MXPA04012119A

MXPA04012119A - System and method for supplying and managing rights expressions.

Info

Publication number: MXPA04012119A
Application number: MXPA04012119A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Romero-Lobo Jose
Original assignee: Contentguard Holdings Inc
Priority date: 2002-06-03
Filing date: 2003-06-03
Publication date: 2005-04-19
Also published as: AU2003240981B2; BR0311592A; AU2003240981B9; WO2003102736A2; JP2013109780A; JP2014139818A; JP2012164339A; AU2003240981A1; JP2012084163A; JP2005528685A; EP1456797A4; JP2016129052A; KR100683376B1; EP1456797A2; KR20050010857A; WO2003102736A3

Abstract

Systems and methods for enforcing rights expressions include specifying by a recipient and a provider of an item respective rights expressions indicating respective manners of use of the item, determining a correspondence therebetween, and applying a rule thereto for the recipient to use the item. Further embodiments include specifying by the recipient in a rights expression associated with an item a desired manner and/or a condition of use, and supplying the item based on satisfaction of same; specifying in a rights expression associated with a repository the manner of use; one or more repositories having associated rights expressions further indicating a condition of use; and a repository having a processor module for processing an associated rights expression, and a determination module for determining based thereon what action to take when processing or receiving a request for the item, as indicated in a manner or condition of use.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING AND ADMINISTERING EXPRESSIONS OF RIGHTS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The exemplary embodiments of the present invention are generally related to systems and methods for Digital Rights Management, and more particularly to a system and method for providing and managing expressions of rights. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION One of the most important needs to allow the development of the global distribution of digital works, for example, documents or other content in forms of reading by computer, and the administration of the use of digital works through electronic means, and in particular the Internet, is the ability to designate and impose intellectual property rights and other rights of owners, consumers and other content holders during the distribution and use of digital works. Efforts to meet this need have been called Intellectual Property Rights Administration (IPRM), Digital Property Rights Administration (DPRM), Intellectual Property Administration ( IPM, for its acronym in English), Rights Administration (RM, for Ref .: 160609 acronym in English), Electronic Copyright Management (ECM, for its acronym in English), collectively called Digital Rights Management ( DR, for its acronym in English). There are a number of issues to consider when conducting a DRM system. For example, authentication, authorization, accounting, payment and financial clarity, specification of rights, verification of rights, imposition of rights, and document protection issues should be addressed. U.S. Patents, commonly assigned No. 5,530,235, No. 5,629,980, No. 5,634,012, No. 5,638,443, No. 5,715,403, No. 6,233,684, and No. 6,236,971, the complete descriptions of which are all incorporated herein by reference, describe DRM systems. who deal with these and other issues. For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,634,012 describes a system for controlling the distribution of digital documents. Each interpretation device has a depository associated with it. A predetermined set of usage transaction stages defines a protocol used by depositaries to impose the use of rights associated with a document. The use rights may allow several ways of using the content, such as viewing only, use once, distribution, and the like. The rights of use may be dependent on payment or satisfaction and other conditions and variables. Conceptually, a depository can include a set of functional specifications that define a central functionality. A depository may include a trust system in which the depositary may maintain physical integrity, communications integrity and operational integrity. A repository can be removable or stationary, it can be large or small or portable, it can be in any form, such as a smart card or card, or it can have other functionalities, such as a microprocessor. The use and distribution of digital content, for example, documents or other information that can be interpreted by a computer or other device, can be controlled using rights and conditions of use. This allows digital content to be distributed in a flexible manner while protecting the rights of the content owner, and others adding value to the transactions, to produce a revenue stream from the distribution. However, tangible items, such as goods and services, typically can not be distributed in such a flexible manner. You can use auctions, reverse auctions, aggregation mechanisms, and other distribution models to distribute goods and services in a more flexible way. For example, U.S. Patent No. ,897,620 describes a system for comparing a destination and unspecified time with an airline flight to allow the airline to fill seats that would otherwise be empty. However, the described system simply compares a traveler with an airline ticket and typically does not allow the flexible distribution of various services and goods. U.S. Patent No. 6,041,308 discloses a system to encourage buyers to submit Conditional Purchase Offers (CPOs) to a CPO management system for a desired product CPO management system processes each CPO received in order to determine if one or more sellers are willing to accept a certain CPO While this system can be applied to more diverse goods and services, the system described is also simply a mechanism to compare buyers and sellers. and business approaches to selling various goods and services, such as those discussed above, the sale and exchange of goods and services still typically fall into legal theories and relationships to impose behavior.For example, the parties have to finally agree to each transaction, either directly or indirectly, in the parameters to provide the bi and services, such as price, quantities, and the identity of the item. Consequently, trade in goods and services can be restricted by legal and relationship issues. Additionally, there is a need for business models and information technology systems to recognize that there are owners besides the owners and consumers of content. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Therefore, there is a need for a system and method that allows the trade of goods and services, which is not restricted by legal and relationship issues. In addition, there is a need for a system and method that recognizes owners as well as owners and consumers of content. The foregoing and other needs are addressed by the embodiments of the present invention, which provides an improved system and method for providing and managing expressions of rights. Accordingly, in one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method for imposing rights expressions that specify ways of using an article,. including the specification by a potential recipient of an article of a first expression of rights indicating a first way of using the article proposed by the recipient; specification by a supplier of the article of a second expression of rights that indicates a second way of using the article proposed by the supplier, determining whether there is correspondence between the first expression of rights and the second expression of rights; and application of a rule to a certain correspondence between the first expression of rights and the second expression of rights to determine whether the recipient should be granted use of the article. In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a system for imposing rights expressions that specify ways of using an article, including means for specification by a potential recipient of an article of a first expression of rights indicating a first manner of use of the item proposed by the recipient; a means for specifying by a supplier of the article a second expression of rights indicating a second way of using the article proposed by the supplier, a means to determine whether there is correspondence between the first expression of rights and the second expression of rights; and a means to apply a rule to a certain correspondence between the first expression of rights and the second expression of rights to determine whether the recipient should be granted use of the article. In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for imposing rights that specify ways of using an article, including specification by a recipient of an article of a first expression of rights indicating at least one in a desired manner of use of the item by the recipient and a condition of use of the item by the recipient; associate the expression of rights with the article; and providing the item to the recipient based on the satisfaction of at least one of the ways of use of the item by the recipient and the condition of use of the item by the recipient. In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a system for imposing rights specifying ways of using an article, including a means for specification by the recipient of an article of a first expression of rights indicating at least one in a desired manner of use of the article by the recipient and of a condition of use of the article by the recipient; a means to associate the expression of rights with the article; and a means for providing the item to the recipient based on the satisfaction of at least one of the desired ways of use of the item by the recipient and the condition of use of the item by the recipient. In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for imposing rights expressions that specify ways of using an article, including the specification of depository rights expression indicating a way of using an article in a depository; and associate the expression of depositary rights with the depositary. The manner of use indicates at least one of what action the depositary will take when the depositary processes the article and what action the depositary will take when the depositary receives an application for the article. In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a system for enforcing rights expressions that specify ways of using an article, including a means for specifying an expression of depositary rights that indicates a manner of using an article in a depositary; and a means to associate the expression of depositary rights with the depositary. The manner of use indicates at least one of what action the depositary will take when the depositary processes the article and what action the depositary will take when the depositary receives an application for the article. In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a system for imposing expressions of. rights that specify ways to use an article, including one or more depositaries that have associated with them one or more expressions of rights that indicate at least one of a way of using an article and a condition of use of an article in a depositary. The manner of use indicates at least one of what action the depositary will take when the depositary processes the article and what action the depositary will take when the depositary receives an application for the article. In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a repository is provided for use in a system for enforcing rights expressions that specify ways of using an article, including a processor module configured to process an expression of rights associated with the depository and indicating at least one of a way of using an article and a condition of use of an article in the depositary; and a determination module configured to determine on the basis of the expression of rights associated with the depository at least one of what action the depositary will take when the depository processes the article and what action the depositary will take when the depositary receives an application for the article. Still other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description, simply by the illustration of a number of exemplary embodiments and implementations, including the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention. The present invention is also capable of other different embodiments, and its various details may be modified in several aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Consequently, the drawings and descriptions should be considered as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which the reference numbers refer to similar elements and in which: Figure 1 illustrates a Digital Rights Management system in which various example embodiments of the present invention can be implemented; Figure 2 illustrates a rights label that can be used in the example systems of Figures 1 and 5-7; Figure 3 illustrates an exemplary license that can be employed in the example systems of Figures 1 and 5-7; Figure 4 illustrates a label that can be used in the example systems of Figures 1 and 5-7; Figure 5 illustrates a Digital Rights Management system in which a depository of the client and server can create and associate use rights; Figure 6 illustrates a Digital Rights Management system in which numerous depositaries associate numerous rights of use with an article; Figure 7 illustrates a Digital Rights Management system in which a central control repository with usage rights associated with it controls functions to be performed with respect to an article; Figure 8 illustrates an exemplary repository that can be employed in the example systems of Figures 1 and 5-7; Figure 9 is a flowchart of an example process for processing rights expressions of a receiver of an article based on rules and that can be employed in the example systems of Figures 1 and 5-7; Figure 10 is a flowchart of an example process for processing right expressions of receivers and suppliers of an article and which may be employed in the example systems of Figures 1 and 5-7; and Figure 11 is a flowchart of an example process for processing rights expressions associated with a depository and which may be employed in the example systems of Figures 1 and 5-7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A system and method for providing and managing expressions of rights are described. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are presented in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. One skilled in the art will appreciate, however, that the present invention can be practiced without these specific details or with equivalent arrangements. In some cases, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarily overshadowing the present invention. Referring now to the drawings, in which similar numbers designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the various views, and more particularly to Figure 1 thereof, there is illustrated an example Digital Rights Management system 100 that can be used in relationship with the example modalities described to specify, provide, administer, process, and the like, expressions of rights to impose the use of rights associated with an article. In an exemplary embodiment, a right of use may include a specification of a permitted way of using an article, which may include anything whose use can be controlled by means of associated use rights, such as a digital device or a part of it to which access can be controlled by means of associated use rights. An expression of rights may include any appropriate expression of a right of use, such as a label of rights, a license or fragment thereof. A rights label can include a pre-packaged set of usage rights not associated with a specific item. A license may include a pre-package of rights to use an association of articles. A rights expression language can be used, such as Extensive Rights Benefits Language (XrML), Extensive Access Control Benefits Language (XACML), Open Rights Language Digital (ODRL), and the like, to express an expression of rights and may include any suitable language that has a predefined syntax and semantics and that can be used to express a right of use. In Figure 1, the Digital Rights Management system 100 can be used to specify and impose property rights for items, such as content, goods, services, other items, and the like. In an exemplary embodiment, a property right that may be imposed, for example, a right to use a specific item may be provided in accordance with the usage rights associated with the article. In an exemplary embodiment, a right of use may include a declarative specification of a manner of using an article that is identifiable and may be enforced by a software mechanism. The Digital Rights Management System 100 example, may include, for example, a user activation module, in the form of an activation server 110 that can emit public and private key pairs 112 for users in a protected mode. During an activation process, information can be exchanged between the activation server 110 and a client environment 120, such as a computer or other device associated with a user, wherein a client component 122 can be downloaded and installed in the client environment 120 In an exemplary embodiment, the client component 122 can be configured to be tamper-resistant and can include the set of private keys 112 issued by an activation server 110 as well as other components, such as a machine for analyzing or interpreting a security tag. protected article 134. In an example embodiment, the label of article 134 can be used to specify an article and, for example, can include a mechanism by which a license can be associated with a non-digital article, for example, a tangible article, such as goods or services. A rights label 132 may be associated with the item label 134 and may be used to specify rights and zero or more conditions, for example, that may be selected by an end user. In an exemplary embodiment, a condition may include a specification of one or more prerequisites for exercising a manner of using an article. A license service 140, for example, can be used to administer encryption keys 112 and issue expressions of rights in the form of licenses 142 for the exercise of a property right. In an exemplary embodiment, the licenses 142 may incorporate the actual grant of use rights to an end user based on selected usage rights of the rights label 132. For example, the rights label 132 may include use rights to recover the article label 134 for an article in the condition of payment of a fee of five dollars and recover or distribute the article 134 label when a fee of ten dollars is paid. The client component 122 can be used to interpret and impose the rights of use that have been specified in the license 142. In an example mode, the devices and subsystems of the Digital Rights Management system 100 can communicate with each other through a communications network 170. Figure 2 illustrates a sample rights label that can be used in the example systems of Figures 1 and 5-7. In Figure 2, rights label 132 may include plural rights offers 202. Rights offer 202 may include use rights 202a, conditions 202b, and label specification 202c. The tag specification 202c may include any suitable mechanism for referencing, calling, locating, or otherwise specifying the article tag 134 associated with the rights offering 202. The rights tag 132 may be expressed using an appropriate rights expression. Figure 3 illustrates a sample license that can be used in the example systems of Figures 1 and 5-7. In Figure 3 an expression of rights in the form of the license 142, for example, may include a unique license (ID) identification 142a and a concession 142b, for example, including use rights, a principal, conditions, state variables. , and a tag specification designating an associated article tag 134. The license 142 may include a digital signature 142c, including any suitable cryptographic key, and the like, to unlock the item tag 134. In an example mode, the rights of use can be used to specify ways of use. One way of use may include the ability to use an item in a specified manner for a specified period of time, to purchase an item for a specified period of time, and similar. In an example embodiment, the use rights can be grouped, they can be used to specify transfer rights, such as distribution rights, they can be used to allow the granting of rights to others or to allow the derivation of the right of use, and the like. Such right of use may also be referred to as meta-rights, which may include rights that can be manipulated, modified, and the like, to derive other rights of use. Therefore, meta-rights may include rights of use for rights of use, such as rights to offer, grant, obtain, transfer, delegate, track, assign, exchange, revoke, and the like, rights of use for / of others. Meta-rights may include rights to modify the conditions associated with other rights. For example, a meta-right may include the right to extend or reduce the scope of a particular right. A meta-right can also include a right to extend or reduce the validation period of a right. In an exemplary embodiment, one or more conditions to be satisfied may be used for the purpose of exercising the manner of use in a specified use right. For example, a condition may include the payment of a fee, the sending of personal data or any other appropriate requirement desired before allowing the exercise of a manner of use. The conditions may include access conditions. For example, access conditions may apply to a particular group of users, such as students at a university or members of a book club. In an example embodiment, a condition may be that a user is a particular person or a member of a particular group. In an example embodiment, rights and conditions of use may exist as separate entities or may be combined. In the exemplary embodiments, some conditions need to be satisfied in order to interpret the article label 134 or otherwise convert the article label 134 into a form that is recoverable from the article specified therein. In an example embodiment, other conditions may be applied to the tag 134 in a recoverable form, and may be referred to as post-licensing conditions. In an example embodiment, state variables can be used to track dynamic states, conditions, and the like. For example, state variables can include variables that have values that represent the state of an item, the state of usage rights, the status of a license, or other dynamic conditions. The state variables can be traced, for example, by means of the information locator or other device, based on the identification mechanisms in the license 142 and the tag 134. In an example mode, the value of the state variables can be used in one condition. For example, a right of use may include the right to retrieve the article 134 label for specified goods and a condition may include that the right to use may be exercised three times. Each time the right of use is exercised, the value of the state variable can be increased. In an example mode, when the value of the state variable reaches three, the condition can no longer be satisfied and the tag 134 can no longer be recovered. In an example mode, a state variable can include time. For example, a condition of the license 142 may specify that the article label 134 be recovered in thirty days. A state variable can be used to track the expiration of the thirty-day time limit. In an example mode, changes in the state of a right of use can be tracked as a collection of state variables. Advantageously, the collection of such changes in the state of a right of use can be used to represent the history of use of such right of use. In an example mode, the item label 134 can be prepared with a document preparation application 138 installed on a computer 130, for example, associated with the item distributor, a content service provider or any other suitable party. The preparation of the article label 134, for example, may include the specification of the rights and any suitable conditions or state variables under which the article label 134. may be retrieved. The rights label 132 may be associated with the article label. 134 and the item tag 134 may be protected with a cryptographic algorithm or any other suitable mechanism to prevent processing, interpretation, and the like, of the item tag 134. In an example mode, a rights language, such as Xr L , XACML, ODRL, and the like, can be used to express a rights expression that specifies rights, conditions, state variables, and the like, for rights label 132. However in a further example embodiment, rights and Conditions can be specified in any suitable way. Consequently, the process of specifying rights refers to any suitable process for associating rights with a label. The rights labels 132 associated with the item tag 134 and the encryption key used to encrypt the item tag 134 can be transmitted to the license server 140 through the communications network 170. Figure 4 illustrates an example article tag which can be used in the example systems of Figures 1 and 5-7. In Figure 4, the item label 134 may include an article reference 134a that may be used to specify an article, and post license conditions 134b. In an exemplary embodiment, the item tag 134, with the security mechanism unlocked, may include a coupon, a code, a document, and the like readable by a human and computer readable. Consequently, an article label can include any suitable tangible or intangible indication of an article. The item label 134 can be used to specify one or more items. Therefore, the rights and conditions of use may be associated with any suitable article including, objects, classes, categories, and services, whose use, access, distribution, or execution will be controlled, restricted, recorded, measured, loaded or monitored in somehow. The article label 134 and the license 142 can then be used to define a property right. In an example embodiment, the article tag 134 may be linked to the corresponding article through the article reference 134a. Such a link may include any suitable type of association, such as a description, a pointer and the like. For example, tag 134 may include a unique code associated with an article through a database record. When the code is presented to a vendor, the database can be searched and the corresponding article can be delivered. The item label 134 may also include a human-readable description of the article or any other suitable post-license condition 134b not yet satisfied. For example, if a condition in the license 142 specifies that the article 134 label must be retrieved at a certain site or time, that condition can be analyzed and transferred to the article label 134 as the post-license condition 134b. An exemplary workflow for the Digital Rights Management system 100 may include a user operating in the environment of the client 120 that is activated to receive the article tag 134 by means of the activation server 110. The key pair publishes -private 112 and, for example, user / machine-specific information, can be downloaded to client environment 120 in the form of client software component 122. In an example mode, the activation process can be achieved at any suitable time before issuing the license 142. In an example embodiment, the rights of use, conditions, state variables, and the like, of the license 142 can be stored together with the article tag. 134 or may be associated with the article label 134. For example, the article label 134 may include a reference to the usage rights that can be stored anywhere. When the user wishes to obtain a property right with specific imposition capacity for an article, the user can request the article label 134, which specifies the article by means of the reference of article 134a. In an example embodiment, a user can browse an Internet site on the Internet server 150a of a vendor 150, using a browser installed in the environment of the client 120, and request an article corresponding to the tag of article 134, and as specified in the reference of article 134a. The user may examine the rights offers 202 in the rights label 132 associated with the article 134 label and may choose the desired rights and conditions of use. During this process, the user may go through a series of steps, for example, to satisfy conditions of use rights, including a quota transaction, other transactions, such as information gathering, and the like. When the appropriate conditions and other prerequisites are met, such as collecting a fee and verifying that the user has been activated, the Internet server 150a can be used to contact the licensing server 140, for example through the communications network 170, including a secure communication channel, such as a channel using a Secure Connection Ports (SSL) Layer, and the like. The license server 140 can then generate the license 142 for the article label 134 and the Internet server 150a can be used to download the article label 134 and the license 142. In an example embodiment, the license 142 can include the rights 202a and the conditions 202b selected from the rights labels 132 of the item label 134 and may be downloaded from a computer associated with a vendor, distributor or other party. In an exemplary embodiment, the item tag 134 can be secured, for example, by encryption or other security mechanism and can be interpreted, accessed, and the like, by means of an expression of rights in the form of license 142, which may include a mechanism for unlocking the article label 134. In an example embodiment, any suitable mechanism for controlling access to documents can be employed. The client component 122 in the environment of the client 120 can then interpret the license 142 and allow interpretation or other accesses of the article label 134 based on the rights and conditions specified in the license 142. In an example embodiment, it can be used any suitable mechanism for the interpretation and imposition of rights of use and related systems and techniques. The above processing may take place sequentially, approximately simultaneously or in several sequential orders. For example, if the license 142 is configured to purchase an item at a price of ten dollars in a month from the date of issuance of the article 134 label, the client component 122 may interpret the article label 134 as a coupon. that can be displayed on the screen or printed for that purchase that expires in a month, where the price and expiration data can be the post-license conditions 134b. In an exemplary embodiment, such conditions may be presented in the interpreted form or otherwise unlocked form of the article label 134 and may be discerned upon retrieval of the article label 134. Advantageously, the example Digital Rights Management system 100 addresses security aspects of the article tags 134. For example, the example system 100 can be used to authenticate the license 142 that has been issued by the license server 140. In one. example mode, such authentication may include the application 122 configured to determine whether the license 142 can be trusted. For example, application 122 may be configured to include the ability to verify and validate signature 142c, such as a cryptographic signature or other identification feature of license 142, using any suitable mechanisms, algorithms or techniques. In an example embodiment, the license 142 and the article label 134 can be distributed from different entities.

