JP2000163488A - Method and system for monitoring use of digital copyrighted work, digital copyrighted work recording device, and digital copyrighted work reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly and smoothly distribute digital copyrighted work by preventing a digital copyrighted work from illegally being used, e.g. copied without permission, monitoring whether it is used with regular permission, and demanding the payment of the charge for the use of the digital copyrighted work. SOLUTION: A use permit is issued according to an application for the use of the digital copyrighted work and added to the digital copyrighted work by digital watermarking. Here, an identification code for a use device that a user uses is incorporated in the permit to monitor whether the use of the distributed digital copyrighted work is given proper permission. The issue of the permit can be conditioned by the payment of the use charge.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is intended to prevent inappropriate use of digital works such as digitalized images and music when the works are used by copying or the like, and to enable appropriate and smooth distribution. The present invention relates to a digital work use monitoring method, a use monitoring system, a digital work recording device, and a digital work reproduction device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the development of digital signal processing technology and computer technology, various copyrighted works have been digitized easily at low cost and have been widely used. For example, general computer users (users) and many uncharacteristic users (users) such as small corporations,
You can now create your own original digital work. Also, music software such as a huge amount of commercial records owned by individuals and organizations, video software such as movies, image software such as arts and crafts and buildings, and publishing software such as books will be digitized and used. became.

[0003] Such digitized works (called digital works, digital contents, etc.) can be easily used by using a personal computer (called a PC or simply a computer) or digital equipment. In particular, by using an information network such as the Internet, these digital works can be distributed extremely easily to personal or non-profit users. Furthermore, the user can very easily copy (copy) and modify the digital work.

[0004] On the other hand, in the conventional copyright law, the copyright owner, creator, distributor, and the like are required to copy software to lower the software quality (for example, if an image is copied, the quality of the image is worsened). It was something to protect. In other words, the right holder (author or assignee of the copyright) exercises the duplication right to allow the creator to duplicate and sell it, and to foster and develop industries and distribution systems such as records, videos, and publishing. These records, videos and publications themselves were distributed through the system to the end user.

[0005] Also, in the distribution industry of digital literary works, copyright holders have conventionally used CD-ROMs and DVDs.
(Digital Video Disc, Digital Video Disc,
Or Digital Versatile Disc)
The right to make package media (copy) and the right to allow copying on the network are given to the server of the distribution company. As a result, users of digital works have access to servers that store masters of digital content to obtain electronic digital reproductions.

[0006]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, however, general personal users and small corporations / organizations have been using commercially available personal computers (P
C) and production tool software such as encoders can be easily purchased. For this reason, it has become possible for individual users, small corporations and organizations to perform content production (digitization and duplication), which was conventionally performed by software industry specialists using technology and funds.

[0007] As described above, it is impossible for an individual to hold digital technology and use it for his or her own convenience without infringement under the conventional copyright law, and it is impossible to take legal action as tort. Also, considering the future development of digital technology,
It is not appropriate to prohibit all such acts.

For this reason, it is necessary to establish a new rights protection system in order to protect rights holders in the digital media age. Therefore, the applicant has the following new system (here, digital transfer rights)
Suggest. In other words, this new system separately authenticates the user's use of the digital work for each user device (user terminal, recording / reproducing device, etc.) used by the user, and issues a license to each user device. It is possible to directly collect the usage fee (usage fee) from a user device of a user who has been issued a usage license and distribute the collected usage fee to a right holder.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it has been determined whether or not a digital work used by a user in the new system has been granted a license. It is a first object of the present invention to provide a digital work use monitoring method that enables monitoring and enables proper and smooth distribution of digital work.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a usage monitoring system used directly to carry out this method. It is a third and fourth object of the present invention to provide a digital work recording device and a digital work reproduction device that constitute the use monitoring system.

[0011]

According to the present invention, the first object is as follows.
(a) The digital work is registered in the rights registration database by an identification code; (b) The rights processing agency has the identification code of the digital work used by the user and the identification code of the device used by the user. (C) the rights processing agent center registers the identification code of the digital work to be used by the use device and the identification code of the use device based on the application for the use license in the right registration process. If the license is checked, the license containing the identification code of this device is issued; (d) The license is added to the digital work by a digital watermark and the license is attached. A digital work use monitoring method characterized by comprising the above-described steps (a) to (d).

