached to the rendering engine receives the set of rights associated with the document. A user interface module attached to the rendering engine controls the user's access to the document in accordance with the list of rights for the user associated with the document.

Abstract: A digital work and a system context (or resource information or system resource) are polarized enabling trusted rendering or replay of the digital work without depolarization of the digital content. The digital work includes digital content and resource information. Resource information may include information used by a replay application to format or process the digital content. The digital work and system context are polarized using a polarization scheme which relies on a polarization seed to initialize and customize the polarization. Different types of polarization seeds may be used, including a random number, a user's system's state or characteristic and a dynamic state-based polarization seed based on a dynamic system state or characteristic.

Abstract: A method for providing multiple use packages for a digital work having one or more rights associated therewith within a system having at least one repository configured to enforce use of said digital work in accordance with the rights. A copy right and a plurality of versions of a play right are associated with the digital work. Each version of the play right specifies a respective play fee for playing the digital work in a manner specified by the version of the play right. In response to obtaining a copy of the digital work by a consumer, a respective play fee corresponding to an exercised version of the play right is reported as a transaction.

Abstract: A digital work for enforcing use of digital content, including electronically recording digital content and usage rights associated with the digital content and which can specify a manner of use of the digital content, and conditions for exercise of the manner of use. The usage rights and conditions can include symbols selected from a set of predetermined symbols which define a valid sequence of symbols that are interpreted by a non-centralized repository to indicate the manner of use for enforcing use of digital content and the conditions. The manner of use can specify how an authorized party is able to render, use, make a back-up copy, conceal or delete the digital content or create a new digital work on a device on which the digital content is stored.

Abstract: A method and system for enforcing use of digital content, including electronically recording digital content and usage rights associated with the digital content and which can specify a manner of use of the digital content, and conditions for exercise of the manner of use. The usage rights and conditions can include symbols selected from a set of predetermined symbols which define a valid sequence of symbols that are interpreted by a non-centralized repository to indicate the manner of use for enforcing use of digital content and the conditions. The manner of use can specify how an authorized party is able to render, use, make a back-up copy, conceal or delete the digital content or create a new digital work on a device on which the digital content is stored.