In an exemplary embodiment, the information locator 160 may be used to process payment transactions, verify payment before issuing a license, and the like. However, in additional exemplary embodiments, various other workflows may be employed, several other parts may be involved, and various other devices and architectures may be used to perform the workflows. In an example embodiment, a distributor or other party may associate the rights labels 132 with the label of the article 134. The rights label 132 may be registered with the information locator 160 and stored in a repository, such as a memory device. associated with the information locator 160. The label of the article 134 can be stored in a label store, such as a storage device associated with the distributor. In a further example embodiment, the rights label 132 and the article 134 label can be stored in the same device or in a common file. In an exemplary embodiment, the private key 112 or other identification information may be issued to the user in the purchase of the license 142. Payment for the article may be passed from the user to the license server 140 or elsewhere by means of the information locator 160, which can collect the requests of the user and other users who wish to acquire a property right in articles. The information locator 160 may also collect payment information, such as debit transaction information, credit card transaction information, information related to other electronic payment schemes, and the like, and send the collected payments as a batch of payments to the final supplier of the article. In an exemplary embodiment, the information locator 160 may retain a payment share and the distributor may retain a portion of the item supplier's payment of batches and send a payment to the item provider. The information locator 160 can be used to determine the payment made in the income stream of the item. The information locator 160 can serve as a transaction aggregator, which can operate to aggregate numerous transactions over a period of time, and load parts in an appropriate manner, advantageously reducing accounting expenses. In an exemplary embodiment, a user may request the item label 134 corresponding to a desired item through the Internet server 150a and provide information, such as credit card information and charge authorizations, personal information, and the like, to allow the information locator 160 to satisfy conditions specified in the license 142 associated with the article label 134. Authorization identification information, such as a private key, obtained from the activation server 110 may also be sent.

By selling, the license 142 may allow the article tag 134 to be deciphered or may otherwise allow the security mechanism thereof to be unlocked in such a way that the article tag 134 may be used in accordance with the rights of use specified in the license 142. In an example embodiment, the item label 134 may be used to specify any suitable article, when combined with the selected use rights 202a of the rights label 132 and included in the license 142, may represent a property right that can be exercised that can be exercised to recover the label of article 134. The recovery of article 134 can include the presentation of a coupon or interpreted code to a seller electronically or physically. However, in additional example embodiments, the recovery of the article 134 label may take several different forms and may include several different processes. Consequently, the recovery can include any process or mechanism suitable to convert the article 134 label to access an article. In an example embodiment, the clear content 136, such as unprotected content, can be prepared with the application 138, such as a document preparation application, installed on the computer 130 associated with a content publisher, a content distributor, a content service provider or any other appropriate party. The preparation of the clear content 136 may include specifying the usage rights 202a and the conditions 202b under which the clear content 136 can be used, associating the rights offering 202 with the clear content 136, and protecting the clear content 136 with, for example , a cryptographic algorithm to generate a protected content. In an exemplary embodiment, a rights language, such as XrML, XACML, ODRL, and the like, may be used to specify the rights offering 202. However, the rights offer 202 may be specified in any suitable manner. The specification of rights information may include the creation, derivation or otherwise the use of information that relates to expressions of rights. In an example embodiment, the rights offer 202 may be in the form of a predefined specification, profile, pattern, and the like, which may be associated with the protected content. Accordingly, the process of specifying the rights offer 202 may include any process suitable for associating rights, conditions, and the like, with the content. The offer of rights 202 associated with the protected content and with the encryption key 112 used to encrypt the clear content 136 can be transmitted to the license server 140 and finally can be used by the environment of the client 120. In an example mode, a property able to impose itself can be illustrated with respect to a stock exchange or other stock market. For example, a property right may include the right to buy or sell security in advance or at a threshold. In an example embodiment, the item tag 134 may be used to specify 1000 shares of a specific company's stock in the reference of item 134a. The right to purchase shares between two thresholds, at a specified future time, and the like, may be specified by the use of rights and conditions. The item label 134 can be used to specify a marginal call, the ability to change the type of action, such as common or preferred, the ability to convert stock options to regular shares, and the like. In an example mode, usage rights can be associated with actions during bankruptcy proceedings, for example, to determine who can settle first and in what way. The condition of the. Bankruptcy duration and the status of other parties, such as creditors, for example, can be expressed as state variables. In an example mode, a property capable of imposing itself can be illustrated with respect to real estate. For example, a property right for real property can be expressed by including co-tenant or co-owner relationships, with an option to convert to other options, with a percentage change in ownership with designation of a survival option, and the like. Advantageously, such property rights can be expressed as rights of use and the immovable property can be specified in the reference of article 134a of the article label 134. In an example embodiment, the reference of the article 134a of the article label 134 can be used to specify professional services. For example, a user may purchase the right to visit a specific dentist's office, the office of one or more associate dentists, for a period of one year, while paying only one additional fixed or variable payment for each visit, up to one maximum quantity. In an exemplary embodiment, the item label 134 may be used to specify a lawyer, a counter, and the like, and rights and conditions of use may be used to specify a period of time, a fixed number of times a specific project or issue for The use of the article is limited. In an exemplary embodiment, the reference of article 134a may be used to specify in advance the right for services offered by an organization, including rights associated with intellectual property, such as patents, copyrights, registered trademarks, and the like. Advantageously, the example modalities can be applied to software programmers, customer service representatives, training services or other technical or non-technical services. The example modalities can be used to allow a user to obtain a property right and subsequently sell the property right to a third party, for example if such transfers are authorized by the rights of use of the license 142 associated with the article label. 134. Advantageously, the example modalities are applicable for mobility or liquidity of different types of goods, allowing the expansion of market concepts including property rights for any suitable item. For example, a property right may include the article label 134 which defines a coupon, a gift certificate, a password, an exchange certificate, a refund, an authorization, and the like, wherein the rights and conditions of the license 142 can be associated with the recovery of it. In an example embodiment, a coupon can be configured in such a way to be granted only after the conditions have been satisfied. In a further example mode, the post-license conditions 134b can be expressed in the granted coupon.

The example modalities are applicable to any type of account or financial transaction, such as certificates of deposit, checking accounts, telegraphic transfers, emails, transfers of funds, monetary exchanges, blocking of current or future interest rates, points or other fees paid for a loan, bonds, loans, secondary loans, and stocks, for example, that may have one or more attributes, such as due dates or deadlines. The item reference 134a can be used to specify such items and the license 142 can be used to specify rights and conditions associated with accessing such items. The example modalities are applicable to the law by tangible and intangible future objects or objects, such as books in printed or electronic form, music in physical or electronic media, and the like. The rights and conditions of use of the license 142 can be used to limit a specific right during or after a period of time or for a predetermined number of units, such as CD units or books. In a form of example, a property right may include rights expressed for a will or trust for the distribution of property or other property, for the provision of rights, services or benefits to persons or entities and other things and may be specified by the reference of article 134a. Advantageously, access may be restricted to certain parts or in any suitable manner by rights and conditions of use. In an example mode, a property right can include online services. For example, calculations of diets and vitamins adjusted based on characteristics and data of an individual, stock quotes, interest rates and calculations of mortgage payments, credit rates, background checks, application and approval of loans, online banking, investment notices, translation services, graphic design, advertising services, conversion and exchange monetary, job placement, and the like, can be specified by means of article reference 134a of article tag 134. In an example mode, item tag 134 may include an access code for the online service that it can be used after the conditions of the license 142 have been met.

