Usage rights grammar and digital works having usage rights created with the grammar

1 - 62 . (canceled)

63 . A method for enforcing use of digital content in accordance with usage rights associated with the digital content for use within a system having at least one non-centralized repository, the method comprising:

electronically recording digital content on a first media portion and the digital content being capable of being rendered by a rendering engine; and

electronically recording usage rights on a second media portion and the usage rights being associated with the digital content, the usage rights specifying a manner of use as to how a non-centralized repository will permit use of the digital content, the usage rights including symbols selected from a set of predetermined symbols which define a valid sequence of symbols that are interpreted by the non-centralized repository to indicate the manner of use for enforcing use of digital content,

wherein the usage rights can also specify one or more conditions which must be satisfied before the manner of use may be exercised,

the conditions include symbols selected from a set of predetermined symbols to define a valid sequence of symbols that are interpreted by the non-centralized repository to indicate the conditions, and

the manner of use can include means for specifying how an authorized party is able to render the digital content, how an authorized party can permit the digital content to be used to create a new digital work, how an authorized party is able to make a back-up copy of the digital content, how an authorized party is able to conceal the digital content on a device on which the digital content is stored, and how an authorized party is able to delete the digital content from a device on which the digital content is stored.

64 . The method as recited in claim 63 , wherein the conditions include a set of default conditions.

65 . The method as recited in claim 63 , wherein the digital content is a software program.

66 . The method as recited in claim 65 , wherein the manner of use specifies how an authorized party is able to install the software program.

67 . The method as recited in claim 65 , wherein the manner of use specifies how an authorized party is able to uninstall the software program.

68 . The method as recited in claim 63 , wherein the usage rights comprise a revenue identifier for identifying a revenue owner of the digital work.

69 . The method as recited in claim 63 , wherein the symbols are codes.

70 . The method as recited in claim 63 , wherein the symbols are identifiers.

71 . The method as recited in claim 63 , wherein the symbols are parameters.

72 . The method as recited in claim 63 , wherein the first media portion and the second media portion are parts of a same computer readable media.

73 . The method as recited in claim 63 , wherein the first media portion and the second media portion are parts of different computer readable media.

74 . The method as recited in claim 63 , wherein the content comprises a contents file and the usage rights comprise a description tree file.

75 . The method as recited in claim 63 , wherein the content and the usage rights are stored on the same device.

76 . The method as recited in claim 63 , wherein the content and the usage rights are stored on different devices.

77 . The method as recited in claim 80 wherein the digital content is represented as an object.

78 . The method as recited in claim 63 , wherein at least one of the digital content and the usage rights are stored on a removable storage device.

79 . The method as recited in claim 63 , wherein at least one of the digital content and the usage rights are stored on an optical disk.

80 . The method as recited in claim 63 , wherein the method is implemented via one or more hardware and/or software components.

81 . A computer program product including one or more computer-readable instructions embedded in a computer-readable medium for causing one or more computer processors to perform the steps recited in claim 80 .

82 . A system including at least one non-centralized repository for enforcing use of digital content in accordance with usage rights associated with the digital content, the system comprising:

means for electronically recording digital content on a first media portion and the digital content being capable of being rendered by a rendering engine; and

means for electronically recording usage rights on a second media portion and the usage rights being associated with the digital content, the usage rights specifying a manner of use as to how a non-centralized repository will permit use of the digital content, the usage rights including symbols selected from a set of predetermined symbols which define a valid sequence of symbols that are interpreted by the non-centralized repository to indicate the manner of use for enforcing use of digital content,

wherein the usage rights can also specify one or more conditions which must be satisfied before the manner of use may be exercised,

the conditions include symbols selected from a set of predetermined symbols to define a valid sequence of symbols that are interpreted by the non-centralized repository to indicate the conditions, and

the manner of use can include means for specifying how an authorized party is able to render the digital content, how an authorized party can permit the digital content to be used to create a new digital work, how an authorized party is able to make a back-up copy of the digital content, how an authorized party is able to conceal the digital content on a device on which the digital content is stored, and how an authorized party is able to delete the digital content from a device on which the digital content is stored.

83 . The system as recited in claim 82 , wherein the conditions include a set of default conditions.

84 . The system as recited in claim 82 , wherein the digital content is a software program.

85 . The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the manner of use specifies how an authorized party is able to install the software program.

86 . The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the manner of use specifies how an authorized party is able to uninstall the software program.

87 . The system as recited in claim 82 , wherein the usage rights comprise a revenue identifier for identifying a revenue owner of the digital work.

88 . The system as recited in claim 82 , wherein the symbols are codes.

89 . The system as recited in claim 82 , wherein the symbols are identifiers.

90 . The system as recited in claim 82 , wherein the symbols are parameters.

91 . The system as recited in claim 82 , wherein the first media portion and the second media portion are parts of a same computer readable media.

92 . The system as recited in claim 82 , wherein the first media portion and the second media portion are parts of different computer readable media.

93 . The system as recited in claim 82 , wherein the content comprises a contents file and the usage rights comprise a description tree file.

94 . The system as recited in claim 82 , wherein the content and the usage rights are stored on the same device.

95 . The system as recited in claim 82 , wherein the content and the usage rights are stored on different devices.

96 . The system as recited in claim 98 wherein the digital content is represented as an object.

97 . The system as recited in claim 82 , wherein at least one of the digital content and the usage rights are stored on a removable storage device.

98 . The system as recited in claim 82 , wherein at least one of the digital content and the usage rights are stored on an optical disk.