Digital work identification and licensing method

Abstract

A method and system are provided for facilitating the purchase of a license for a downloaded file of a copyrighted work. In one embodiment, a method for licensing a digital copy of a copyrighted work includes determining an identity of the digital copy by using at least one computer program, calculating a fee for a license for the digital copy by the at least one computer program. The step of calculating includes the step of measuring at least one metric of the digital copy. A license is then provided for the copy after receiving payment of the fee.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 225,886, filed Aug. 17, 2000, which application is specifically incorporated herein, in its entirety, by reference.COPYRIGHT NOTICE [0002] This patent document contains material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner, Ideaflood, Inc., has no objection to the reproduction of this patent document or any related materials, as they appear in the files of the Patent and Trademark Office of the United States or any other country, but otherwise reserves all rights whatsoever. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] 1. Field of the Invention [0004] The present invention is directed to a method and system for facilitating the purchase of a copyright license for an unauthorized copy of a copyrighted work. [0005] 2. Description of Related Art [0006] The Internet is a worldwide system of computer networks—a network of networks in which use...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017] According to the present invention, when a consumer has downloaded a copy of a copyrighted work from the Intemet, the consumer can conveniently purchase a license for the downloaded copy. The invention takes advantage of the costless distribution system already in place over the Internet to provide a valid license at reduced fees as compared to purchasing a copy of the copyrighted work through traditional distribution channels. The consumer benefits from the costless distribution system since no middleman fees are passed on to the consumer. The consumer also enjoys the ability to freely choose a distribution system, even systems so novel or secret that they are, at the time of use, unknown to the copyright holder. Further, the consumer is provided a mechanism for complying with the copyright laws so that anxiety and guilt over breaking the law and acting immorally can be assuaged.

Problems solved by technology

However, the above distribution system is economically harmful to copyright owners since the copyrighted works are being distributed for free so that copyright owners suffer loss of revenues.

Consumers are also hurt because the downloading of copyrighted works is illegal and immoral so that consumers suffer from a guilty conscience and the possibility of criminal and civil sanctions.

With the advent of decentralized distribution systems such as Gnutella, however, there are no website operators to shut down so that consumers are not prevented from making illegal downloads.

To effectively deter illegal downloading, consumers themselves must be prosecuted; but to track, investigate, and prosecute each individual case of illegal downloading on a network such as the Internet is not feasible.

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