In an example mode, an item provider or other specified party can specify the conditions for accessing corresponding articles. For example, a user wishes to obtain a property right in which such article must satisfy such conditions. In an example embodiment, such a concept can be employed independently of the direction or order in which the information travels. For example, a user can provide conditions to a provider on license 142, and which the provider must satisfy in order to make a sale. In an example mode, a partial satisfaction of the conditions may result in a property right or other result, which may be the same or different when compared to the full satisfaction of the conditions. For example, a university may collect research materials for disposition, such as to file for prosperity or to make research materials available to students, where the university may be the recipient of the information. The university can create a server site and people can upload the material to it. However, the university would like to accept the information only under certain conditions. For example, the university may decide that only recognized experts are allowed to provide the information, so that providers must expressly agree to the university becoming the owner of the information, and that providers may charge the server during peak hours. The university, as a recipient, may have the right to specify any suitable term to receive such information. If a provider of such information does not agree with the university's requirement that the university will own such information, then the university may still accept the work, but may alter the processing of such information. For example, instead of the information being made available to all students, access to such information may be restricted for a few people. In an exemplary embodiment, the provider of such information may provide such a subject of information for conditions that may be specified in article tag 134, and the recipient may provide conditions to accept such information. Consequently, there may be numerous expressions of rights that have rights and conditions of use associated with an article, some of the rights and conditions being able to be satisfied, while others do not, and which may still result in an agreement based on the conditions of rights that do not match, such as access to a job, agreement on a purchase or sale, and similar. In an example mode, the rights and conditions required by a first party and not prohibited by the second part, plus the rights and conditions required by the second part and not prohibited by the first part, can be combined to form the rights and conditions of an agreement, such as the terms in which access to a digital work is granted. However, in a further example mode, a party may specify a condition that the party agrees not to negotiate unless it is only on the rights and conditions offered by that party. Therefore, in an example mode, the rights and conditions of another party may include prohibited rights and conditions. In an example mode, in addition to content owners, consumers, and the like, a party may include any participant in the company, such as a relative or a government. Also one or more parties may also specify usage rights or conditions within ranges, so that if it can be compared with the range there may still be agreement based on a comparison that appears within the range. For example, a distributor will accept an offer from a customer at a price within the range of $ 5 and more. In an example mode, the distributor can employ techniques to hide the range from the client. Enlightened self-interest can dictate to a person, for example, a distributor of digital music, movies, and the like, that flexibility may be the best policy. For example, a distributor can offer music to sell in liberal terms to make large sales volumes and can offer music with rights that the distributor believes consumers will find attractive. If consumers in general or some subset of consumers find such terms unattractive, the distributor may decide to allow such terms to be modified to suit the consumer, and may invite them to accept such modifications. For example, the distributor can offer a package of ten songs for a dollar and believe that such offer is a suitable proposition for customers. However, if a customer wishes to purchase only one of the songs and is willing to pay fifty cents, the distributor can find such terms perfectly acceptable. In an example mode, the distributor can specify that customers can propose modifications to the rights and conditions offered, propose new rights and conditions or choose from among alternatives. If the rights and conditions requested by the consumer are within the parameters, such as a range, acceptable to the distributor, a deal can be made. In an example embodiment, advantageously, the distributor can change the parameters dynamically to better match the rights and conditions that are requested. The example modalities are applicable to a client who is receptive to receiving promotional materials on topics of. interest for the client. For example, the client wishes to receive travel brochures, and the like. However, the customer would like to control what information the customer receives, and when and how the customer receives such information. Such a business application is different from the distributor's scenario, where the distributor may have valuable content, such as a popular song, movie or similar, for which there is a demand. In contrast, the supplier of promotional materials may have to convince people to accept such material. Consequently, the tables are turned to the bargaining power and the proposed recipient could be in charge of rights and conditions. For example, the provider may decide to grant all rights in the content, impose few or no conditions, and comply with all terms demanded by customers. Exemplary embodiments may employ a digital label, for example, as further described in U.S. Patent No. 6,336,971. In an exemplary embodiment, a digital label may include a digital token, and the like, the possession of which may be a condition for exercising a specific use manner in a right of use. For example, regarding the example modalities in relation to the university, a guest can deposit information with the university, if the guests present an appropriate digital label. In an additional mode of example, a person can vote, if the person presents a digital label recognized by the election committee. The digital label can be punched to ensure that there will be no double voting with the same label. In an additional example mode, a sender can send an email that does not meet the standards for accepting a receiver, for example, the email is over a limit of one kilobyte, if the sender presents a digital tag. In an example embodiment, the presence, possession, claim, and the like, of a digital label may be a condition for exercising a right expressed by the rights of use. In an example mode, Digital Rights Management systems can be used, where access to digital resources can be controlled through an expression of rights. Typically, in such systems, rights expressions that specify usage rights can be created and associated with an article in a depository and another depository can request access to the article in a client-server relationship. In an example embodiment, a client-server relationship is provided, wherein the depositary of the client and server can create an expression of rights that specifies rights labels 132 and use rights 202a and can associate the expression of rights with an article . Once the rights labels 132 and the article label 134 have been created, the client environments 120 can be configured to promote the articles, such as digital content, up to the servers for distribution or other purposes, as prescribed in the associated rights. Figure 5 illustrates an exemplary Digital Rights Management system 500 in which the custodian of the client and server can create associated usage rights. In Figure 5, a digital work or other article 502 may be employed, for example, in the form of digital content, such as a movie, song, and the like, but the example modalities may be applied to any suitable type of article. A creator can create the article 502 and specify, via an expression rights, use rights 504 for association with the article 502. In an example mode, the usage rights 504 and the associated article 502 can be deposited in respective client depositories 506b and 506a. In a further exemplary embodiment, the usage rights 504 and the associated article may be deposited in the same depository of the customer 506, such as a common depositary. In an exemplary embodiment, the repositories 506b and 506a may be the same or different physical devices. The depository 506 can initiate a session with a depository of the server 508. The depositary 506 or depository 506a if the rights of use 504 and the article are not in a common depository can charge the article 502 together with the associated use rights 504 to the depository of the server 508. In an example embodiment, the article 502 may be uploaded or otherwise transmitted before, after or at the same time as the usage rights 504. For example, article 502 may be loaded after it is determined that the server repository 508 accepts access to it. The server repository 508 can check to see if the use rights 504 specify that the server's repository 508 can access article 502. If the use rights 504 do not allow the depository of the server 508 to access article 502, the depository of the server 508 can refuse access or end the session. However, if the depository of the server 508 can access the article 502, the depository of the server 508 can perform authorized actions requested by the depository of the client 506 in accordance with the rights of use of the server 510. In an example mode, if the use rights 504 do not allow the depository of the server 508 to access article 502, the depository of the server 508 can initiate a session with the depository 506 requesting access and specifying the rights of use of the server 510 that the depository of the server 506 requests. In a further exemplary embodiment, the depository 506 may initiate such a session. If the custodian of the 506 customer agrees to such access, then the access can be granted. In an example embodiment, the determination of whether there is agreement on access may be based on the rights and conditions specified by the depository of the server 508 and not prohibited by the depository 506, plus the rights and conditions specified by the depositary 506 and not prohibited by the depositary served 508, combined to form the rights and conditions of an agreement. However, in additional example modalities, other rules may be used. One or more of the 506 client depositories and 508 server depositories can perform the function of determining if an agreement exists or both depositaries can do so and compare results. In an exemplary embodiment the depository of the client 506 or server 508 can initiate an application and, therefore, be a requesting depository. In an example mode, a particular right of use, application or depositary does not need to specify the rights and conditions. In an exemplary embodiment, after performing the requested action, the depository of the server 508 can provide feedback to the depository 506 based on the execution of the requested action. In an example embodiment, such feedback may include the result of a requested action or an acknowledgment of receipt of the request. In an example embodiment, the rights and conditions for comparison can be generated in any suitable manner. For example, use rights associated with digital works or other articles and one or more depositaries may be employed. However, in an additional example mode, the use rights do not need to be used. In a further example embodiment, the usage rights associated with an article can be compared with the specified rights and conditions of a requesting depository. In an example mode, a customer repository, in a client-server model can be configured to create and associate usage rights for the items, such as digital works. In contrast, typical lateral client repositories simply consume content distributed by a server repository and are typically not involved in the creation of usage rights. In an example embodiment, an article provider or other specified party may specify the conditions for access to the articles and a user who wishes to obtain a property right in such articles has to satisfy those conditions. The example modalities work equally well, regardless of the direction and order in which the information moves. For example, a user can provide conditions to the supplier and the supplier has to satisfy such conditions to make a sale. Therefore, the example modalities provide the ability to create rights associated with a customer depository. The example modalities are applicable in a scenario in which ten law firms are associated as a consortium to take a claim and divide profits, such as awarding fees, and the like. For example, law firms may want law firms to provide documentary evidence and other information and share the cost of maintaining such information. The law firms want to keep the information in a central repository, such as the central depository 706. Therefore, the consortium needs to obtain information inside and outside the central depository. The consortium may want to ensure that the information deposited or placed in the depository meets certain conditions, such as being deposited by an authorized person, that agree with a format, such as an Adobe PDF format, that are labeled with meta. data authorized for search, which are not many bytes, that are scanned for viruses by appropriate software, such as software for Symantec viruses, and the like. The consortium of law firms may also require the depositary to pay $ 1 for expenses for each deposited document. In an example mode, the consortium of law firms may have a list or class, which includes depositaries who pay $ 1 per deposit or per period of time, called Class A. There may also be a second class, called Class B, in which the depositaries pay $ 2.50 per deposit, and more classes C, ..., N, which have variable or graduated payment schemes. Additionally, there may be an MI class, which means the depositors who must pay $ 1 per deposit, and an M2 class, which means the depositors who must pay $ 2.50. Therefore depending on the utility of the class for the entire consortium or based on the global rates or predetermined rules or contracts, the consortium can establish the payments or conditions in both directions from the different classes. In an exemplary embodiment, the addresses or conditions may be changed based on the dynamic conditions, such as based on the interest rate, for example as further described in the pending US patent application normally granted with Serial No. 09 / 867,745 of Tadayonb et al., Entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DYNAMICALLY ASSIGNING DIGITAL USE RIGHTS", filed May 31, 201, the complete description of which is incorporated herein by reference. Advantageously, the exemplary embodiments may be used to implement the aforementioned invention. In the example modalities, related to the law firm, the rights of use can be assigned to a central depository to tell the central depository what to do when presented with an article for deposit. In a further example mode, in combination with dynamic rights and dynamic conditions, the user can influence the result based on user preferences, for example, via a user interface, to change the relative weight of the dynamic conditions in passing time. In an example mode, the law firm that wishes to deposit information can prepare the article to be deposited, including content, such as the transcription of a deposit, rights label 132, and a protected article label 134. The server of 140 licenses can verify to determine that the conditions set by the consortium for deposit have been met and if so, can allow the deposit of the information in the central depository. The fee of $ 1, for example, can be collected through the information locator 160, can be deducted from a deposit account or can be settled through some other means. In an example mode, if the corresponding conditions for deposit are not met, the authorization for the deposit can be denied. However, in an additional example mode, if the conditions are not met, the deposit authorization can be denied, but the corresponding article can be deposited in temporary storage, which can be maintained for a fixed or indefinite period of time during which If the conditions are met, then the item can be transferred to a main or central repository for deposit. In an example mode, the information can be moved from several sources to a central source, such as in the case of the university that collects research materials. Any right and adequate condition that a provider may specify as terms under which the provider will give the university information may also be specified by the university as the applicable rights and conditions for an agreement to receive the information. This concept can be termed as a specification of the conditions of the capacity to provide or can be thought of as a right to be free of having something provided unless it is provided in the terms agreed upon for reception. Therefore, the consortium of law firms and the university have established the rules on which they agree to receive information, and that can be implemented with the Digital Rights Management systems of Figures 1, and 5-7 configured for impose such rules. Therefore, example modalities, are applicable for the supply of digital content to law firms, universities, and the like, but may also apply to the supply of any suitable article to any other suitable entity. In an example embodiment, the item provided may include the item labels 134. In an additional mode, the provider may be configured to comply with the rules set by the recipient, such as a customer, and may be implemented via the System. of Digital Rights Management example of Figures 1, 5-7. Advantageously, the example modalities can be useful for scientific articles for a magazine or presentations at conferences. For example, a magazine or conference may have one or more publishers and / or associated publishers. Consequently, there can be multiple stages of revision and a hierarchy of authorities to review and edit between editors and reviewers, and which, advantageously, can be specified with an appropriate expression of rights. The depositor can specify, via an appropriate expression of rights, rights of use, conditions, privileges, assignment rights, voting, veto power, editing power, security level, ability to observe internal comments or hide comments, integrate comments, use keys of different sizes for encryption, revoke powers, control in the direction or flow of information, and the like. Therefore, the example modalities can be applied to editors of newspapers and journalists who work occasionally or on a full-time basis for a newspaper, and who have different levels of security, access, modification or editing privileges. The example modalities are applicable to the reception of electronic mail. For example, an email recipient may specify in an appropriate expression of rights that mail will not be received unless the mail meets certain conditions. In an example mode, the recipient can specify that the email can not be more than 200 characters in length or one kilobyte in size or that it can not have an attachment or can not be from a sender in the domain © name. net. In an example mode, a rights expression can be used to specify that the email can not be an item that fails to meet the above criteria, unless the sender has permission to deviate from the indicated rules. In an example mode, the recipient may specify that certain parameters must be present, such as that the electronic mail must be less than one kilobyte, but that the other restrictions can be avoided by a person to whom such permission has been given. In an example mode, Internet voting can be allowed via the corresponding rights expressions. For example, a state may choose to use Internet voting technology instead of voting in person on the day of the election or send the absentee ballot on paper. There is a need to ensure that only registered voters vote and cast votes in the appropriate voting district, which can be specified in an expression of correspondence rights. Voters can access the polling site to vote only with permission and only to vote in the elections for which they have the right to vote, which can be specified in the corresponding expression of rights. The right of a voter to provide a vote for the election table may be subject to compliance with conditions established by the election table, as specified in the corresponding expression of rights. In an example mode, rights expressions can be used to specify that a voter can personally appear at any of a number of suitable designated places, and once there, present a coupon that can be displayed on the screen or print necessary information to ensure that the voter has the right to vote in that particular election, and that the coupon can be used only once. In an exemplary embodiment, such coupon may be presented at a kiosk that does not employ persons and security measures, such as personal identification (PIN), biometric, and the like, may be employed to ensure that the presenter is the voter with the right to cast a vote In a further exemplary embodiment, such coupon may be an electronic form and reside in a transportable device, and the like. In an example mode, if the voter is not authorized, the kiosk can behave as if everything was fine, and meanwhile discard the vote and notify authorities of the discrepancy of the cheating attempt, physical damage, forced entry, and similar , using biometrics as a way to identify the unauthorized part. However, the example modalities can be applied to any type of situation where there is an unauthorized attempt and can be used as a security measure. In an exemplary embodiment, the depository of the server 508 and the depository of the client 506 can create and associate use rights associated with the articles 502, such as digital works or other articles. Therefore, the example system 500 can be used to implement a partial satisfaction of conditions that may result in a property right or other result, which may be the same or different when compared to the full satisfaction of the conditions. For example, when the depository of the server 508 verifies to see if the depository of the server 508 has the rights to access the article 502, such verification can be made against the rights of use of the server 510 associated with the depository of the server 508. The rights Use of the server 510 can be used to specify the conditions under which the server depository 508 agrees to accept the article 502 of the depository of the client 506. Therefore, the depository of the server 508 can obtain access to the article 502, if the use rights 504 provided by the custodian of the client 506 authorize access and the use rights 510 associated with the depository of the server 508 also allow the depository of the server 508 to have access to the article 502. In an example embodiment, such conditions can be dynamic conditions and state variables can be used to track such dynamic state conditions ace. State variables can include variables that have values that represent the state of an article, usage rights, license, or other dynamic conditions. In an example mode, the values of the state variables can be used in a condition. Although the example system 500 of Figure 5 is described in terms of the depository of the client device 506 and the depository of the server device 508, in a further example mode, the depositor papers can be reversed and any depository can operate both in a client and / or server mode. Therefore, the storage of rights of use or articles or digital works, the beginning of the session, the loading and verification of rights of use and other functions, for example, can be carried out by means of a suitable depositary including another or any number of other depositaries. In an example embodiment, a user working with a personal computer (PC), such as a depository of the client 506, can create an article 502, such as a word processing document. The user may want to convert the word processing document 502 into a document in another format, such as for example the Acrobat PDF format, but the user's PC may lack the software to perform such conversion. However, in an exemplary embodiment, a publicly available server repository 508 may be configured to provide a service for converting from one word processing format to another format. Such a service can be done with the condition that the user pay a fee of $ 1, for example, as specified in the rights of use of the server 510. The user in the depository of the client 506 can then create with the word processing document 502 the use rights 504 that allow only the depositary of the designated server 508 to access to the word processing document 502 and for the purpose of converting the word processing document 5.02 to the other format. The server repository 508 can then access the word processing document 502 and the associated usage rights 504. The server depository 508 can then check to see if the server repository 508 has the rights to access the word processing document 502. After determining from the usage rights 504 that the depository of the server 508 has such a right, the depository of the server 508 can proceed to convert the word processing document 502 into a document in the other format. The repository of the server 508 can then associate the rights of use 510 with the converted document, which allows the user full access to the converted document with the condition that the user pays the $ 1 fee. In another example embodiment, before the conversion of the word processing document 502 into the other format, the depository of the server 508 may require the payment of $ 1. Such a requirement may be associated with the depository of the server 508 via the use rights 510 and the depository of the server 508 may verify the conditions under which the depository of the server 508 is allowed to accept the word processing document 502 from the custodian of the client 506 for the purpose of making the conversion. The depository of the server 508 can then determine that the payment of $ 1 is required and the depository of the server 508 can perform the conversion to the other format if $ 1 is paid. In one example embodiment, multiple repositories each can be used to assign usage rights to a particular item or only one depository can assign usage rights to an article on multiple occasions. Assignment repositories can be controlled by one or more entities or participants in the company. The rights of use can be cumulative. For example, in the case of a digital work in the form of a movie file, music file, and the like, a studio can initially create a use right, for example, that allows viewing the movie file five times in a period thirty days A client can then obtain the movie file with the associated use right. Twenty-nine days later, the studio may decide to offer the customer a new deal and allow the customer to watch the movie file for an unlimited period of one year. Accordingly, a transaction using any suitable method, such as a transaction through an Internet site, and the like, can be made between the studio and the client and the movie in the client's possession can have two use rights associated with it. and the customer can exercise any of the rights of use. In an example embodiment, the first right of use can effectively be a subset of the second right of use, such that the second right of use can effectively define the rights that the client has with respect to the movie file. However, in additional example modalities, the numerous rights of use do not need to be subsets of one another. For example, the first right of use of the obtained customer can be to be seen five times in an unlimited period of time. If in the first twenty nine days the client uses two of the five times to see, then the client can start using the right for unlimited views for the next year, and, when that right has expired, the client can still have three times to see in the first right of use. In an example mode, the study may specify that as a condition of the client receiving the second right of use, the client must abandon the first right of use. In a further exemplary embodiment, the first right of use or a right of intermediate use can be used to specify that other rights of use can not be associated with an article or that no use rights can be associated unless certain conditions are met. Figure 6 illustrates an exemplary Digital Rights Management system 600 in which plural depositaries associate plural usage rights with an article. In Figure 6, a depository 602 creates a right of use 604 and associates the right of use 604 with an article 602, such as a digital work or other article. A depository 606 can then create two use rights 608 and 610 and associate the use rights 608 and 610 with the article 612. The use right 608 and the use right 610 can be generated at the same time or at different times. In an exemplary embodiment one of the use rights 608 or 610 may be a subset of other use rights 608 or 610 or the use rights 608 and 610 may each include use rights information that is different from the other or the use rights. right of use 604. In an exemplary embodiment in connection with accessing article 612 in the form of a movie file, music file, and the like, the depository 606 can be controlled by means of the study of movies and the right of use 608 You can allow the 612 music file to be seen five times in thirty days. The right of use 610 can be issued subsequently by the studio allowing an unlimited view for one year. In an example mode, the study can create a business arrangement with a distributor that gives the distributor, for example, via the meta-rights of example, the right to distribute the studio's films, including the right to provide use rights to holders of the 612 movie file. In an example mode, the distributor can maintain control of the depositary 602. After more than a year the customer obtained the right of use 604 and that the customer has consumed all rights under the right of use 608, the customer learns that the dealer offers to provide use rights that allow the 612 movie file to be viewed an unlimited number of times with the payment condition of $ 2. The customer can then initiate a transaction with the depository 602, pay the fee of $ 2 and obtain the usage rights 604, which are associated with the 612 movie file. Therefore the movie file may have 604 usage rights. , 608, and 610 associated with it, where the rights given by two of the rights of use have expired. However, in an exemplary embodiment, you can activate from zero to more of the usage rights 604, 608, and 610 at the same time. In an example embodiment, a user, such as a client, may be allowed to exercise any plural usage rights that the user possesses and that the user chooses to exercise. Advantageously, such a liberal approach can be adjusted particularly for business for consumer situations. For example, a consumer who has two item labels that allow the rental of a car with two prices can choose the price. lowest of the least restrictive article label. In an example embodiment, a client who possesses a copy of a song file, a movie file, and the like, may choose the right to reproduce the free file and place the right to reproduce the file for a fee. In an example mode, any suitable systems and methods can be used to automatically select the best right of use or the user can manually choose, for example, through human intervention, and similar, the desired right or the user can specify the rules or preferences to allow the system to make decisions automatically for the selection of rights based on such rules or preferences. In an additional example modeA restrictive system can be provided that can typically be used in business, government or other business environment. In an example mode, the use of the system can be allowed based on the most restrictive use right. In a further example mode, a permutation of the liberal and restrictive systems can include a system where access can be based on the most restrictive right, at the hands of certain conditions being met. In a further example mode, a system can be provided where access is based on the most liberal right, unless certain conditions are met. In an example embodiment, such a condition may include the presentation or presence or lack thereof of a digital label. In an example embodiment, such conditions can be dynamic conditions tracked by state variables, and the like. In an example system, the restrictive system may include a system where plural usage rights are subsets of each other and only the lowest established use right can be exercised. The system that imposes the administration of rights can make the choices about which right of use it applies, investing, therefore, the situation in which the client decides. In an exemplary embodiment, such choice may involve human intervention, rules or a combination thereof, wherein the use rights associated with a depositary may be used in accordance with the example modalities. In an example mode, where there are plural rights and / or conditions of use and some are in conflict with the others, then the result may be an agreement, such as access to a job or agreement in a purchase and sale, based on in the rights that are compared. In the example modalities, the rights of use can be associated with a depositary. For example, usage rights 504 may be assigned to article 502, such as a digital work or other article, and rights of use of server 510 may be assigned to the depository of server 508. In an example embodiment, rights of use 510 associated with the depository 508 may be linked or associated with the article 502. However, such association with the article 503 may be optional. In an exemplary embodiment, the depository 508 may have one or more use rights 510 associated therewith. Advantageously, the use rights 510 may be used to inform the depositary of which use rights, for example, including rights and / or conditions may be associated with article 502 and such use rights do not need to be the same use rights 510 associated with the depository 508. In an exemplary embodiment, the depository of the server 508 may assign or pass along with the rights of use of the server 510 particular items 502, such as digital works or other items. In an exemplary embodiment, the functions of the server repository 508 may include functions to associate use rights with the article 502. Therefore, once associated, the article 502 may have one or more usage rights associated therewith, such as the rights of use assigned by the depositary 508 and the rights of use, if any, such as the rights of use 5094 associated with article 502 before the meeting of article 502 with the depositary. Such assignment of user rights can be done by any suitable method. In an example embodiment, the use rights associated with a depositary that may be linked to an article, just as with the usage rights previously associated with such an article. Advantageously, the rights of use of the server 510 associated with the depository 508 can be used to allow the depository of the server 508 to know what to do when the depository of the server 508 finds the article 502. In an example embodiment the rights of use of the server 510 associated with the depository 508 may be used to tell the depository of the server 508 what the repository of the server 508 can and can not do. In an example mode, such usage rights do not need to be permanently associated with the article 502. In an example embodiment, the conjunction of the use rights 504 associated with the article 502 and the use rights 510 associated with the depository 508 may be transient, for example , existing sufficiently to allow an analysis of the various types of use rights in such a way that a decision can be made about what function to perform. The use rights 510 associated with the depository 508 may be used to send the article 502 or the information about the article 502 or the rights of use 504 associated with the article 502 to another location, such as a network, node, router, other. depositary, and similar, where a decision can be made or where article 502 can be rerouted. In a further example mode, article 502 does not need to be sent to such a location, but can instead be referenced to the location for a determination, in which case information about article 502 or the associated use rights 504 thereof may be sent. . Similarly, the rights of use associated with Article 503 can be used to send article 502 or some other information to some other location. In a further example embodiment, the use rights can be used to specify that article 502 will not be sent to a location or will not be referenced to that location or that it can not go beyond a specified location. In an exemplary embodiment, the use rights 510 associated with the depository 508 can be used to inform the depository 508 that the depository 508 can interpret any suitable article 502, such as a digital work or other article presented to the depository 508. In a modality As an example, the associated use rights 510 with the depository 508 can be used to specify that the depository 508 can perform any appropriate action requested from the depository 508, for example, except interpretation. In a further exemplary embodiment, the use rights 510 can be used to specify that the depository 508 can perform any appropriate action requested from the depository 508, including interpretation, except that the depository 508 is restricted from interpreting certain types of files, such as files of the United Photographic Experts Group (JPEG), and the like. Therefore, in accordance with the example modalities, the use rights 510 can be configured to be permissive, for example, allowing all or almost everything, or they can be restrictive, for example, allowing the interpretation of only JPEG files. The salient point is that the rights of use 510 may belong to the depository 508, while other rights of use 504, may belong to the article 502. Therefore, the combination of the rights of use 504, if any, which belongs to the article 502, and use rights 510, if any, which belong to depository 508, can be used to determine what is allowed. Exemplary embodiments thus include the example systems and methods described herein, wherein the depositaries may associate, pass, and the like, use rights to an article. In an example mode, the actions of the depositary can be applied to digital works or particular articles or to groups or classes of such digital works or articles. In an exemplary embodiment, use rights can be used to specify that a depository can perform a requested operation, for example, based on certain conditions that are met. In an example embodiment, such conditions can be dynamic and can be based on state variables, and the like. For example, a depositary may be allowed to perform an operation with respect to an article, if a digital label is present corresponding to that article. In an example mode, the depositary can be informed of the use rights associated with it to effect an action, for example, with respect to an item that carries a certain watermark or is marked in some way or is identifiable in some other way. Such identification may be based on factors, such as what the article is, such as a video file, music file, and the like, where the article comes from, such as an associated source or any other suitable factor. In an example embodiment, the association of rights of use with a depositary can be used to determine actions that can be performed with respect to an article. In an example mode, any suitable article may be presented to the depositary and the depositary may determine whether it can perform the requested action with respect to that article.