[0012] In this case, the right processing agent center issues a permit after confirming that the fee is paid from the utilization device when the identification code of the utilization device is not registered for the digital work. When the fee is not paid, a warning is preferably sent to the user. As a method of adding a license to a digital work, a license issued each time the use device changes can be added or readable in a legible manner, but the quality (image quality and sound quality) of the work deteriorates. In order to prevent this, a good method is to replace the old license with a new one.

[0013] A second object of the present invention is to provide a right registration database for registering, using an identification code, a digital work and a digital work recording / reproducing device used by the user;
A license application form section provided in the digital work recording / reproducing device of the user and transmitting an identification code of the digital work used in the digital work recording / reproducing device and an identification code of the digital work recording / reproducing device; A license adding unit for adding a license including an identification code of the digital work recording / reproducing apparatus to the digital work based on a license issuance command output by the rights processing agency described below by a digital watermark; An encoder; and an application for collating the digital work used by the digital work recording / reproducing apparatus and the identification code of the digital work recording / reproducing apparatus with the rights registration database based on the identification code sent from the license application form section. The acceptance server and, if licensed, the digital work recording / reproduction device And rights processing proxy center and a license-issuing server to issue a license including a code for the permit adding unit; usage monitor system digital work, characterized in that it comprises a are achieved by.

It is preferable that a billing system is provided in the use monitoring system, and that a new license is issued on condition that the use fee is paid. In this case, a payment processor is provided in the encoder, a billing server is provided in the right processing agency center, and a billing database is further provided. If the user identification code is not registered for the digital work for which the application has been made, the application reception server requests the payment processing unit for the application, and the payment processing unit sends the request to the charging server. Submit an application and pay the usage fee to the billing system. Then, the billing server sends the issuance command to the license issuing server, and the permit adding unit adds the permit to the digital work based on the permit issuing command sent by the permit issuing server to the user. In this case, the processing result is stored in a charging database or a right registration database.

The digital work recording / reproducing apparatus of the user is formed by a computer (personal computer, PC), and this computer can be connected to the rights processing agency center through an information network (computer network) such as the Internet or WWW. . When a large number of users are connected to the rights processing agency through the information network in this way, the rights processing agency uses a digital work without a license and has an identification code different from that of the user. Digital work can be monitored over an information network.

For example, the source of a digital work used on a user's homepage can be checked using well-known search engine software or the like, and the presence or absence of an appropriate license can be monitored. Then, a warning can be sent to the user through the information network for inappropriate use of the digital work.

A plurality of rights processing agency centers may be connected to each other via an information network such as the Internet. In this case, the digital work can be distributed between the right processing centers, and the sales channels can be further expanded. For example, by providing this for each certain region such as a country, digital works can be freely distributed between different countries across borders. In this case, the charging process in the area can be processed in the area in principle.

It is preferable that the plurality of rights acting centers are divided into layers. For example, one general rights processing agency in the top tier, multiple regional rights processing centers in the middle tier,
It is divided into the lowest-level terminal processing agency. In this case, a regional rights processing agency is provided for each country, and accounting processing in each country is performed by the respective rights processing agency center, and distribution and accounting of digital works between different countries are handled by the general rights processing agency. , Smooth distribution and maintenance of order of digital works can be easily achieved, and billing processing between different currencies can be facilitated.

A third object of the present invention is a digital work recording device used in the digital work use monitoring system described above, wherein a user side encoder having a license application form section and a license adding section, A recording unit for recording a digital work with a permit by a digital watermark on a separable storage medium.

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a digital work reproducing apparatus for use with the digital work recording apparatus, wherein the reproducing section reads contents recorded on a storage medium; The identification code is stored in advance, and when the license attached to the digital work read by the reproduction unit does not match the identification code of the digital work recording device, the digital work read by the reproduction unit is output. And a protector for inhibiting the digital work.

[0021]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment serving as a basic configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which a billing system is similarly added, and FIG. 3 is an embodiment in which an unauthorized use warning system by an information network is added. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another embodiment in which the digital work recording device and the reproduction device are separated.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a digital work 1
2 (including the creator or a person to whom the right has been transferred from the creator), and the copyright holder 10 registers the digital work 12 in a rights registration database (DB) 14 (FIG. 1, Step 2).

