Digital work identification and licensing method
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.
1 - 28 . (canceled)
29 . A method for identifying an unidentified digital work on a remote client of a wide area network, the method comprising:
distributing an application from a host to a remote client, the application operable to scan files on a storage media operated by the remote client, to read a predetermined portion of each file, and to calculate a checksum value for each file, the checksum value determined by each corresponding predetermined file portion;
receiving the checksum value from the remote client for each of at least selected ones of the files;
comparing each checksum value against a database of checksum values each associated with an identifier for a digital copy of a known work; and
providing data identifying at least one file on the remote client for which a checksum value has been calculated that matches a record in the database of checksum values.
30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the comparing step further comprises comparing against a database indicating whether each known work is copyrighted.
31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the comparing step further comprises comparing against a database indicating whether a license is available for each copyrighted work.
32 . The method of claim 30 , further comprising notifying the remote client that at least one of the files scanned by the application has been associated with a copyrighted work.
33 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the distributing step further comprises distributing the application comprising a function of determining whether each scanned file is marked as authorized by a copyright holder for storage on the storage media.
34 . The method of claim 29 , further comprising notifying the remote client that at least one file scanned by the application is an unauthorized copy of a copyrighted work.
35 . The method of claim 34 , further comprising inviting the remote client to acquire a license for the unauthorized copy.
36 . The method of claim 34 , further comprising determining a fee for obtaining a license for the unauthorized copy based at least in part on a measured quality of the unauthorized copy.
37 . The method of claim 34 , further comprising electronically collecting a licensing fee for the unauthorized copy from the remote client.
38 . The method of claim 29 , further comprising instructing the application to calculate a second checksum for a selected file, wherein the second checksum is to be determined by a substantially larger portion of the selected file than the checksum value for the selected file received in the receiving step.
39 . A system for identifying an unidentified digital work on a remote client of a wide area network, the system comprising:
an application in a memory connected to a network-connected host, the application configured for distributing to a remote client and operable to scan files on a storage media operated by the remote client, to read a predetermined portion of each file, and to calculate a checksum value for each file, the checksum value determined by each corresponding predetermined file portion; and
further software operable by the host in cooperation with instances of the application on remote clients to perform the functions of:
receiving the checksum value from the remote client for each of at least selected ones of the files;
comparing each checksum value against a database of checksum values each associated with an identifier for a digital copy of a known work; and
providing data identifying at least one file on the remote client for which a checksum value has been calculated that matches a record in the database of checksum values.
40 . The system of claim 39 , wherein the comparing function further comprises comparing against a database indicating whether each known work is copyrighted.
41 . The system of claim 40 , wherein the comparing function further comprises comparing against a database indicating whether a license is available for each copyrighted work.
42 . The system of claim 40 , wherein the further software further comprises a function for notifying the remote client that at least one of the files scanned by the application has been associated with a copyrighted work.
43 . The system of claim 42 , wherein the application further comprises a function of determining whether each scanned file is marked as authorized by a copyright holder for storage on the storage media.
44 . The system of claim 39 , wherein the further software further comprises a function for notifying the remote client that at least one file scanned by the application is an unauthorized copy of a copyrighted work.
45 . The system of claim 44 , wherein the further software further comprises a function for inviting the remote client to acquire a license for the unauthorized copy.
46 . The system of claim 44 , wherein the further software further comprises a function for determining a fee for obtaining a license for the unauthorized copy based at least in part on a measured quality of the unauthorized copy.
47 . The system of claim 44 , wherein the further software further comprises a function for electronically collecting a licensing fee for the unauthorized copy from the remote client.
48 . The system of claim 39 , wherein the further software further comprises a function for instructing the application to calculate a second checksum for a selected file, wherein the second checksum is to be determined by a substantially larger portion of the selected file than the checksum value for the selected file received by the receiving function of the further instructions.