Therefore, according to. an example modality, the object that is being administered and controlled is the depository. The rights of use of the depositary can be controlled with respect to usage rights associated with an article. For example, if the right of use associated with an article specifies an action that is not allowed, while the right of use associated with a depositary foresees that such action is permitted, then the result may be that the depositary performs such action. Therefore, in accordance with an example mode, the supremacy of the rights of use of the depositary may be a predetermined mode. However in additional example modalities, the rights of use of the depositary may give rise to the rights of use of the article or the rights of use of the depositary may give rise to the rights of use of the articles subject to certain specific conditions in the rights of use or on certain occasions specified in the rights of use. In a further example embodiment, the object that is being administered and controlled is an article. In an exemplary embodiment, the right of use associated with such an article may specify that an operation may be performed, for example, through a certain depository or depositaries. In an example mode, the right of use can be used to grant plural rights and specify that some subset of such rights can be executed by certain depositaries or that all rights must be made by certain specific depositaries. This concept can be thought of as conditions in the rights associated with the article. In an example embodiment, the right of use associated with an article need not grant any particular right or specify any particular condition, but instead may function to indicate or reference the article to a depositary. In an example mode, the rights of use of the depositary can define and determine what actions are allowed with respect to that article. Therefore, the usage rights associated with an item can be used to present or indicate the item to a specific depositary or depositories. In a further exemplary embodiment, one or more such pointers may be provided. In an example mode, an article or information about the article can be at any of the locations allowed by such pointers or it can be used to try to locate a location that will allow the requested action. In an example mode, via use rights, a company can be set up to grant the company's scientists the right to interpret, for example, viewing or printing, and the like, digital documents in a central repository, such as a library of technical resources of the company. In an example mode, such use rights can be used to specify that scientists can be given the right, for example, to download a copy of the central repository to a personal computer, while not allowing them to perform actions, such as how to transfer the downloaded document. Advantageously, a year later the company can make a business decision that allowing such an impression was not a good idea, and can specify via modified usage rights that such printing is no longer allowed, such rule being applicable to documents previously downloaded to the scientist's personal computer. In an example mode, when the scientist accesses a digital document in the library of technical resources, the usage rights associated with the document, for example, can be used to allow viewing the document, printing the document and downloading a copy of the document to the scientist's personal computer. In an example mode, the downloaded copy of the document may include the right to view and print the document associated with it. In an additional example mode, such right of use can be used to specify that the right to print can be exercised in an authorized interpreting repository, such as a specific printer, and the like. In a further exemplary embodiment, such use right may provide that the document may be printed on a group of authorized printers, such as printers in a company network. Consequently, when the scientist presents the document to an unauthorized printer for interpretation, the printer does not work because the scientist does not have a right to print on an unauthorized printer. However, when the document is presented to an authorized printer, for example, a printer in the company network, the document can be printed. In an example mode, an attempt to access an unauthorized printer by a certain printer or in general an unauthorized repository or a repository designated by rights of use or system design may result in consequences, such as that the article or the right of use or both are confiscated or withheld by the intervention of a machine or human intervention, and that a report concerning the attempt is made. Therefore, in accordance with the example modalities, the right of use can be used to specify that a condition of exercising a right is that an article is not presented to an unauthorized depository and, optionally, what consequences follow from the presentation not authorized In an example embodiment, the authorized printer or printers may have use rights associated therewith. Initially, the use rights associated with the authorized printer or printers allowed the printing of digital documents that have usage rights associated with them that allow printing. However, when the company makes the decision to prohibit the printing of such documents from the library of technical resources, advantageously, the company can change the usage rights associated with the printer or authorized printers. In an example embodiment, such a change may be a general change, such as prohibiting the printing of all documents or a specific change, such as prohibiting the printing of documents with certain characteristics or not accompanied by an appropriate authorization, such as a digital label, and similar. Consequently, when the scientist tries to print the document, the printer can verify the usage rights associated with it and can determine that the document presented to the printer is not allowed to be printed. Advantageously, with the example modalities, the company can successfully avoid the printing of technical documents without having to recover copies of the document, change usage rights already associated with the documents or take other actions. In addition to printing applications, the example modes can be applied in a general way to implement several different types of other applications, for example, involving many types of transactions and rights. In an example mode, a repository does not need to be a simple set of functional specifications, and it does not need to be or reside in a single device or software program. Therefore, it can include a virtual repository, for example, including numerous computers, printers, storage devices, faxes, processors, and the like. Such a virtual repository can be understood as converting multiple devices or functionalities into a single device or virtual functionality. For example, a home network can be configured as a simple repository, can employ a distributed computing capability and can include several repositories connected to a trust area. Therefore, in the example modalities, a depository with rights of use can be a depository, which can include a virtual depository. In an example mode, when such virtual depository has use rights associated with it, other depositaries in the group including the virtual depository may have rights of use or derive such respective use rights from another depository, such as another depository within the group, a central node of the virtual depository or a central control repository. In an exemplary embodiment, a central control repository may be used in conjunction with several different repositories, types of items, actions, and the like. In an example embodiment, the usage rights associated with an article may indicate or refer to such depositary and may constitute or include a pointer. In an exemplary embodiment, the central depository can be connected through a communications network, such as communication network 170, to other repositories or devices capable of performing specific functions, such as printers, routers, computers, music players, e-mail servers, copying machines, storage repositories, video players, DVD media players, and the like. In an example embodiment, the central control repository can be used as a virtual repository. Figure 7 illustrates an exemplary Digital Rights Management system 700 in which a central control repository with usage rights associated therewith controls functions to be executed with respect to an article. In Figure 7, the right of use 702 associated with an article 704, such as a digital work or any other article, can be used to indicate a central control repository 706. In an example embodiment, the right of use 702 associated with the article 704 it can refer to the central control depository 706 as the place that specifies which use rights belong to the article 704. In a further example mode, the right of use 702 can be used to define rights of use belonging to the article 704 , but further specify that such rights may be exercised only through the central control repository 706. The reference to the central control repository 706 may be thought of as a condition in the right to exercise rights specified in the use rights 702. In a form of For example, the central control repository 706 may have use rights 708 associated therewith which control actions, functions, and simi These are allowed to be made to the depository 706. In an exemplary embodiment, the rights of use 708 can be of any suitable type, for example, including general use rights of a general nature or of a specific nature or between them. For example, a general-use right 708 may include not allowing the printing of article 704, such as a document, and the like, even though the use rights 702 associated with article 704 allow printing or do not allow routing of article 704 , such as an email, and the like, to an email server, if the article 704 is larger than a megabyte, even if the usage rights associated with article 704 allow the sending by email of the same. In an exemplary embodiment, a specific use right 708 may include the permission of use rights 702 of article 704, such as a movie file, music file, and the like, to be updated to allow viewing of article 704, even if the right to see the right of use 702 associated with article 704 has expired because the time allowed to see has expired. In the example modalities that relate to the library of technical resources, the right of use 708 can be used to specify that a certain document identified from the library of technical resources can not be printed. In an exemplary embodiment, the central control repository 706 can be configured to analyze the rights of use 708 and the use rights 702 of article 704, for example, to determine what functions are allowed, what action to take, and similar. In an example mode, if a request to perform a function or action is not allowed, such a request may be denied. However, if the requested function or action is allowed or if some of the various functions or actions requested are allowed, then the central control depository 706 may route the request to the depositary or to another device authorized to perform the requested function or action. In a further exemplary embodiment, the central control repository 706 may be authorized and capable of performing a given function, wherein the step does not need to employ the routing stage.