Each digital work 12 is provided with an identification code, and the digital work 12 and its identification code are always transmitted integrally. When registering this digital work 12 in the rights registration database 12,
Along with the identification code, the identification code (I
D) is registered.

A user who wishes to use the digital work 12, that is, a user A (user, client) has a digital work recording / reproducing device 16 composed of a computer, and transfers the digital work 12 to an information network such as the Internet or a CD. -Copy (copy) to the own device 16 via a storage medium such as a ROM or a DVD (step).

The recording / reproducing device 16 of the user A has a built-in encoder 18 composed of software. The recording / reproducing apparatus 16 is connected to a rights processing agency (Digital Rights Center, DR) via an information network such as the Internet.
C) 20. The software of the encoder 18 may be provided from the DRC 20 via an information network. This software is a CD-ROM prepared separately
And may be supplied to the user A after being recorded on a recording medium such as.

A user A who wants to use the digital work 12 uses the encoder 18 to apply for a use permission to the DRC 20 (step). This application is based on the identification code of the digital work 12 to be used and the identification code ID of the user A.
(A) to the DRC 20. D
When receiving the permission application, the RC 20 checks the data of the right registration database 14 against the data, and determines whether or not the user A has been registered for the digital work, that is, whether or not the user A has already received the use permission. Confirm whether or not (step).

If the use permission has already been received, DRC2
0 instructs the user A to issue a permit (step). This license issuance command is issued only to the user A, and the license 22 includes the identification code ID (A) of the user A. The encoder 18 receives the license issuing instruction and adds the license 22 to the digital work 12 by a digital watermark (step). Therefore, the digital work 12 subsequently used by the user A is always used with this permit 22 attached.

Various methods are known for the digital watermark used here. For example, a method using a Fourier transform or a method using a wavelet transform has been proposed for audio data. For still images, wavelet transform or JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts
Group) image compression method is used for moving images, but MPEG (Motion Picture Image Coding Experts Gr.
oup) A method using a compression method has been proposed. Since it is complicated to explain these methods in detail, the explanation is omitted here and only the names of documents are listed. (1) Koshio Matsui "Image Deep Encryption" Morikita Publishing, 199
3, (2) Yuichi Ishizuka, Yasuyuki Sakai, Koichi Sakurai "On Quality Evaluation of Digital Watermarking Technology Based on Frequency Transformation" IEICE, IEICE Technical Report, 1997-07, (3) Megumi Iwamura,
Koichi Sakurai, Hideki Imai "Proposal of Blind Digital Watermarking" IEICE, IEICE Technical Report, 1997-09.

The other user B has the recording / reproducing device 16B similarly to the user A, in which the identification code ID of the user B is stored.
An encoder 18B including (B) is incorporated. User B
Copies the digital work 12 from the user A, as a digital work 12B, the recording / reproducing device 16B
(Step). Encoder ID (B) 1
8B sends the identification code of the digital work 12B and the identification code ID (B) of the user B to the DRC 20 and applies for permission (step). The DRC 20 checks whether the user B is permitted to use the digital work 12B by comparing it with the data in the right registration database 14 (step). As a result, if the use permission has been registered, the DRC 20 sends a command to issue a permit 22B to the user B (step).

The encoder 18B receives the grant command and issues a license 22B for the user B to the digital work 12B.
(Step (10)). At this time, the license 22 of the user A is included in the digital work 12B.
Is already added in the step by the digital watermark, so that the permit 22 can be rewritten to the permit 22B when the permit 22B is added in this step (10).

In the case of rewriting as described above, it is preferable if the degree of deterioration of the information on the original digital work 12 can be kept constant, because there is no possibility that the image quality and sound quality will be deteriorated due to repeated copying. Also permit 22B
Can also be recorded sequentially without erasing the old license 22. In this case, the copy history can be known by reading the licenses 22B and 22 retrospectively in reverse order, so that the digital work This is convenient for grasping the usage status of Twelve.

