Abstract: A system and method for creating a rights expression for association with an item for use in a system for controlling use of the item in accordance with the rights expression, including specifying rights expression information indicating a manner of use of an item, the rights expression information including at least one element, the element having a variable and corresponding value for the variable; and performing an encoding process, including determining an identifier associated with a template corresponding to the rights expression information, extracting from the rights expression information the value for the variable corresponding to the element, and encoding a license adapted to be enforced on a device based on the variable and the identifier, the license including an identification of the template and the value for the variable.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling use of content in accordance with usage rights associated with the content and determined in accordance with the environment of a user device. A request is received for secure content from a user device and the integrity of the environment of the user device is verified. Appropriate usage rights are retrieved based upon the results of the verification of integrity and the content is rendered on the user device in accordance with the appropriate usage rights.

Abstract: Usage rights for a digital work are established prior to creation of the corresponding content. The rights can be associated with the content after the content is created. A content creation, such as a video recorder or a still camera, device can store labels of the rights and can associate usage rights with content in real time as the content is created.

Abstract: A system and method for distribution of digital works in a tree-like structure of devices. A hierarchical right may include a first usage right governing a use for the digital work and a first delegation right governing distribution of the digital work to child nodes of the tree-like structure. A second usage right and/or a second delegation right may be generated based on the hierarchical right, the second usage right governing a use for the digital work and the second delegation right governing distribution of the digital work to child nodes of a first child node of the tree-like structure. The second usage right and/or the second delegation right may be assigned to a version of the digital work, and the second usage right and/or the second delegation right and the version of the digital work may be forwarded to the first child node.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling use of content in accordance with usage rights associated with the content and determined in accordance with the environment of a user device. A request is received for secure content from a user device and the integrity of the environment of the user device is verified. Appropriate usage rights are retrieved based upon the results of the verification of integrity and the content is rendered on the user device in accordance with the appropriate usage rights.

Abstract: A self-contained device for protecting content, the content having usage rights associated therewith, includes a usage rights portion having usage rights that control the use of the content; a rights management module that authorizes a request to access to the content based on the usage rights; a rights assignment module that generates and updates the usage rights based on the content access; and an interface module that allows accessing of the content.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for transferring a digital work, including receiving by a first device a first digital work including digital content which is associated with usage rights and transfer permission information; sending to a server a request to transfer the digital content to a second device, the request indicating an identification of the second device; receiving from the server permission to transfer the digital content, the permission being generated based on the identification indicated by the request and the permission indicating new usage rights associated with the digital content; and transferring the digital content associated with the new usage rights to the second device.

Abstract: Usage rights for a digital work are established prior to creation of the corresponding content. The rights can be associated with the content after the content is created. A content creation, such as a video recorder or a still camera, device can store labels of the rights and can associate usage rights with content in real time as the content is created.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling use of content in accordance with usage rights associated with the content and determined in accordance with the environment of a user device. A request is received for secure content from a user device and the integrity of the environment of the user device is verified. Appropriate usage rights are retrieved based upon the results of the verification of integrity and the content is rendered on the user device in accordance with the appropriate usage rights.

Abstract: Usage rights for a digital work are established prior to creation of the corresponding content. The rights can be associated with the content after the content is created. A content creation, such as a video recorder or a still camera, device can store labels of the rights and can associate usage rights with content in real time as the content is created.

Abstract: A system and method for distribution of digital works in a tree-like structure of devices. A hierarchical right may include a first usage right governing a use for the digital work and a first delegation right governing distribution of the digital work to child nodes of the tree-like structure. A second usage right and/or a second delegation right may be generated based on the hierarchical right, the second usage right governing a use for the digital work and the second delegation right governing distribution of the digital work to child nodes of a first child node of the tree-like structure. The second usage right and/or the second delegation right may be assigned to a version of the digital work, and the second usage right and/or the second delegation right and the version of the digital work may be forwarded to the first child node.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a rights expression for association with an item for use in a system for controlling use of the item in accordance with the rights expression, including specifying rights expression information indicating a manner of use of an item, the rights expression information including at least one element, the element having a variable and corresponding value for the variable; and performing an encoding process, including determining an identifier associated with a template corresponding to the rights expression information, extracting from the rights expression information the value for the variable corresponding to the element, and encoding a license adapted to be enforced on a device based on the variable and the identifier, the license including an identification of the template and the value for the variable.

Abstract: A system and method for processing a rights expression for association with an item for use in a system for controlling use of the item in accordance with the rights expression. A rights expression is specified in a conventional manner in an original format. An intermediate format of the rights expression is generated based on at least one of syntax information and semantics information associated with the original format. The rights expression specifies a manner of use of said item for enforcement on a device. The intermediate format can be converted to a device specific format or a simplified format for resource constrained devices to permit rights enforcement on various devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating transfer of usage rights for digital content. The system comprises digital content, a usage rights module containing usage rights information associated with the content for a user, a transfer permission module containing transfer permission information for the content, a current user identification module containing identity information indicating the identity of the user, and means for manipulating the current user identification module to change the identity information. The content can be transferred form one user to another and the current user identification module can be manipulated to reflect the current user and to permit the current user to have usage rights in the document.

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: Through the use of digital rights management, one or more conditional or consequential rights can be associated with a document. The conditional or consequential rights are activated by one or more trigger events that allow or restrict access to one or more documents by one or more users.

Abstract: Flags are used to mark portions of content in a digital work to permit marking or demarcation of portions of the document. The demarcated portions can be handled in various ways. For example, different usage rights can be applied to demarcated portions, the demarcated portionis can be culled for use as a summary, or the like. The flags can be used to demarcate portions of content that has been downloaded to keep track of payment and download status and thus add flexibility to electronic distribution of content. A flag usage rights element can be attached to limit and control access to flags in a desired manner.

Abstract: Digital rights management allows one or more of usage rights and delegation rights to be associated with a document. Through the use of the usage rights and the delegation rights, a hierarchy of rights associated with a document is created that provides a tree-type structure of rights extending from the content owner down through one or more users.

Abstract: Usage rights for a digital work are established prior to creation of the corresponding content. The rights can be associated with the content after the content is created. A content creation, such as a video recorder or a still camera, device can store labels of the rights and can associate usage rights with content in real time as the content is created.