Therefore, in accordance with an example embodiment, if a printing function is requested, the central control repository 706 can route any suitable printer request. However, if the right of use 702 or 708 specify printing on a designated printer or printers, for example such as the printer 710, then the request can be routed to the authorized printer or printers. In a further exemplary embodiment, if both a hard copy and a digital copy are requested, the request can be routed to the printer 710 and to a depository 716 capable of performing the function of making a digital copy. In an example mode, an attempt to exercise an unauthorized right may result in a consequence, such as that the article or a right of use, be confiscated or withheld by machine intervention or human intervention or that a report be made concerning to the attempt or another consequence. Therefore, a right of use can be used to specify that a condition of exercise of the right is that an authorized action is not attempted, and optionally what consequence follows from the unauthorized attempt. In an example embodiment, one or more 710-720 depositories may have use rights (not shown) associated with them. In an example mode, there may be as many layers as a system designer wants to implement. For example, the e-mail server 718 may have associated usage rights that are specific to the e-mail server 718 and which defines what the e-mail server 718 may and may not do. In an example mode, for example, the Use rights associated with the email server 718 may cause the email server 718 not to process the article 704, even though the central control repository 706 and the usage rights 702 associated with article 704 do not prohibit such processing. For example, the depository performing copy functions 716 via suitable usage rights associated therewith can be configured to refuse to make a copy of article 704 or impose a condition on making such copy, for example, such as a payment of a $ 1 fee, notwithstanding a determination by central control repository 706 based on usage rights analysis 702 and 708 that the copy may be made. In additional example modalities, one or more of the 710-720 depositories can be configured as a virtual repository. In an exemplary embodiment, if the use rights associated with a depositary, for example, the copying repository 716, and the usage rights associated with another depository, for example, use rights 708 associated with the central control repository.706 , are in conflict or may result in conflicting transactions or do not deal consistently with the same transaction, for example, where the 716 copy repository ceases to allow printing, but the rights of use 708 of the central control depository do not cease to allow the printing, but neither do they expressly allow the printing, a decision may be taken that resolves the primacy of the respective rights of use, for example, based on one or more rules. In an exemplary embodiment, a depository can perform a function, for example, if a depositary or an article is configured in a particular form. For example, an artist may want to allow the printing of black and white versions of article 704, such as a digital work by the artist, for example, including art, but prohibiting the printing of color versions. The 702 usage rights associated with Article 704 may provide that Article 704 may be printed only on a black and white printer. Accordingly, in an example embodiment, a condition can be used to ensure, for example, that the printer 712 can be configured in a certain way, such as being configured to print only the item 704 in a gray scale pattern. For example, such a condition may specify that the presence of a cartridge for black-only printing must be detected in the printer 712. In an exemplary embodiment, the cartridge may be identified in any suitable manner, for example, including identification of the presence of a equipment or firmware element, such as via CRUM technology to identify a print cartridge. In an exemplary embodiment, such a condition can be used to specify that the article 704 can be printed, if a particular type of print cartridge, such as a print cartridge from a specific manufacturer, is present in the print repository 712. In a example mode, the condition specifying the presence of the specific print cartridge may be associated via the corresponding usage rights with one or more of article 704, the print store 712 or the central control store 706. In a further example mode , the condition can be used to specify that printing is allowed only with authorization, such as by presentation of a digital label, and the like. The exemplary embodiments can advantageously be applied to the configuration of any suitable depository or secondary depositories, such as a depository dependent in some form on another depository. In an exemplary embodiment, article 704 need not have use rights associated with it, wherein the analysis of usage rights by the central control repository 706 may be of the usage rights 708 associated therewith. In the exemplary embodiments, the central control repository 706 or one or more of the other 710-720 repositories can be configured to examine and analyze other attributes about article 704, such as metadata, file type, file size, the presence or absence of an appropriate digital label, watermark or safety indicator, the absence of forcing or any other characteristic. One or more such features may be used as part of the process to determine which of the depositories 706 and 710-720 can process the article 704. For example, if a particular characteristic of the article 704, such as a music file, and the like , is that Article 704 is greater than one megabyte in size, the determination may be not to send by email Article 704. However, the user requested the shipment by email. In an example mode, when use rights are associated with depositaries, usage rights do not need to be associated with an article, such as a digital work or other article. For example, the article may have a pointer or reference to a place to go to find what can be done with the article. In an exemplary embodiment, such a location may be a depository, which may have use rights associated therewith. In a further example mode, the depository to which the item may be indicated may be an authorized place to go to have use rights assigned to the article or a place to go to reroute to another depository. Therefore in accordance with the exemplary embodiments, the object that is being linked or associated with the object, such as a digital work or other article, may be a way, such as the use of a prompter, to locate an authorized repository to determine what can be done with the article. Advantageously, the example modalities can be used in restricted resource environments, because a reference can consume less space than the information that expresses the corresponding rights of use. In an exemplary embodiment, a depository may be configured to analyze any suitable article presented to the depositary and determine, based on use rights associated with the depositary, characteristics of the article or what functions may be performed with respect to the article. Thus, advantageously, an article need not have a pointer associated with the article to direct the article to a particular depository in order for a depository to analyze the article and perform functions or actions. Accordingly, with the exemplary embodiments, a depository can be configured to perform analyzes and functions or actions on any suitable article presented to the depositary or on any suitable article submitted from an authorized source, for example, such as from the central control repository 706, or which is otherwise identified as an article which a depository is authorized to analyze or process. Advantageously the processing of articles that do not have use rights associated therewith through depositaries having use rights associated therewith may be used in various types of business applications, but may be particularly useful in a company or in any other Appropriate type of closed environment. For example, a company that includes a government department may include an internal network that connects to stationary or transportable client devices, such as laptops, PDAs, and the like. In an exemplary embodiment, the usage rights may be associated with appropriate repositories, such as servers, and the like, for example, including the central control repository 706. Therefore, any suitable article moving outside of a client device may pass through or through a depository that has use rights associated with it and which may examine the article and make determinations concerning the article. In an exemplary embodiment, such a determination may include assigning usage rights to the article, wherein the use rights may include status information or conditions that include dynamic conditions. In an exemplary embodiment, a client device can be configured in such a way that it is not communicated outside the device, for example, outside the hard disk of the device, except through the company network or through authorized repositories or devices. For example, in a situation in which the participant in the company is a government, a law can be configured to require all or certain items, such as digital traffic to move within and / or outside a country, government department or other environment , go through one or more authorized depositories. Advantageously, depositaries can be configured to examine such article and analyze and process such articles in accordance with use rights associated with such depositaries. In a further embodiment, depositaries can be configured to examine any suitable feature of an article, such as media type, content, security type, size, watermark, origin, author, and the like. If the article also has usage rights associated with it, such an analysis may include comparing usage rights associated with the article for those associated with the depositary. Consequently, the example systems can be configured for an entity, such as the government, and the like, which can decide that the rights of use or certain rights of use associated with an item can or will be disregarded and the items will be processed in accordance with use rights associated with a depositary, notwithstanding the usage rights associated with the article. In an example mode, if an article is encrypted or otherwise protected, the example systems may be programmed or configured to refuse to process such an article. Advantageously, articles with rights of use not authorized by a participant in the company do not need to be processed, for example, they do not need to leave or enter the country or another environment, unless such rights of use can be set aside. are applicable to entities other than government entities, such as business or personal companies. For example, the participant in the company may be a parent control access to information entering or leaving the home, for example, using a network, such as a wireless network, a WiFi network, a home network, and the like, and a depository through which traffic can be processed inside or outside the home. In an exemplary embodiment, such control and processing may be for any suitable reason, such as for audit or census or censorship or control or security reasons.