In this embodiment, the user installs the software in the recording / reproducing apparatus 16 of the encoder 18 in the user. It can be stored in advance by a memory. In particular, this encoder 18 can be installed in advance in all commercially available recording / reproducing devices 16 so that the user cannot remove the encoder 18. In this case, the monitoring function of the unauthorized use monitoring system (FIG. 3) described later can be improved.

[0033]

Next, an example of a configuration in which a charging system is added to the basic configuration of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the encoder 18 used for the recording / reproducing device 16 of the user A includes an application form unit 100 and a payment processing unit 102
And a permit adding unit 104. The application form unit 100 and the permit adding unit 104 are the same as those provided in the encoder 18 in the embodiment described with reference to FIG.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the DRC 20 has an application receiving server 106, a billing server 108, and a permit issuing server 110. Note that the application reception server 106
The license issuing server 110 is the same as that provided in the DRC 20 in the embodiment of FIG. Further, the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 has a charging database 114 which forms a right information management database 112 together with the right registration database 14. This billing database 114 contains billing information for each user, for example, digital work 1 used.
Information such as the payment amount, payment date, payment method, etc. for 2 is recorded.

Reference numeral 116 denotes a billing system. This billing system 116 is used for electronic money settlement, cash card settlement, ISP (Internet Service Provider) settlement [IS
A method in which the ISP uses the connection ID (identification code) of P to collect the payment]], various known payment methods, and a method that can be used in the future.

In this embodiment, the author 10 registers the digital work 12 in the rights registration DB 14 (step in FIG. 2), and when the user A copies this digital work 12 (step in FIG. 2), the encoder 18 Application form section 100 submits a use permission application to application reception server 106 of DRC 20 (step). This application reception server 1
06 refers to the rights registration DB 14 to check whether or not the user A has registered a license for the digital work 12 (step). The operation up to this point is described in FIG.
Is exactly the same as the embodiment of the present invention.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, if the license has not been registered (not licensed) in this step, the application receiving server 106 makes the user A pay the usage fee and adds an appropriate permit. The following processing is performed in order to cause this. That is, a request is made to the payment processing unit 102 of the encoder 18 to make a main application for requesting issuance of a proper permit (step). The payment processing unit 102 applies the identification code ID (A) of the user A to the accounting server 108 based on the instruction of the user A, and makes a main application (step). At this time, the user A pays a usage fee using the charging system 116.

The billing server 108 sends a license issuing command to the license issuing server 110 on condition that the main application from the user A and payment of the fee are made (step). At this time, the issuance of the permit to the user A is added to the right registration DB 14 as usage information. The usage fee payment information is recorded in the charging database 114.

The permit issuing server 110 sends a similar grant command to the permit adding unit 104 of the encoder 18 based on the grant command (step). Permit adding unit 104
Adds the license 22 including the identification code of the user A to the copyrighted work 12 by an electronic watermark based on the delivery instruction (step). As a result, the literary work 12 becomes an appropriate one with the permit 22 added thereto, and the user A can use it properly by himself. On the other hand, the right information management database 112 manages the usage fee paid by the user A, and distributes the distribution to the copyright holder 10 in a timely manner (step (10)).

[0040]

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another embodiment to which a system for monitoring unauthorized use is added. In this embodiment, a plurality of users A, B, C,..., A right processing agency (DRC) 20 and a monitoring center 120 are connected by an information network 122 such as the Internet. Here, it is assumed that users A and B are users of a digital work with an appropriate license, and user C is a user who illegally uses a work without an appropriate license.

The monitoring center 120 sends a warning to the unauthorized user and records information on the unauthorized user in the unauthorized information database 124.
The first method in which the monitoring center 120 detects an unauthorized user is when the DRC 20 notifies the monitoring center 120 that the user does not pay the usage fee even though the DRC 20 has received the usage permission application (FIG. Step 3 (a)).

The second method is a case where the monitoring center 120 searches for an unauthorized user through the information network 122. For example, the monitoring center 120 has users A, B, C,
.., Open the homepage in a timely manner, and decrypt the digital watermark used for the digital work used on the homepage. Then, it is determined whether the decrypted certificate is for the users A, B,... Of the work. The user C using an improper permit or a non-permit is determined to be an unauthorized user, and a warning is issued via the information network 122 or other appropriate means. Is issued (step (b)).

