Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as described is particularly useful to the music industry as it enables them to make audio data available over the internet but to retain control of the uses to which that audio data can be put. Thus, upon completing a financial transaction to pay for the required audio tracks, the end user is enabled to download and decrypt encrypted music tracks and to play them on the end user's personal computer. The end user can also be allowed to burn a CD including the downloaded music tracks. However, the end user is only enabled to decrypt and record the music tracks onto the CD if the music tracks are recorded together with copy protection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as described is particularly useful to the music industry as it enables them to make audio data available over the internet but to retain control of the uses to which that audio data can be put. Thus, upon completing a financial transaction to pay for the required audio tracks, the end user is enabled to download and decrypt encrypted music tracks and to play them on the end user's personal computer. The end user can also be allowed to burn a CD including the downloaded music tracks. However, the end user is only enabled to decrypt and record the music tracks onto the CD if the music tracks are recorded together with copy protection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as described is particularly useful to the music industry as it enables them to make audio data available over the internet but to retain control of the uses to which that audio data can be put. Thus, upon completing a financial transaction to pay for the required audio tracks, the end user is enabled to download and decrypt encrypted music tracks and to play them on the end user's personal computer. The end user can also be allowed to burn a CD including the downloaded music tracks. However, the end user is only enabled to decrypt and record the music tracks onto the CD if the music tracks are recorded together with copy protection.

Abstract: It is proposed to copy protect data files for transmission by incorporating DSV data patterns, that is, data patterns which are difficult to encode without causing DSV problems, in the data files. The data in five audio streams and two video streams is placed, by way of encoders (10) and a multiplexer (12) into a stream of blocks of encoded data in the MPEG file format (14). In this format, blocks of video data V are arranged alternately with blocks of audio data A and padding stream blocks P. DSV data patterns (16) are incorporated into the MPEG file (14) by way of an encoder (18) to produce the copy protected data file (15). The DSV data patterns (16) are incorporated into locations within the MPEG file which have no data content such as padding stream blocks P and/or into unused audio data blocks A.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as described is particularly useful to the music industry as it enables them to make audio data available over the internet but to retain control of the uses to which that audio data can be put. Thus, upon completing a financial transaction to pay for the required audio tracks, the end user is enabled to download and decrypt encrypted music tracks and to play them on the end user's personal computer. The end user can also be allowed to burn a CD including the downloaded music tracks. However, the end user is only enabled to decrypt and record the music tracks onto the CD if the music tracks are recorded together with copy protection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a licensed end user to record digital data as described is particularly useful to the music industry as it enables them to make audio data available over the internet but to retain control of the uses to which that audio data can be put. Thus, upon completing a financial transaction to pay for the required audio tracks, the end user is enabled to download and decrypt encrypted music tracks and to play them on the end user's personal computer. The end user can also be allowed to burn a CD including the downloaded music tracks. However, the end user is only enabled to decrypt and record the music tracks onto the CD if the music tracks are recorded together with copy protection.