In an exemplary embodiment, a function performed by a depositary with respect to rights of use may include the application of rights of use to an article, such as a digital work or other article. Therefore, in accordance with the example modalities any suitable item entering and / or leaving a country or other environment may have associated use rights therein through a depositary, such as an authorized depository, with the result that the article can be used inside or outside the country or another environment, in accordance with the use rights associated with it through the depositary. In an exemplary embodiment, the imposition of such use rights may be effected, for example, as described in assigned assigned U.S. Patents No. 5,530,235, No. 5,629,980, No. 5,634,012, No. 5,638,443, No. 5,715,403, No. 6,233,684, and No. 6,236,971, incorporated herein by reference. In a further exemplary embodiment, it is not necessary for the client device to submit an article, for example, to a network of a company, and the like, for the item to be analyzed or operations to be performed with respect to the item, such as allocation of the item. rights of use to the article. Therefore, in an example mode, depositaries, such as authorized repositories, connected to a network or other environment of a company or other participant can be configured to access the client or other devices and for items that are residing there, for analyze the articles, make decisions or take actions concerning such articles. Consequently, in the example modalities that relate to a company with scientists who have accessed articles, such as digital works or other articles, from a library of technical resources and who have retained a copy on their personal computers, advantageously, they can nd Additionally . For example, a network repository, such as the central control repository 706, can be configured to access a client device, such as the scientist's personal computer, locate and access the appropriate digital work or other article, such as a document of the library of technical resources, and changing the use rights associated with the article, for example, including the association of a new right of use such that the article can no longer be printed, advantageously, allowing the previously granted printing rights to be rescinded . Figure 8 illustrates an example depository 800 that can be employed in the example systems of Figures 1 and 5-7. In Figure 8, the example repository 800 may include a processor module configured to process, such as interpreting, an ession of rights 808 in the form of a right of use associated with. the depository 800, for example, specifying a manner of use of an article 812, a condition of use of article 812 and the like, in the depository 800. The example depository 800, for example, may include a determination module 80. The determination module 804 can be configured to determine, based on the ession of rights 808 and / or one or more rules, what action or actions 816 can take the depository 800 when the depository 800 processes the article 812 or the depository 800 receives a application 814 for article 812. The example depository 800, for example, may also include a comparison module. The comparison module 806 may be configured to compare an ession of rights 810 associated with the item 812 and, for example, that specifies a manner of use, a condition of use, and the like, of article 812, with the ession of rights 808 for that the determination module 804 determines the action or actions 816. In an example mode, the ession of rights in the form of a master license, for example, may include master usage rights and may be stored in one or more depositories. The master license may include use rights belonging to an article, such as a digital work or other article. A user, customer, consumer, distributor, and the like, of an article may have a reference or indication that may be associated with the master license. In an example mode, many people can have a pointer or reference associated with a common master license, but in additional example modalities, a single person can have such a reference or pointer. However, in additional example modalities there may be more than one copy of a master license, for example, that resides in servers located in different Local Area Networks (LAN) or devices, such as locator servers in several geographies In an example mode, multiple licenses can be similar or different. For example, it may be desirable that a master license applies to everyone, except for France, and that a variant of such a master license applies to France. In an example embodiment, an appropriate reference or indication may be provided for customers or persons who will be associated with the French variant of the master license. In an example embodiment, a master license may include, all rights of use and conditions pertaining to an article, wherein, advantageously, a user only needs to have a reference or pointer for such master license. Advantageously, the example modalities may be useful in restricted resource environments, because a reference or pointer may consume less space than the information expressed in the master license. In an example mode, the master license can specify less than all rights and conditions of use. For example, some rights and conditions may be specified in separate use rights, including, for example, specific use rights for each instance of an article. In an exemplary embodiment, the reference or pointer may employ any suitable mode of communication, such as a hyperlink, an off-line communication mode, such as the coupling of two device or communication devices into a single device. For example, a repository that includes a master license associated with a movie may be on the same computer hard drive as the repository in which the movie is stored. There may be a pointer or reference that matches the usage rights specified in the master license and the movie, even though the usage rights and the movie are on the same device. In an example mode, the master license can specify the rights and conditions of use to be associated with an article, where a reference or pointer can point to the master license. In an example mode, a master license can be accessed when a holder of an article, such as a digital work or other article, wishes to access the article, such as interpreting the article, copying the article or moving the article to another repository. The purpose of the access may be to determine that the right to perform the proposed transaction, such as interpreting the article or copying the article, may be associated with the article and verify and comply with any suitable condition such as payment of a fee, and the like. In an example embodiment, such verification can be performed in each instance of intended use, for example, to implement dynamic changes. However, in additional exemplary embodiments, such verification may be performed at various times, frequencies, and the like. For example, each time a user wishes to execute or take an action, such as copying or moving, with respect to an article, the master license can be verified for a current state of use rights in it, for example, by interpretation, and similar, of the master license. In an example mode, if the master license can be determined to have changed, the master license can be interpreted differently than the last reference to the master license. As a result, an action that was allowed yesterday may not be allowed today or a denied action requested yesterday may be allowed today. In an example mode, the master license can change at any appropriate time. In an example mode, a master license may be owned by an issuer of the same or by an authority other than the issuer. For example, a studio that owns a movie may employ an agent who can administer the master license for the study. In an example mode the study can maintain legal control of the master license, even when the agent can keep or maintain physical control of the master license. In an example mode, the study or an agent can change the master license as necessary. However, in a further example mode, a master license may also be held outside the control of the master license issuer, for example, under the control of an authority or government entity. In an example mode, a digital label pointing to a reference or a pointer can be used which in turn points to a license, including a master license. For example, a consumer may have a digital label issued by a rights holder or other participant in the company, such as issued by a content owner as a rights holder or a government as a participant in the company, where the digital label includes a pointer to a reference pointer. In an example mode the reference pointer can be hosted, controlled, and the like, by the rights holder, which can include the owner of the article or content or another participant in the company. However, in a further example modality, a digital label does not need to be used. For example, a prompter may be associated with an article, such as a digital work or other article, and included as part of a license that includes the usage rights associated with the article. As with the example digital tag mode, such a pointer can point to a reference pointer, which in turn points to the actual license, for example, including a master license. Therefore, in an example embodiment, a user, consumer, distributor, and the like, of an article, may have a right of use, which is or may include a pointer to a reference pointer. The reference pointer can be hosted, controlled, and the like, by a rights holder, which can include a content owner or another participant in the company. Therefore, in accordance with the example modalities, a pointer can be configured to point to a current usage right, providing flexibility to implement changes in usage rights. For example, a change can be implemented simply by changing the actual right of use that is being targeted or can be implemented having changed the place of the reference pointer, for example, the right of use, to which the reference pointer points. Because the change of the right-of-use pointer occurs in the reference pointer, advantageously, the pointer associated with a digital tag does not need to be changed. In an example mode, the person who issues a digital label, a license, a right of use, does not need to be the same person who hosts or controls the reference pointer. For example, the issuer may be the owner of an item, such as digital content, a digital work or other article, and the reference pointer may be hosted or controlled by another participant in the business, such as a government authority or an authority within the company. of a company. For example, in the example modalities in relation to scientists accessing documents from a library of technical resourcesIf the information technology office of the company controls the reference pointer, such office can implement a technological action to change a right for the scientist to make printed copies, avoiding, advantageously, a need to implement a change in an instance. particular of a digital document. In an exemplary embodiment, the license 142 may provide flexibility and may be used in various ways. For example, the license 142 can be used to access an Internet site, where, as a condition of access to the Internet site, the license 142 may include a condition that the user must be located in a specific geographical area, for example, in the U.S. This can be useful for locating the website, for example, in terms of language translation, personalization or other aspects of property rights, including local customs, news, culture, hobbies, local sports news, newsmakers. local, local industry, local merchandise or local advertisements. For example, if the user is located in the United States, the language can be English and American versions of spelling and dialect can be used. In additional sample modalities, advertisements may be based on the American flavor, season, or political climate at that time. Therefore, the example modalities allow localization, increasing the attractiveness of the Internet site, facilitating the provision of appropriate property rights and generally improving customer satisfaction and traffic on the Internet site or sales volume. Advantageously, the example modalities allow a property owner, for example, to open a specific property right in the United States and three months later in Europe or another part of the world. This is common in the film industry, where different releases in different geographical areas are restricted based on a time schedule designed to provide the maximum benefit to the owner or other revenue recipient. Premiere dates and / or time tables can be incorporated into a pattern of rights, so that the assignment of modifications of the time table can be easy for the content owner, and the maintenance of the trajectory of the various times It can be done automatically, without additional human intervention. The example modalities are applicable to search engines to collect data from an Internet site. For example, an Internet site administrator or other authority in the control of an Internet site may, as a condition of access to the Internet site, require the search engine to access or request access after midnight when the traffic of the Internet Internet site is at a minimum, and therefore the charges are reduced. Additionally, the Internet site may impose varying conditions on the ability or right of the search engine to access the site, such as by specifying that the access will expire after a certain period of time, if access is obtained during peak hours. In an example embodiment, the license 142 can be used to specify how to obtain access to a property right. For example, you can specify how a user can distribute content or other articles, such as super distribution. This provides more control to the content owner, from where and by what method the distribution is carried out. The geographic location restriction can be a condition. The super distribution parameters can also be specified by the content owner as conditions, for example, to further limit the distribution method, such as expiration date, the number of copies, and people who are prohibited from obtaining a copy, such as unfriendly customers or known hackers. In an example mode, a user may want to share their personal calendar with others. Access to the calendar may be the article specified in the article reference 134a, which may include an access code. However, as a condition of license 142, the user may require the accessing party to perform a specific task. For example, a condition may require the user to open a specific file or share a user's calendar. The calendar can be used and edited by all or some of the other people, who have been given the right to enter, modify or edit, expressed in license rights 142. Some of the parties can be give the right to see only or see and enter only, without modification of rights. The calendar can track program conflicts for two or more people, or automatically notify parties in conflict or all parties about the conflict. The calendar can highlight the days not available, when one or more parties are out of town or indisposed for other reasons. The calendar may also suggest some days or hours that the calendar is relatively empty or for specific parties to find acceptable dates or times, based on the income of one or more users. In an example mode, a property right that can be controlled can include access to a print shop service, where a policy can be used to restrict user access to print services specified by the article 134 tag. For example, access to the service can be specified in the article 134a reference and restrictions can be expressed as use rights and license conditions 142. For example, the user can send a large file to be printed by the print shop, for certain fee. However, as a way of handling work orders, smaller files can be printed before, for example they can have a high priority. The size of the files in a predetermined time frame can be compared and ordered for printing purposes. For example, a license condition 142 may be that no smaller file is placed in the queue for printing. The state of other files queued for printing can be tracked as a state variable. However, if a job must be printed before a deadline, then the length of the printing process can be estimated, and the work schedule can be modified to meet the deadline. This out-of-order prioritization can be indicated by means of an indicator or a variable or set of variables / parameters, which can include the order of priority, information about the deadline, and the like. In the case of program conflict or not having enough time to meet all deadlines, work in a class with higher priority can be handled before the other jobs. Therefore, the size of a file to be printed can be significant in a specific priority class. In an additional example mode, with the payment of a fee or the satisfaction of another condition, a print job could skip the queue or jobs in color and black and white could be sent to different printers or the user could specify the priority that the user wants based on the payment of the fee. For the assignment of printed works, the priority assignment, the kind of printed works, the negotiation of the price and fees, and the movement of priorities, rights of the clients and printed works can be assigned, and such rights can be expressed in the license 142. In an example mode, a service provider can establish conditions for quality in rights regimes 132. For example, a lower quality image can be purchased for a lower charge or a slower delivery can be granted for a fee more low. For example, the resolution can be set to correspond to the price, based on a table, a formula, a function or values in a curve. Additional examples apply to variations other than quality, such as speed or time, and the variation may be based on conditions other than the payment of fees. Advantageously, such services or articles may be specified in the reference of article 134a. Another possible property right is the authority to change or set the time for a computer or other system. In an example mode, the condition can be the identification of the person as the system administrator. Therefore identification can be based on the individual's role, which can be established by means of a smart card, identification, and the like. Such a paper-based model makes it easier to effect a change in the assignment of rights or a change in the position of individuals. In additional example modalities, the application of rights of use to articles can be very useful for situations in which the supplier of the article is not the same as the seller of the article, such as for air tickets and car rental, in the which frequently a travel agent or other party sells the item. For example, one or more round tickets between Boston and Chicago can be purchased from an Internet site, such as an auction site, a reverse auction site, direct airline sales, a travel agency, an individual who has the right. of property to transfer or resell tickets, an information locator, a reseller or a distributor. The destination, the location or both can be variable. For example, an item specified in article reference 134a of the article 134 label may be a plane ticket from Boston to a city in the eastern part of the United States, a city within approximately 3200 kilometers (2000 miles) of Boston or a city in the Continental United States. The rights to use the license 142 may include the right to exchange the ticket for another ticket in the European continent as long as a condition is satisfied, such as a payment of a fixed or variable fee. In additional example modalities, the rights of use may include the right to convert the ticket into cash, points, coupons, and the like, for purposes of merchandise or services of affiliated merchants. For the seasons of greatest activity or predetermined time window, the conditions may require an extra fee for a given property right. The predetermined times can be tracked as state variables. In an example embodiment, the item tag 134, for example, can be used to specify that the user can rent a car for six days in Boston from one of several leasing companies. The leasing companies may have a contract with the information locator 160 to recognize the article 134 label as valid and the reference of article 134a may be used to specify the car rental company. The rights and conditions of use, for example, can be used to specify mileage limits, places to leave the car, car size, car manufacturer, pick-up locations, equipment varied in the car as additional features, and the like. Consequently, the article may include the rental of a car, for example during six days in the month of August, and the like, and the owner of the car does not need to know exactly when or where such a property right may be exercised. In an example mode, the inventory of additional seats, for example, tickets for leftover seats in the cinema, seats in airlines or car rental companies, in which the property right does not need to be a one-to-one relationship, also it can be adapted for distribution as a property right for an article with associated use rights. For example, a property right for a movie ticket can be purchased from an Internet site, and the property right can be exercised by retrieving the corresponding item label in a hundred room, which can be configured to accept the labels of article 134 and can have a relationship with the Internet site's distributor, for example, similar to the relationship that a credit card company has with several issuing banks, with respect to customers and card holders or the like in a more centralized way of control , such as that used by other credit card companies. In additional exemplary embodiments, more than one type of rights distributor, issuing entities, contract providers or item label type 134 may be provided, and each may have its own logos, terms, conditions, associations, and the like, with possible reciprocal acceptance through the boundaries of associations, advantageously, maximizing the areas of acceptance and ease for customers, for example, similar to cards of ATM machines (ATMs) and banks. After accepting article labels 134, the cinema owner, for example, can add the labels of article 134 each day and get a refund. In an example mode, tickets or seats for events with indeterminate dates or specifications can be expressed as property rights items. In additional example modalities, the property right article may be hotel rooms and other consumer items, so reservations become very liquid and interchangeable allowing the transfer of the license 142 through use or meta-rights. rights. In an exemplary embodiment, the information locator 160 may have a contract with three car leasing companies as vendors having Internet 150a servers, for example, of which a user may rent a compact car for 6 days in August and may be used in New York City. The article label 134 may be recoverable to exercise the right of ownership of a corresponding license 142 of one of the three car rental companies. The rights of use of the license 142 associated with the label of article 134 can be used to specify various aspects of the right of ownership, such as six days in August of the current year in a specific city, the ability to auction or otherwise transfer the property right, the ability to exchange the city for a fee, the ability to use part of the property right to obtain cash, and the like. Advantageously, the flexibility in trading property rights, in accordance with the example modalities, for example, may allow several items to be extended within an open market to trade or exchange property rights, for example, similar to the NASDAQ stock market. . In such a market, rights can be made very liquid, similar to cash, stocks, bonds, certified checks, and the like. Advantageously, such property rights may be traded as consumer articles or objects, with certain predetermined or variable values, at the current or future time, and the like. Consequently, the association of rights and conditions with articles, through the mechanism of the license 142 and the article label 134, can provide a completely new dimension for commercial various goods, services, and the like.

In an example mode, the Internet and computer networks can be configured to provide a very fast and convenient way to distribute property rights to various items. However, in additional sample modes, the distribution of several articles may be strictly limited, specified by the owner of the article or as the user wishes. For example, a property right can be provided to view or use personal or private data, where the distribution way, where the data is distributed, who can use the data, who should not be able to inspect, copy, distribute or using the data, and the like, can be specified as one or more conditions and rights of use in the license 142. In an example mode, access to private information can be treated as an article, and the rights management solutions for use Examples can be used to safeguard such private data. For example, the example modalities may allow a user to provide private personal data to an Internet site, and the Internet site may sell the data to others, only if the user has granted such property right to the Internet site. A parameter of such a property right, for example, expressed as a condition may be the tolerance level of the owner of the content, which can be quantified, and represented by an integer, a descriptive name or other means. In an example mode, such a tolerance value may correspond to geographical distribution limits, a list of authorized users, a list of unauthorized persons, such as hackers or infamous Internet sites, predefined levels of trustworthiness, security levels for different Internet sites, predefined levels of privacy for different Internet sites or other parameters or conditions. Such parameters, for example, can be determined statically or dynamically and can be tracked as state variables. In an example mode, Internet sites or other distribution sites, for example, may be qualified by individuals based on votes or may be qualified by commercial or non-profit organizations based on surprise audits or scheduled audits, and with claims or rules established in such sites compared against the criteria of a rating organization. Such qualifications can be achieved in any suitable way. For example, ratings may be a condition of the L42 license to determine whether a party can access private information. If there is an unwanted leak of the private information towards the outside, the responsibility of such a site can be established, in terms of monetary or other compensations as a parameter for the calculation of the rating of the site. In an example embodiment, a condition may include an indication that a content owner is willing to sell personal data. For example, the license 142 granting access to a network or other service may have as a condition the requirement that the user grant permission to sell personal data. In additional example modalities, the conditions may include the price or other compensation or conditions established in such personal data. For example, sample modes allow a content owner to receive a fixed percentage or fee or other benefit, such as kilometers from an airline, for each sale or transaction of personal data. An aggregate of such micro-amounts may be paid, for example, at the end of each month or another period, based on the use of rights parameters in license 142, and through one or more information locators 160. In an example mode , personal data can be added or averaged for economic, cultural, regional, national reasons, medical, or other, in which the individual data for a specific person need not be individually significant. In an example mode, the identity of individuals typically does not need to be displayed. Such data may be used in the aggregate for a number of purposes, for example, for medical or census purposes by a nonprofit or trust organization. In an example embodiment, conditions may be used to specify the purpose of collecting such data, and use rights may be used to specify how such data may be used, such as in an aggregate, or on average, and the like. . In a further example mode, a condition can be used to specify which section or part of the personal data collection it can afford to use for a particular purpose. Such a specification can be made using an appropriately configured user interface, for example, including a pattern shape, with indicators that specify each piece of information,? Similary. For example, for a medical study, permission may be granted to access the age, height, and weight of a person, but not the name, income, credit card number, credit history, or address of the person. For a census or insurance study, accessible information, for example, may include addresses or zip codes, the number of accidents in the past six months, the number of cars per house, and the like. In an example embodiment, a content owner may specify in the license 142 the data that may be exchanged in the information locator 160 with another data collection entity, to average, aggregate or sell or exchange the data. Advantageously, the example modalities allow a content owner to verify the identity of the data acquirer and the associated level of trustworthiness in the new owner, for example, as specified conditions, on a case-by-case basis. In an exemplary embodiment, the licenses 142 and the recovery of the labels 134 can be tracked as state variables. Advantageously, the example modalities, therefore, allow a user to enter personal data only once and then keep the tracker of such data, where the user or other designated party can be informed of how or what part of the data They are being used. The user can be notified of where the data is by a tracking means, for example, including sending emails to the user, and the like. In an additional mode of example, the user can receive remuneration for the sale or use of personal data. In an example mode, an article, for example, including personal information may be divided into different components for which an owner or other authorized person may assign different values of privacy conditions. In a further example mode, personal information may have only one component.

In an example mode, privacy parameters can be based on several types of scales. For example, a typical scale for a privacy parameter can be between 0 and 1, where zero can mean no privacy, such as an unconditional access, and one can mean absolute privacy, such as no access under any conditions. A set of rules can be used to define the scale for the privacy parameter. Different restrictions, conditions, fees, rights, and the like can be associated with the privacy parameters and each parameter can be assigned to a specific component of the personal information. In an example mode, the content owner, a trust organization or some other entity can establish trust ratings for different entities or individuals, and such trust ratings can be used as access conditions for such entities or individuals for associated private information. with a certain privacy parameter. Such confidence ratings can be based on a scale, such as with privacy parameters. For example, people with the highest possible confidence ratings can access information with the highest privacy settings, and people with the lowest confidence ratings can access information that does not require privacy. Intermediate ratings can be used to grant access to corresponding parts of the information. Therefore, in accordance with the example modalities, the content may have a qualification and the viewer or user of the content may have a qualification, and a condition to access the content may be that two qualifications have a complete or partial correspondence, such as be necessary. In additional example modalities, different parts of the content may have different qualifications, advantageously, providing greater flexibility. In an example embodiment, the rights of use, offers of rights, labels, licenses, and the like, can be expressed by any appropriate language, format, set of labels, set of rules, grammar or formulations, for example, such as XrML language, and the like. In a further exemplary embodiment, the various aspects and limitations may be expressed as various combinations of items, principals, conditions, and the like. For example, a property right can be used to specify that person A can transmit a purchase order of less than X dollars to company C. There are numerous ways to express the rights and conditions of use of such a license in a property right. , such as the expressions of rights that are provided below.

Expressions of example rights # 1: Main: Person A Article: Company Purchase Service C Right of Use: Transmission Conditions: type = "Purchase Order", cost < X Expressions of example rights # 2: Main: Person A Article: Purchase Order Right of Use: Transmission Conditions: receiver = "Company Purchase Service C", cost < X Expressions of example rights # 3: Main: Person A Article Any good of the Company C Right of Use: Purchase Conditions: cost < X Expressions of example rights # 4: Main: Person A Article: Any Right of Use: Purchase Conditions: receiver = "Company's Purchase Service C", cost < X Expressions of example rights # 5: Main: Person A Article: Any Right of Use: Expenditure < X Conditions: receiver = "Company Purchase Service C" Example rights of exemption # 6: Main: Person A Article: Purchase Order Right of Use: Transmit to "Company C Purchase Service" Conditions: cost < X Expressions of example rights # 7: Main: Person A Article: Purchase Order for "Company Purchase Service C" costing less than $ X total Right of Use: Transmit Conditions: none Of the expressions of example rights, it can be observed, that a property right can be expressed in several ways and that the restrictions can be established in a right of use in the article, as conditions, and the like. Therefore, in accordance with the example modalities, it is possible to specify how people use or access goods, services or other items, advantageously, through property rights that may be imposed. For example, the owner of an article or distributor of an article can be given more control over the article and the user of the article can be given better management on what property rights are obtained and at what cost. Therefore, the example modalities provide the ability to create a property right that can be imposed on several items and allow such items to be traded in an open market environment. While such an environment may be employed for consumer items and actions, the example modalities advantageously allow for appropriate rights that may be imposed on goods, services, and the like. The various rights, conditions, articles, other indicators, and the like, of the example modalities may be expressed in any suitable manner and may be stored in the same location or in different locations. For example, the tag 134 may be stored in a location, such as a user's device, and the license 142 may be stored in another device or location, such as the license server 140. Advantageously, the various aspects and components of the example have individual utility and can exist separately. For example, licenses 142 may exist separately from labels 134, and each may exist outside of a specific architecture or computer system.