[0043]

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment, in which a digital work recording device and a reproducing device are separately divided. 130 is a recording device, such as a computer or C
Data of digital work such as a D (Compact Disc) recorder and a DVD recorder can be recorded as digital information.

The recording device 130 includes an encoder 132
Is pre-installed. The encoder 132 includes the identification code ID (A) of the user A of the recording device 130. DRC for permission application by user A (step)
If the certificate 20 has issued the license issuance command (step), the encoder 132 adds a license (A) for the user A to the digital work by an electronic watermark (step).

A recording medium, for example, a compact disk (CD) is taken out from the recording device 130 and set in a reproducing device (CD player) 134 (step). The reproducing device 134 includes a protector (A) 136 for the user A.
Is pre-installed. This protector (A) 136
Determines whether the permit is issued to user A as a result of decrypting the permit. If the license is for user A, protector (A) 1
Reference numeral 36 permits reproduction of the copyrighted work, and if it is a music copyrighted work, the user A can listen to the music.

Reference numeral 138 denotes a reproducing apparatus for a different user B. Here, a protector (B) 140 for the user B is provided.
Is pre-installed. Therefore, when a CD with the license of the user A is set in the playback device 138, the identification code ID (B) of the protector (B) 140 is the same as the identification code ID (A) of the license of the CD. Will not match.
At this time, the protector (B) 140 prohibits reproduction by the reproduction device 138. According to this embodiment, an illegally copied digital work cannot be reproduced by a device other than an appropriate reproducing device, and illegal copy can be reliably prevented.

[0047]

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of another embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flow of information. In this embodiment, a plurality of said right transfer centers (DRCs) are divided into layers and connected to each other by an information network. That is, D
RC is an end-rights processing agency (Business DRC, B-B) that provides digital works to users.
DRC) and an upper-level regional rights processing agency (Country DRC, C-DR) that supervises a plurality of B-DRCs.
C) and a top-level general right processing agency (World Wide DRC, WW-
DRC and wwDRC), which are connected via the Internet or the like.

The B-DRC is a distribution management server corresponding to a store for digital works, and has two stores, a large store and a small store.
There can be species. The large store has its own billing system, and the small store is a satellite store operated under the control of the large store or C-DRC. This B-DRC is shown in FIGS.
User with DRC20 function described in
The following processing is performed between and. That is, it includes sales registration, distribution management, permit management, and billing / payment information management of digital works (contents). The rights registration database 14 and the billing database 114 in FIGS.
The RC may be provided separately, but the C-DRC of the upper layer may be used. The B-DRC stores information related to transmission and reception of information with the user in the upper layer CD-D.
Send to RC.

C-DRC is a fixed area, for example, one for each country.
It is provided one by one and supervises and manages all B-DRCs in each country. This C-DRC has a rights registration database 14 (FIGS. 1 and 2) or a rights information management database 112 (FIG. 2) and a charging system (116, FIG. 2), and registers digital works (contents) in each country. First, all processing and management shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are performed. That is, in each country, one C-DRC manages all digital works, manages charging, manages DRC fees, and the like. This C-DRC is the w
These management information is sent to wDRC.

The wwDRC is connected to a plurality of C-DRCs, for example, C-DRCs arranged one by one in each country of the world.
And manage it. In this case, only one wwDRC is set in the world. The country where the WWDRC is located is a country that is convenient for the management of digital works, for example, a country where the protection of the creator (copyright holder, creator, etc.) of the digital work is the highest from a legal viewpoint such as copyright. In addition, a country where billing processing with many countries can be performed most smoothly is suitable.
It is preferable that one C-DRC is arranged in the country where the wwDRC is arranged, but it may be arranged in a country where the C-DRC is not present.

The wwDRC basically has the following three functions. That is, a C-DRC management function, a right registration exchange function, and an international settlement processing function. The C-DRC management function includes:
This function provides system support for C-DRC provided in each country and performs data management of C-DRC, that is, right processing information management. For example, different C-DRC
Manage the distribution of digital works between them. In addition, after accepting the registration of digital work (content),
-This WWDRC may have a function of registering in the DRC.

