Copyright detection and protection system and method

Abstract

A method and system for a website to detect unauthorized transmission of digital works. In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining data pertaining to content transmitted during a data transmission transaction, sending the data pertaining to the transmitted content to a copyright detection system, and receiving, from the copyright detection system, information indicating that at least a portion of the transmitted content corresponds to at least a portion of one of multiple registered works. The information also specifies one or more business rules associated with this registered work. The method further includes performing one or more actions with respect to the transmitted content, where the actions are defined by the business rules associated with the above registered work.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 048,308, filed Jan. 31, 2005, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 116,710, filed Apr. 3, 2002, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 281,881, filed Apr. 5, 2001, and assigned to the assignee of the present application and hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field[0003]The field of the present invention relates to processing digital data. More particularly, the field of the present invention relates to identifying, reporting and / or protecting digital works from unauthorized transmission and / or copying, such as over networks or network segments connected to the Internet.[0004]2. Background[0005]Technological developments such as peer to peer file sharing have revolutionized the exchange of information over digital networks such as the Internet. The result has been a virtual explosion of copyright violations, as intell...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

, peer-to-peer file sharing technology offers unprecedented ease in exchanging information over digital networks. Unfortunately, this technology also permits intellectual property rights to be infringed on a widespread scale. Without a comprehensive protection system in place to prevent further infringement of intellectual property rights, if intellectual property owners prevail in their ongoing legal battles against peer-to-peer providers, then the benefits of peer-to-peer file sharing may be lost to everyone. In light of all of the considerations discussed above, it would be desirable to provide a reliable and secure system for enabling intellectual property owners to distribute digital materials while preventing infringement of intellectual property rights. Preferably, such a system would permit intellectual property owners to choose whether distribution of particular works should be unrestricted, restricted, or disallowed entirely.

Problems solved by technology

The result has been a virtual explosion of copyright violations, as intellectual property is transmitted to individuals not licensed to receive and use it.

Once copyrighted content is available on the Internet, that content is exposed to piracy.

If aggrieved copyright owners prevail in their legal battles against peer-to-peer facilitators, then such facilitators may be forced to stop operating irrespective of the content they provide.

Yet compliance with this name-based regime has already proven difficult, since there exists no file-naming standard and file names can be easily manipulated with known method presently in use.

However, metadata is only present on newer works, and essentially amounts to a more sophisticated extension of file naming technology that is subject to manipulation and hacking.

However, drawbacks of watermarking technology include its inability to protect the huge amount of previously released audio content, and its susceptibility to hacking.

In using these simpler methods, however, a substantial amount of information about the audio work is lost.

However, U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,223 by itself does not address a comprehensive solution to regulating distribution of digital copyrighted works.

Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,223 expressly relates to audio information, and does not address the similar but distinct problems with regulating online distribution of copyrighted works such as motion pictures, still images, games, software, and other media.

Regarding movies, the transformation taking place in the motion picture industry from VHS video to digital DVD format has led to the spread of illegally shared copies of movies online.

While many sites promote their usefulness in sharing family moments and other important events online, some estimates provide that, in reality, half of all images posted on these sites are copyright-protected images, and are being posted, printed and shared illegally.

Unfortunately, this technology also permits intellectual property rights to be infringed on a widespread scale.

Without a comprehensive protection system in place to prevent further infringement of intellectual property rights, if intellectual property owners prevail in their ongoing legal battles against peer-to-peer providers, then the benefits of peer-to-peer file sharing may be lost to everyone.

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