Example systems for distributing labels 134 and creating and enforcing licenses 142 may use various devices, such as personal computers, servers, workstations, PDAs, thin clients, and the like. For example, the client environment 120 may include a handheld device, such as a mobile phone, a PDA, and the like. Several channels can be used for communication with the example modes and several functions can be integrated into one or more devices. For example, one or more functions performed by the license server 140 may be achieved by appropriately configured software and / or equipment in the environment of the client 120. In additional example modes, one or more of the functions performed by the license server 142 or other modules for selecting rights and granting licenses 142 can be achieved in the same device as that used to access and retrieve article labels 134. The functional modules described are segregated by function for clarity. However, in additional exemplary embodiments, the various functions of the example systems may be combined or segregated as equipment and / or software modules in any suitable manner. As a result, the various functions may be useful separately or in combination. The various elements, portions thereof, and the like, of the exemplary embodiments may be stored in the same device or in different devices. For example, the license 142 may be stored together with or separate from the article label 134. In additional exemplary embodiments, the various elements of the license 142 may be stored in separate devices. For example, the values of the state variables can be stored in a state variable repository of a system that tracks the current value of the state variables. The example modalities may employ various links, references, specifications, and the like, to associate such elements. The example modalities can be additionally used for off-line operation modes. For example, article 134 and license server 140 may reside on the same device as client component 122, and activation server 110 may also reside on the same device. Such a device may include a hard drive of a personal computer or some handheld or transportable device. Advantageously, the example modalities allow a transaction to be consummated without having to establish a communication session with another device, through the Internet or otherwise. In the exemplary embodiment, a hard disk drive in a personal computer may include the tag 134 which generates software, document preparation software, the activation server software 110, and the like. Such software systems or components may provide the computing resources for preparing an article, for example, content, such as a song, movie, and the like, creating the article label 134 and the license 142 defining the rights and conditions associated with the article. articles and to retrieve the tag 142 that defines the rights and conditions associated with the article and to retrieve the tag 134 in accordance with such rights and conditions. In an exemplary embodiment, such software systems may communicate with each other within the hard disk of the personal computer, and the like. In an example mode, the scope of the communication outside the client device is used to process a transaction for some reason, for example, to make a financial payment, an online session may be carried out at a time different from that requested for use. from the article. For example, the client device can communicate with the information locator 160 and make an online payment. The payment can be registered in the device for example, but not exclusively in the software component of the license server 140 on the client device. The record can be recorded as a monetary amount, such as $ 100.00, or as units, such as ten views of a movie file or ten day rent of a car from the Hertz landlord or in any other suitable manner. Each use can be recorded and deducted from an authorized amount or number of uses. In the case of a financial transaction, it is possible to make the transaction offline using a digital storage device, such as a smart card, a removable storage device, and the like. In an exemplary embodiment, the information to be exchanged can be exchanged using a physical substitute device for online communication. For example, license 142 can be presented by inserting a card into a personal computer. In an example embodiment, the client holding the article 134 tag may present the tag 134 and obtain an article, such as access to service, and the like without having to be online at the time it is obtained. the service. The service itself, which is obtained, may reside in a device controlled by the client, such as a hard drive of a personal computer, and the like. In an example mode, the service may include the execution of a computer program. In additional example modalities related to car rental companies, the information locator 160 may have a contract with the three car rental companies as sellers 150, of which a user may rent a compact car for 6 days in August, for use in the city of New York. The article label 134 can be configured to be recoverable in order to exercise the right of ownership of the corresponding license 142 of one of the three car rental companies. The license usage rights 142 associated with the article label 134 can be used to specify various aspects of such property right, such as six days in August of the current year in a specific city. The item label 134 may be carried by the customer as digital information on a transportable device or in the form of a coupon displayed on the screen or which may be printed and presented to one of the vendors 150. The vendor 150 may read the digital information or extract information from it. a printed label, such as by scanning and the like, without the need for the client and the seller to undertake a form of online communication. In an example mode, a condition for allowing access to or using a digital work or other article may be that the depository which requests access or which is proposed to receive or store or be involved in any way with the article has certain attributes or attributes. otherwise it is configured in certain ways or does not have certain attributes or configurations. For example, the depositary may be required to possess minimal security attributes. If the depository is part of a personal documentary assistant device (PDA), the depositary may require that the PDA have specified or minimum security attributes and that the PDA is configured to allow the PDA to support the required conditions. for access. In an exemplary embodiment, a repository, including a device, such as a PDA, personal computer, and the like, can be reconfigured before such a device can be involved with a digital work or other article. For example, such reconfiguration could involve the installation of new software in the repository or system or devices that control the depository, could involve changing parameters or other existing software configurations, could take the form of an additional software component, and the like . In an example mode, a condition for access, possession or involvement with a digital work or other article of any suitable type of depositary or device may be that the depository or device itself allows it to be reconfigured. For example, such reconfiguration may include that the depository or device allows itself to be accessed, for example, by the central control repository 706, to change default configurations, installing new software, modifying existing software, inserting an additional component of software, disabling certain software or features, and the like, for example, in a way that such changes can not be denied or at least not easily denied. In an example mode, if a depository or other device will not allow itself to be accessed or configured, then such a device does not need to be allowed to handle the digital work or other article. In additional example modalities, such a device may be denied the right to operate certain types of items or may not be allowed to perform functions that are otherwise permitted. In further example modalities, if upon accessing the depositary or device, it is determined that such a device can not be configured in a way that meets the requirement of a condition, for example, such as when a depositary, even after being reconfigured, does not possess a minimum level of security, then the right to access or other handling of the article may be denied. In additional example modalities, the purpose of access to the depository device may be to determine whether or not the device meets one or more conditions. For example, if it is determined that such a device complies with such conditions, then the reconfiguration is not necessary or if it is determined that such a device partially fulfills such conditions, then the reconfiguration could be necessary. In an exemplary embodiment, the condition that a repository or device is reconfigurable or can be reconfigured, for example, can be applied to any suitable type of depository or device and to any suitable function that such a device could perform. For example, a condition could apply to any depository or device which will store a digital work or other article or which will interpret the article or which will transmit the article through a communications medium or which is a means of communications. Figure 9 is a flowchart of an example process for processing rights expressions of a receiver of an article based on rules and that can be used in the Digital Rights Management systems of Figures 1 and 5-7. In Figure 9, a step 902 a potential recipient of an article specifies an expression of rights indicating a first way of using the article proposed by the recipient and a supplier of the article specifies a second expression of rights indicating a second way of use of the item proposed by the supplier. In step 904, a correspondence between the first expression of rights and the second expression of rights is determined. If a match can be determined, as verified in step 906, then, in step 908, a rule is applied to the determined match to determine whether the recipient should be granted use of the item. If the use of the article can be granted, as verified in step 910, then, in step 912, the recipient may be granted use of the article. However, if there is no correspondence or if the use of the article can not be granted, in step 914, the recipient may be denied use of the article. Figure 10 shows a flow diagram of an example process for processing expressions of rights of receivers and suppliers of an article and that can be used in the example Digital Rights Management systems of Figures 1 and 5-7. In figure 10, in step 102, a recipient of an article specifies an expression of rights indicating a desired manner of use of the article by the recipient and / or a condition of use of the article by the recipient. In step 1004, the expression of rights is associated with the article. If the desired way of using the article and the condition of use of the article can be met by the supplier, as verified in step 1006, then, in step 1008, the article can be provided to the recipient. However, if the supplier can not satisfy the desired way of using the article and the condition of use of the article, in step 1010, the article does not need to be provided to the recipient. Figure 11 is a flowchart of an example process for processing rights expressions associated with a depository and that can be employed in the Digital Rights Management systems of Figures 1 and 5-7. In Figure 11, at step 1102, an expression of depositary rights indicating a way of using an article in a depository can be specified. In step 1104, the expression of rights of the depositary may be associated with the depositary. If a request is received for the article in the depository, as verified in step 1106 or the article is processed by the depositary, as verified in step 1110, then, in step 1108, the depositary can take an action that the depositary will perform when the depository processes the article or the depositary receives the request for the article based on the expression of rights of the depositary. However, if the request for the item is not received in the depositary or the depositary does not process the article, in step 1110, the depositary does not need to take any action. Therefore, in accordance with the example modalities, an expression of rights may include something tangible, for example, electronic, and the like, articulation of rights of use, conditions, licenses or portions thereof. Some rights expressions can include a file or XrML fragment, but can also be expressed in any suitable language, grammar, format, alphabet, and the like. The rights of use may be expressed as an expression of rights and may include a manner of use, conditions, and the like. Licenses may also include the indicated elements of a right of use and may additionally include principals, keys, identifications, and the like. A recipient of an article of the example modalities may include a user, a distributor, a consumer, and the like, of the article. Granting access to an article may include granting use of an article, allowing the loan of an article, allowing access to an article, and the like. The devices and subsystems of the example systems described with respect to Figures 1-11 can communicate, for example, through a communication network 170, and can include any suitable server, work stations, personal computers (PC) computers laptops, PDAs, Internet devices, transceivers, modems, handheld devices, telephones, cell phones, wireless devices or other devices capable of carrying out the process of the described modalities of example. The devices and subsystems, for example, can communicate with each other using any suitable protocol and can be implemented using a general-purpose computing system, and the like. One other interface mechanism may be employed, for example, including Internet access, telecommunications in any suitable form, such as voice, modem, and the like, wireless communication means, and the like. Accordingly, the communications network 170 may include, for example, wireless communications networks, cellular communications networks, satellite communications networks, Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTN)., Packet Data Networks (PDNs), the Internet, Intranets, hybrid communications networks, combinations thereof, and the like. Consequently, the communications network 170 may include one or more networks. It should be understood that the example systems described with respect to Figures 1-11 are for example purposes, with several modifications of the equipment used to implement the described example modalities being possible. For example, the functionality of the devices and subsystems of the example systems can be implemented via one or more systems or devices of programmed computation. To implement such variations, as well as other variations, a single computing system can be programmed to perform the functions of one or more of the devices and subsystems of the example systems. On the other hand, two or more systems or computing devices programmed by one or more of the devices and subsystems of the example systems can be replaced. Accordingly, the principles and advantages of distributed processing, such as redundancy, replication, and the like, can also be implemented, as desired, for example, to increase the robustness and performance of the example systems described with respect to Figures 1-11. . The example systems described with respect to Figures 1-11 can be used to store information in relation to the various processes described herein. This information may be stored in one or more memories, such as a hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, RAM, ROM, and the like, of the devices and subsystems of the example systems described with respect to FIGS. 1-11. . One or more databases of the devices can store the information used to implement the example modalities. The databases can be organized using data structures, such as records, data arrays, fields, graphs, trees, lists, and the like, included in one or more memories, such as the memories listed above. All or a part of the example systems described with respect to Figures 1-11 can be conveniently implemented using one or more general-purpose computing systems, microprocessors, digital signal processors, microcontrollers, and the like, programmed in accordance with the teachings. of the example modalities described. Programmers with normal knowledge can easily prepare the appropriate software based on the teachings of the example modalities described. In addition, example systems may be implemented by preparing application-specific integrated circuits or by interconnecting an appropriate network of component circuits. Stored in any or a combination of computer reading means, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include software to control the devices and subsystems of the example systems described with respect to Figures 1-11, to control a device or devices for implementing the invention, and for allowing the devices and subsystems of the example systems described with respect to Figures 1-11 to interact with a human user. Such software may include, but is not limited to, device control units, firmware, operating systems, development tools, application software, etc. Such computer reading means may additionally include the computer program product of an embodiment of the present invention to perform all or part (if processing is distributed) of the processing performed in the implementation of the invention. The computer code devices of the embodiments of the present invention may include any interpretable or executable code mechanism, including but not limited to, scripts, interpretable programs, dynamic link libraries (DLLs), Java classes and subprograms, fully executable programs, objects of Common Application Agent Agent Architecture (CORBA), etc. In addition, parts of the processing of the embodiments of the present invention may be distributed for better performance, reliability, and / or cost. The computer reading medium can include any suitable means involved in providing instructions to a processor for execution. Such means may take any form, including, but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, transmission media, and the like. The non-volatile media may include, for example, optical or magnetic disks, magneto-optical disks, and the like. The volatile means may include dynamic memory, and the like. The transmission means may include coaxial cables, copper wires and optical fiber, including the wires forming one or more buses of a computer. The transmission means can also take the form of acoustic, optical, or electromagnetic waves, such as those generated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communications. As stated above, the example systems described with respect to FIGS. 1-11 may include one or more computer or memory reading means for retaining the programmed instructions according to the invention and for including data structures, tables, records or other data described herein. Common forms of computer reading media may include, for example, a floppy disk, hard drive, magnetic tape, any other magnetic media, a CD-ROM, CDRW, DVD, any other optical media, punched cards, paper tapes, optical marking sheets, any other physical medium with patterns of holes or other optically recognizable markings, a RAM, PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave, or any other starting medium which a computer can read. Any other forms of computer reading media may be involved in the provision of instructions to a processor for execution. For example, instructions for carrying out at least some of the example embodiments of the present invention may initially be carried on a magnetic disk of a remote computer connected to the network 170. In such a scenario, the remote computer may load the instructions into the main memory and send the instructions, for example, through a telephone line using a modem. A modem in a local computer system can receive the data on the telephone line and use an infrared transmitter to convert the data to an infrared signal and transmit the infrared signal to a portable computing device, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA). by its acronym in English), a laptop, an Internet device, and the like. An infrared detector in the portable computing device can receive the information and instructions carried by the infrared signal and place the data on a bus. The bus can take the data to the main memory, from which the processor retrieves and executes the instructions. The instructions received by the main memory can optionally be stored in the storage device either before or after execution by a processor. Advantageously, the exemplary embodiments described herein may be employed to allow a consumer or user of the digital content or other articles to provide usage rights by specifying conditions or terms for accepting the content or articles to be consumed or otherwise used. The partial satisfaction of the rights of use or conditions can be used to allow access, including the reconciliation of the variation or conflict of rights or conditions of use. The rights of use can be associated with a depositary, which can then pass the rights of use together with the content or articles. The rights of use can be used to determine what functions the depositary has authorized to perform with respect to the content or articles. The distribution and use of the content or articles can be determined and controlled without use rights associated with the content or articles, where the rights of use are associated with the depositary, which examines, analyzes, and processes the digital content or other articles. The example modalities can be used in conjunction with systems in which the depository that handles the content or articles assigns use rights to the content or articles. Advantageously, the exemplary embodiments described herein can be employed in off-line systems, on-line systems, and the like, and in applications, such as television applications, computer applications, DVD applications, VCR applications, appliance applications, applications of CD players, and the like. In addition, the signals used to transmit the expression of legality of the modalities of example, can be configured to be transmitted within the visible spectrum of a human, within the audible spectrum of a human, in the non-visible spectrum of a human, in the spectrum not audible of a human, combinations of the. same, and similar. Although the example modalities are described in terms of applications in music, games, movies, coupons, legal arenas, and the like, the example modalities are applicable to any suitable application, such as digit and non-digital content, devices, software, services, goods, resources, and the like, and may be practiced with variations in technology, interface, language, grammar, content, rights, offerings, services, speed, size, limitations, devices, and the like. While the present invention has been described in connection with a number of exemplary embodiments and embodiments, the present invention is not limited to but rather covers various modifications and equivalent arrangements, which fall within the scope of the appended claims. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property: 1. A method to impose expressions of rights that specify ways of using an article, characterized in that the method comprises: specification by a potential recipient of a article, of a first expression of rights that indicates a first way of using that article proposed by that receiver; specification by a supplier of that article of a second expression of rights indicating a second way of using the article proposed by that supplier; determine if there is a correspondence between the first expression of rights and the second expression of rights; and apply a rule to a particular correspondence between the first expression of rights and the second expression of rights to determine whether the recipient should be granted the use of that article.
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally comprises: allowing the recipient access to that article if the correspondence is within a range.
The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first expression of rights and the second expression of rights includes a forbidden way of using the article characterized in that it additionally comprises: denial of access to the article by the receiver if at least one of the first expression of rights and the second expression of rights coincides with that prohibited way of use.