The right registration exchange function is a function related to digital works registered in the C-DRC of each country (registered in Japan) (including rights attached to copyrights such as copyrights and reproduction rights).
Is transferred to the C-DRC of the country desired by the right holder. This transfer allows the rights in the digital work to be protected by the laws of the destination country. Also, this right registration exchange function enables setting of rights for digital works between C-DRCs in different countries.

The international settlement processing function is a function for managing information relating to the transfer of digital works internationally, and charges such as billing, license fees, and commissions associated with the setting and transfer of rights, and performing international settlement. is there.

As described above, the C-DRC is provided for each country centering on the wwDRC, and the B-DRC is configured to sell (supply) digital works to users in each country. Can be positioned as an exchange for digital works. That is, ww
Digital works (contents, that is, merchandise) can be wholesaled to C-DRC and B-DRC all over the world via DRC. In addition, it becomes possible to distribute digital works worldwide using a common interface managed by WWDRC, and management becomes simple. In addition, the creator (creator) can obtain a worldwide sales channel via the information network (Internet), which facilitates the spread of digital works to the world market.

Next, a description will be given of the processing contents from the registration of a digital work (content) to the transfer to a user with reference to FIG. First, the author (creator) registers the author (publisher registration) from his computer terminal (creator terminal). That is, the author (creator) registers an author name (publisher name) and an ID (publisher ID) as an identification code in the C-DRC (step in FIG. 6).

The author opens the content registration file from his / her terminal (creator terminal) using a browser (viewer), and temporarily registers the work (content) (step in FIG. 6). For example, in the case of a music work, the work name, work content (format), performer, performance time, copyright information, viewing range, price (for example, in US dollars), etc. are input. Upon receiving the temporary registration, the C-DRC issues an identification code for the work (content), that is, a content ID (step in FIG. 6). This content ID is, for example, HTML (Hyper Text Makeup Language).
e).

The author uses the content I on the creator terminal.
Receiving D, the digital work is registered in the C-DRC (step of FIG. 6). At the time of the main registration, various information, for example, an identification mark (publisher name, publisher ID, etc.) of the work is attached to the digital work by a digital watermark. Also, input information such as a work name input in the step is added by an appropriate method. It is also possible to distribute a digital work after encrypting it. In this case, information for encryption, that is, encoding information or encryption information is added to the beginning or end of the data as control information such as a header or trailer. Is done. Thus, the registration procedure shown in steps 1 to 6 in FIG. 6 corresponds to the registration procedure of the steps in FIGS.

In the C-DRC, when the digital work is registered (steps from FIG. 6), the digital work is encapsulated (encrypted) and transmitted to the rights registration database 14 (FIGS. 1 and 2) as transmission master information. It registers and starts distribution to users (steps in FIG. 6). In the present invention, distribution may be performed without encapsulation (encryption), and such a distribution is included. The C-DRC also sends this transmission master information to wwDRC and registers it here (step in FIG. 6).

In the B-DRC, digital contents (a literary work) distributed from the C-DRC are sold (step in FIG. 6). In other words, the user (user) views the work supplied from the B-DRC (at this point, it is an unlicensed work), and if he / she wishes to purchase the work, the license is issued according to the procedure shown in FIGS. (See Figure 6)
Steps). When the digital work is encapsulated (encrypted), the user performs a trial listening according to the trial listening range (listening time, number of trials, etc.) input in the steps of FIG. Issues a key (decryption key) to the user for the C-DRC to decompress the capsule under predetermined conditions such as payment of a fee based on the permission application issued by the user.

[0060]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, as described above, the right processing agency (DRC) accepts the application for a license and issues a license, and the identification code ID of the device used by the user. Since a license containing a digital watermark is added to a digital work by a digital watermark, it is necessary to check whether the digital work used has a license or to decipher the license to monitor the proper use. Can be. By setting up such a system capable of monitoring, it is possible to prevent and suppress improper use such as copying or alteration of a digital work.

In this case, a billing system for confirming payment of the usage fee can be combined (claim 2). For example, right processing center (DR
If C) determines that the permission information for the device using the digital work is not registered, the user may be required to pay a usage fee, confirm payment, and then issue a permit. If the user does not pay for the payment request, a warning should be sent to the user (claim 3).