The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally comprises: allowing partial access to that article by the receiver if that correspondence is partial.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the first expression of rights and the second expression of rights respectively include conditions for accessing the article is characterized by additionally comprising: comparing those respective conditions between the first expression of rights and the second expression of rights to determine that correspondence.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said respective conditions include respective ranges characterized in that it additionally comprises: comparing those respective ranges between the first expression of rights and the second expression of rights to determine that correspondence.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the first expression of rights and the second expression of rights include respective ranges for the respective ways of use characterized in that it additionally comprises: comparing those respective ranges between respective ways of use to determine that correspondence.
The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally comprises: specification by the receiver of that article of a plurality of first expressions of rights indicating respective ways of use of that article by the receiver; and specification by the supplier of that article of a plurality of second expressions of rights indicating respective ways of using the article.
9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that it additionally comprises: resolving conflicts between the first plural expressions of rights and the second plural expressions of rights based on that rule.
10. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally comprises: resolving conflicts between the first expression of rights and the second expression of rights based on that rule, wherein the rule specifies that the conflicts are resolved in a more favorable for the receiver.
11. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally comprises: resolving conflicts between the first expression of rights and the second expression of rights based on that regl, where the rule specifies that conflicts are resolved in a more favorable way for the provider.
The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally comprises: resolving conflicts between the first expression of rights and the second expression of rights based on that rule, wherein the rule specifies that the conflicts are resolved in a specified manner for the system.
The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the first plural expressions of rights and the second plural expressions of rights include respective conditions for accessing the article.
14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that it additionally comprises: determining a more restrictive way of using the first plural expressions of rights and the second plural expressions of rights, wherein the rule specifies that the conflicts are resolved in a way consistent with the most restrictive way of use unless a condition of those respective conditions to access the article is met.
15. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that it additionally comprises: determining a less restrictive way of using the first plural expressions of rights and the second plural expressions of rights, wherein the rule specifies that the conflicts are resolved in a consistent with the least restrictive way of use unless a condition of those respective conditions to access the article is not met.
16. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally comprises: allowing access to the article by the receiver if that manner of use specified in the first expression of rights is a subset of that manner of use specified in the second expression of rights.
17. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the first way of use and the second way of use comprise a first right of use and a second right of use, respectively.
18. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the use of that article includes access to that article.
The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiver includes at least one of a user of that article, a distributor of that article and a consumer of that article.
20. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the article includes at least one of digital content, digital goods, digital services, non-digital content, non-digital goods and non-digital services.
21. A computer system characterized in that it comprises one or more memories and one or more processors and configured to perform the method according to claim 1.
22. A computer reading means that carries instructions arranged to cause one or more processors perform the method of claim 1.
23. A system for imposing rights expressions that specify ways of using an article, characterized in that the system comprises: a means for a potential recipient of an article to specify a first expression of rights that indicates a first way to use the article. proposed by the receiver; a means for a supplier of an article to specify a second expression of rights indicating a second way of using the item proposed by the supplier; a means to determine if there is correspondence between the first expression of rights and the second expression of rights; and a means to apply a rule to a particular correspondence between the first expression of rights and the second expression of rights to determine whether the recipient should be granted use of the article.
24. The system according to claim 23, characterized in that means for specifying the first expression of rights, means for specifying the second expression of rights and means for application comprise devices of a computer system.
25. The system according to claim 23, characterized in that the means for specifying the second expression of rights, the means for determination and the means for application comprise computer read instructions recorded in a computer reading medium.
26. A method for imposing rights that specify ways of using an article, characterized in that the method comprises: specification by a recipient of an article, of a first expression of rights indicating at least one desired way of using that article for that receiver and one. condition of use of the article by the receiver; association of the expression of rights with the article; and provision of that item to the recipient based on the satisfaction of at least one desired way of use of the item by the recipient and the condition of use of that item by the recipient.
The method according to claim 26, characterized in that it additionally comprises: association of a plurality of first expressions of rights having respective desired ways of use with the article in at least one of the respective depositories of the client for that article and the respective server repositories for that article.
28. The method according to claim 27, characterized in that it additionally comprises: resolving conflicts between the plural expressions of rights based on a rule.
29. The method according to claim 28, characterized in that said rule specifies that the conflicts are resolved in a manner more favorable to the receiver.
30. The method of compliance, with claim 28, characterized in that that rule specifies that conflicts are resolved in a manner more favorable to an article provider.
31. The method according to claim 28, characterized in that said rule specifies that the conflicts are resolved in a manner specified by the system.
32. The method according to claim 28, characterized in that the plural expressions of rights include respective conditions to access the article.
33. The method according to claim 32, characterized in that it additionally comprises: determining a more restrictive use of the plural expressions of rights, wherein the rule specifies that the conflicts are resolved in a manner consistent with the most restrictive manner of use unless a condition of those respective conditions is met to access the article.
34. The method according to claim 32, characterized in that it additionally comprises: determining a less restrictive way of using the plural expressions of rights, wherein the rule specifies that the conflicts are resolved in a manner consistent with the least restrictive manner of Use unless a condition of those respective conditions to access the article is met.
35. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that it additionally comprises: performing a work in that article; and specify a right expression that indicates a desired way of using the work; and association of the expression of rights that indicates the desired way of using the work with that work.
36. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that the desired way of use comprises a right of use.
37. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that the desired way of use includes a forbidden way of using that article.
38. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that the desired way of use includes a permitted way of using that article.
39. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that it additionally comprises: association of the first expression of rights with the article in at least one of a depository of the client for that article and a depository of the server for that article.
40. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that it additionally comprises: specification by the potential recipient of that article in the first expression of rights of a desired provider of that article to the recipient; specification by the supplier of that article of a second expression of rights indicating a condition of use of the article by the recipient; and provision by the supplier of the item to the recipient based on the satisfaction of that condition for use of that item by the recipient.
41. The method according to claim 40, characterized in that the desired provider of the article includes plural providers of that article.
42. The method according to claim 40, characterized in that the desired supplier of the article includes any supplier of that article.
43. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that the use of the article includes access to the article.
44. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that the receiver includes at least one of a user of that article, a distributor of that article and a consumer of that article.
45. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that the receiver includes at least one of a digital content, digital goods, digital services, non-digital content, non-digital goods and non-digital services.
46. A computer system characterized in that it comprises one or more memories and one or more processors configured to carry out the method according to claim 26.
47. A computer reading means that carries instructions arranged to cause one or more processors to perform the method according to claim 26.
48. A system for imposing duties specifying ways of using an article, characterized in that the system comprises: a means for a receiver of an article to specify a first expression of rights indicating at least one of a desired way of use of that article by the receiver and a condition of use of that article by the receiver; a means to associate the expression of rights with the article; and a means to provide that item to the recipient based on the satisfaction of at least one of that desired way of use of the item by the recipient and the condition of use of that item by that recipient.
49. The system according to claim 48, characterized in that the means for specification, the association means and the means to provide comprise devices of a computer system.
50. The system according to claim 48, characterized in that the means for specification, the means for association and the means for providing comprise instructions of a computer reading means recorded in a computer reading medium.
51. A method for imposing rights expressions that specify ways of using an article, characterized in that the method comprises: specification of an expression of rights of the depositary indicating a way of using an article in a depository; and association of the expression of rights with the depositary, where the manner of use indicates at least one of what action the depositary will take when the depository processes the article and what action the depositary will take when the depositary receives an application for the article.
52. The method according to claim 51, wherein the expression of rights of the depositary specifies an expression of rights that indicates a way of using the article and to associate with the article, characterized in that it additionally comprises: association of the expression of rights that specifies the manner of use of the article with that article, when the depository processes the article.
53. The method of compliance, with claim 51, wherein the article includes an expression of rights associated therewith which indicates a manner of use of the article, characterized in that it additionally comprises: determining what action the depositary will take when the depositary processes the article based on in the expression of rights of the depositary and the expression of rights associated with the article.
54. The method according to claim 51, characterized in that the expression of rights of the depositary applies to one of all the articles that the depositary processes and to all the requests for articles received by that depositary.
55. The method according to claim 51, characterized in that the expression of rights of the depositary applies to one of the specific items that that depository processes and specific requests for articles received by the depositary.
56. The method according to claim 51, characterized in that it additionally comprises: specification of a plurality of those depository rights expressions indicating respective ways of using the article in the depository of the article; and association of the plural expressions of rights of the depositary with the depository of the article.
57. The method of compliance, with claim 53, characterized in that it additionally comprises: specification in the expression of rights of the depositary that the expression of rights associated with the article rejects the expression of rights of the depositary.
58. The method according to claim 53, characterized in that it additionally comprises: specification in the expression of rights of the depositary that the expression of rights of the depositary rejects the expression of rights associated with the article.
59. The method according to claim 51, wherein the article includes an expression of rights associated therewith which includes a depositor's pointer, characterized in that it additionally comprises: provision of the article to the depository based on the pointer; and execution of the actions specified in the expression of rights of the depositary in the article.
60. The method according to claim 51, characterized in that it additionally comprises: configuring the depository as a central control repository to administer a plurality of items: specifying expressions of respective depositary rights that indicate respective ways of using the items in the central control repository; and association of the expressions of rights of the respective depository with the central control depository, where the respective ways of use indicate at least one of the respective actions that the central control depository will take when the central control depository processes a respective article and what action the central control depository will take when the respective one receives a respective request for an article.
61. The method according to claim 60, wherein the articles include respective rights expressions associated with them including a depositor's pointer, characterized in that it additionally comprises: presentation of the articles to the central control depository independently of the pointer; and performance of the respective actions specified in the expressions of rights of the respective depositary in the articles.
62. The method according to claim 61, characterized in that the respective depository rights expressions reject respective rights expressions associated with the articles.
63. The method according to claim 60, characterized in that it additionally comprises: passing through the system traffic in relation to the articles through the central control repository.
64. The method according to claim 63, characterized in that it additionally comprises: one of traffic control, traffic censorship and traffic audit based on the step stage.
65. The method according to claim 60, wherein the depository rights expressions specify respective ways of using the articles and to be associated with the articles, characterized in that it additionally comprises: association by the central control depository is respective expressions of rights with the articles, when the central control depository processes the articles.
66. The method according to claim 51, characterized in that it additionally comprises: determining the actions that will be taken by the depositary based on a characteristic of the article.
67. The method according to claim 60, characterized in that it additionally comprises: determining the respective actions that will be taken by the central control depository based on respective rights expressions associated with the articles.
68. The method according to claim 60, characterized in that it additionally comprises: search by the central control depository for articles corresponding to the respective expressions of rights of the depositary in other depositories; and execution of the respective actions that the central control depository will take when the central control depository finds that the articles correspond to the respective expressions of rights of the depositary in the other depositaries.
69. The method according to claim 51, characterized in that said manner of use comprises a right of use.
70. The method according to claim 51, characterized in that said manner of use includes a forbidden way of using the article.
71. The method according to claim 51, characterized in that said manner of use includes a permitted way of using the article.
72. The method according to claim 51, characterized in that it additionally comprises: specifying in the expression of rights of the depositary a condition for the depositary to take those actions with respect to the article being that the article is at least one that is understood and configured in a specific way.
73. The method according to claim 51, characterized in that the article includes at least one of a digital content, digital goods, digital services, non-digital content, non-digital goods and non-digital services.
74. A computer system characterized in that it comprises one or more memories and one or more processors and configured to perform the method according to claim 51.
75. A computer reading means that carries instructions to cause one or more processors to perform the method according to claim 51.
76. A system for imposing rights expressions that specify ways of using an article, characterized in that the system comprises: means for specifying an expression of rights of the depositary indicating a manner of use of an article in a depository; and a means to associate the expression of rights of the depositary with that depository, where the manner of use indicates at least one of what action the depositary will take when the depository processes the article and what action the depositary will take when the depositary receives an application for that article
77. The method according to claim 76, characterized in that the means for specification, and the means for association comprise devices of a computer system.
78. The method according to claim 76, characterized in that the means for specification, and the means for association comprise devices of a computer system.
79. A system for imposing expressions of rights that specify ways of using an article, characterized in that the system comprises: one or more depositaries that have associated therewith one or more expressions of rights indicating at least one of a manner of use and a condition of use of an article in a depository; and where the manner of use and condition of use indicates at least one of what action the depositary will take when the depositary processes the article and what action the depositary will take when the depositary receives a request for that article.
80. The system according to claim 79, characterized in that one of the depositaries is configured to purchase expressions of respective rights thereof with an expression of rights associated with the article and indication of at least one manner of use and a condition of Use of the article to determine at least one of what action the depositary will take when the depositary processes the article and if the use of the article should be granted.
81. The system according to claim 79, characterized in that it additionally comprises: the first depository having associated therewith a first expression of rights indicating at least one manner of use and a condition of use of the article in that first depository; and the first depository having associated therewith a second expression of rights indicating at least one manner of use and a condition of use of the article in that second depository, wherein the first depository and the second depository are configured to compare an expression of rights associated with the article of at least one of a manner of use and a condition of use of that article with the first expression of rights and the second expression of rights to determine at least one of what action the depositary will take when the depositary processes the article and if the use of the article should be granted.
82. The system according to claim 79, characterized in that the article is configured to be required to be processed by the system.
83. The system according to claim 79, characterized in that at least one depository of one or more depositories is configured to examine characteristics of that article.
84. The system according to claim 79, characterized in that at least one of the manner of use and the condition of use comprises a right of use.
85. The system according to claim 79, characterized in that the manner of use includes a manner of prohibited use of the article.
86. The system according to claim 79, characterized in that the manner of use includes a manner of permitted use of the article.
87. The system according to claim 79, characterized in that at least one depository of that or more depositories comprises an interpretation repository.
88. The system according to claim 79, characterized in that at least one depository of that or more depositories comprises a printer.
89. The system according to claim 80, characterized in that the respective depository rights expressions reject the expression of rights associated with the article.
90. The system according to claim 80, characterized in that the respective depository rights expressions are rejected by the expression of rights associated with the article.
91. The system according to claim 79, characterized in that a condition for processing the article by at least one depository of that or more depositaries is that the article is at least one understood and configured in a manner specified by respective expressions of rights of depositary.
92. The system according to claim 79, characterized in that a condition for processing the article by at least one depository of that or more depositories is that at least one depository is at least one comprised and configured in a manner specified by at least one of respective expressions of depositary rights and an expression of rights associated with the article.
93. The system according to claim 79, characterized in that the article comprises at least one of an audio article and a video article.
94. The system according to claim 79, characterized in that the article includes at least one of a digital content, digital goods, digital services, non-digital content, non-digital goods and non-digital services.
95. A repository for use in a system to impose expressions of rights specifying ways to use an article, characterized in that the article comprises: a processor module configured to process an expression of rights associated with the depository and indicating at least one way of use and a condition of use of an article in the depository; and a determination module configured to determine on the basis of the expression of rights associated with the depositary at least one of what action the depositary will take when the depositary processes the article and what action the depositary will take when the depositary receives the article.
96. A repository according to claim 95, characterized in that it additionally comprises: a comparison module configured to compare an expression of rights associated with the article and indicating at least one manner of use and a condition of use of the article with the expression of rights associated with the depositary so that this determination module determines that action.