The newly issued license can be added (including the parallel description) so that the contents of the old license can be read, and in this case, the use history of the digital work can be retrospectively checked. This is convenient (claim 4). However, in this case, the quality (image quality, sound quality, etc.) of the copyrighted work deteriorates each time a new license is added. In order to prevent this quality deterioration, it is preferable to adopt a method of erasing an old permit and rewriting it with a new permit.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the second object of the present invention is achieved. That is, an encoder is provided in the digital work recording / reproducing apparatus of the user, and the rights processing agency has been licensed using the work identification code output by the encoder and the identification code of the digital work recording / reproducing apparatus used by the user. In this case, it is checked whether or not the license is issued, and a license is issued when a new license is granted.

In this case, it is possible to combine the billing system and issue a permit to the digital work recording / reproducing apparatus of the new user on condition that the usage fee is paid (claim 7). According to the invention of claim 8, a specific usage monitoring system obtained by combining this billing system can be obtained.

A user's digital work recording / reproducing apparatus can be constituted by a computer (personal computer, PC, etc.). In this case, a plurality of users' computers are connected to a delegation processing center (DRC) by an information network. (Computer network) for connection (claim 9). The information network may be the Internet (claim 10).

A plurality of right processing agent centers are provided, and these can be connected via an information network.
1). In this case, the transfer of the digital work between different right processing centers becomes easy, the market of the digital work is expanded, and the distribution thereof can be further promoted. Multiple rights processing agent centers, one for each different region
It is preferable to provide them one after another (claim 12). This is because management for each region becomes easier.

It is appropriate for the plurality of right processing agent centers to be divided into layers and to divide the functions of the respective layers in order to smoothly manage the entire system. For example, it is hierarchically divided into one general right processing agent center, a plurality of regional right processing agent centers, and a terminal right processing agent center (claim 13). In this case, it is better to set up one regional rights processing agent center for each country.
4). If the distribution and charging of digital works between the regional rights processing agent centers are always performed through the central rights processing agent center, the management is unified and smooth distribution and order maintenance are facilitated. If one regional rights processing agency is provided for each country, it becomes easier to manage and charge the copyrighted work for each country.
5).

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, a CD-ROM
Thus, a recording device that records a copyrighted work on a separately movable recording medium such as a recording medium can be obtained. According to the seventeenth aspect, a digital work to which a license issued to a specific user is added cannot be reproduced by a reproduction device of a user other than the specific user. Therefore, unauthorized use can be reliably prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a basic configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which a billing system is combined.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which an unauthorized use monitoring system is combined.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another embodiment for restricting unauthorized use.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flow of information.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Copyright holder (rights holder) 12 Digital work 14 Rights registration management system 16, 16B Digital work recording / reproducing device of user 18, 18B, 132 Encoder 20 Right processing agency (DRC) 22, 22B License 100 Application Form part 102 payment processing part 104 permit attaching part 106 application receiving server 108 charging server 110 permit issuing server 112 rights information management database 114 charging database 120 monitoring center 122 information network 124 unauthorized use information database 130 digital copyrighted work recording device 134, 138 Digital work reproduction device 136, 140 Protector wwDRC General rights processing agency center C-DRC Regional rights agency agency B-DRC Terminal right agency agency

Claims (17)

[Claims] (1) A digital work is registered in a rights registration database by an identification code; (b) The rights processing agency center uses the identification code of the digital work used by the user and the user. Accepting the application for license by receiving the identification code of the use device; (c) The rights processing agency receives the identification code of the digital work used by the use device and the identification of the use device based on the application for the license. The code is checked against the rights registration database, and when the use is permitted, a license including the identification code of the use device is issued; (d) The use device adds the permit to the digital work by a digital watermark. Utilizing a digital work with a leverage; a method for monitoring the use of a digital work, comprising the steps of (a) to (d) above. 2. The rights processing agent center, if the result of the collation in step (c) of claim 1 indicates that the use permission information for the use device is not registered for the identification code of the digital work, 2. The use monitoring method of digital work according to claim 1, wherein a license is issued after confirming payment of a usage fee from the company. 3. The right processing agent center finds that, as a result of the collation in step (c) of claim 1, the use permission information for the use device is not registered for the identification code of the digital work,
3. The use monitoring method for digital works according to claim 2, wherein a warning is transmitted on condition that the use fee has not been delivered from the use device. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the license is added to the digital work in such a manner that a plurality of licenses sequentially issued to the same digital work are retrospectively decipherable.
The use monitoring method of any digital work. 5. The use monitoring method according to claim 1, wherein the addition of a license to the digital work is sequentially rewritten by a license sequentially issued to the same digital work. 6. A right registration database for registering, using an identification code, a digital work and a digital work recording / reproducing apparatus used by the user; and a digital work recording / reproducing apparatus provided in the user's digital work recording / reproducing apparatus. A license application form section for transmitting the identification code of the digital work used in the device and the identification code of the digital work recording / reproducing device, and the digital work based on a license granting instruction output by the rights processing agency described later. A user-side encoder having a license adding unit for adding a license including an identification code of the digital copyrighted work recording / reproducing apparatus by an electronic watermark; and a digital camera based on the identification code sent from the license application form unit. A digital work to be used in the copyrighted work recording / reproducing apparatus and the digital work An application reception server that checks the identification code of the raw device against the rights registration database, and a license to issue a license including the identification code of the digital work recording / reproducing device to the license adding unit when a license is granted. A right processing agent center having a certificate issuing server; and a digital work use monitoring system. 7. The billing system according to claim 6, further comprising a billing system, wherein the billing system checks the identification code of the digital work and the digital work recording / reproducing apparatus used by the user with the rights registration database. As a result, if the identification code of the digital work recording / reproducing device is not registered for the identification code of the digital work, the license issuance is issued to the license issuing server on the condition that the usage fee is paid. A digital work use monitoring system characterized by issuing a command. 8. A digital work recording / reproducing device, comprising: a payment processing unit provided in an encoder; a charging server provided in a right processing agency; and a charging database, wherein the application receiving server is a digital work and a digital work used by a user. When the identification code of the digital work is not registered with the identification code of the digital work as a result of comparing the identification code of the digital work with the rights registration database, the application request command is sent to the payment processing unit. The payment processing unit makes a main application to the charging server based on the main application request command, and performs payment processing of a usage fee through the charging system. Outputs a license issuance command to the license issuance server on condition that the payment process is completed, and the processing result Use monitoring system of the digital work of claim 7 for storing and charging information is stored in the rights registration database in the billing database. 9. The digital work recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said digital work recording / reproducing apparatus is formed by a computer, and said plurality of users' computers and a rights processing agency are connected by an information network. Use monitoring system for copyrighted works. 10. The digital work use monitoring system according to claim 9, wherein the information network is the Internet. 11. The digital work use monitoring system according to claim 6, further comprising a plurality of right processing agent centers, wherein the right processing agent centers are connected to each other via an information network. Usage monitoring system. 12. The digital work use monitoring system according to claim 11, wherein the right processing centers are arranged one for each region. 13. The plurality of rights processing agent centers include one general rights processing agent center, a plurality of regional rights processing agent centers arranged for each region, and terminal rights managed by each regional rights processing agent center. The digital work use monitoring system according to claim 11, wherein the system is divided into a processing agency and a processing agency. 14. The digital work use monitoring system according to claim 13, wherein the regional right processing agency is located in each country. 15. Each regional rights processing agency has its own billing system, and billing between regions is performed by the regional rights agency in each region, while distribution and billing of digital works in different regions are controlled. 15. The use monitoring system for digital works according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the system is performed at a right processing agency. 16. A digital work recording device for use in the digital work use monitoring system according to claim 6, wherein a user side encoder having a license application form section and a license adding section; A recording unit for recording a digital work with a permit by a digital watermark on a separable storage medium. 17. A digital work reproducing apparatus for use with the digital work recording apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a reproducing section for reading contents recorded on a storage medium and an identification code of the digital work recording apparatus are stored in advance. And a protector that prohibits the output of the digital work read by the playback unit when the license attached to the digital work read by the playback unit does not match the identification code of the digital work recording device. A digital copyrighted work reproducing apparatus comprising: