System & Method for Distributing Digital Assets Across a Network

1 . A system for distributing digital assets across a network, including between a first network device and a second network device, the system comprising:

(a) first rights-holder server coupled to the network, said first right-holder server being adapted to introduce a digital asset for distribution, said digital asset having an associated first set of distribution rules; and

(b) a second host server coupled to the network, said second host server being adapted to store and distribute said digital asset; and

(c) a third management server coupled to the network, said third management server being adapted to track transfers of said digital asset over the network and to generate tracking records associated with each of said transfers;

wherein said transfers over the network involving said digital asset between the first network device, the second network device and/or the second host server are processed in accordance with said first set of distribution rules.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first network device can obtain said digital asset from the second network device and/or said second host server, and without requiring further authorization from said first rights-holder server.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a modification is made to said digital asset for each transfer, said modification being used by said third management server for generating said tracking records.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein said modification does not alter user-perceptible content of said digital asset.

5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein said modification alters and/or adds an identification label for said digital asset so that each transfer of said digital asset is associated with a unique identification label.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said second host server is implemented by at least one of the first network device or the second network device, so that transfers of said digital asset are performed in a peer-to-peer manner across the network.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said digital asset includes audio, video, picture and/or text based data.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a second set of distribution rules can be introduced by said first rights-holder server to affect transfers of said digital asset over the network.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the network includes the Internet.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said first set of distribution rules includes indexing information, terms of use, and a location of said second host server.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said digital asset is also encrypted and/or contains steganographically processed data so as to reduce unauthorized transfers over said network.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a new instantiation of said digital asset is created for each transfer occurring over the network between peer devices.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said first network device is integrated within a fixed personal entertainment system, including a gambling machine, a digital jukebox, and/or a passenger seat.

14 . A system for distributing digital assets across a network, including between a first network device and a second network device, the system comprising:

a) a first rights-holder server coupled to the network, said first right-holder server being adapted to introduce a digital asset for distribution, said digital asset having both a first set of distribution rules associated with the first network device, and a different second set of distribution rules associated with the second network device;

wherein said first set of distribution rules and said different second set of distribution rules include at least different terms of use and time of use restrictions on said digital asset; and

further wherein said digital asset does not include any copy protection and can be freely copied between different first network devices and different second network devices by users;

b) one or more second host servers coupled to the network, said one or more second host servers being adapted to store and distribute said digital asset; and

c) a third management server coupled to the network, said third management server being adapted to track transfers of said digital asset over the network and to generate tracking records associated with said transfers;

wherein said third management server embeds a unique identifier into said digital asset for each transfer, such that a new instantation of said digital asset is created;

further wherein transfers over the network involving said digital asset between the first network device and said one or more second host servers are processed in accordance with said first set of distribution rules, and transfers over the network involving said digital asset between the second network device and said one or more second host servers are processed in accordance with said second set of distribution rules.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein at least said first set of distribution rules can be changed for each transaction/transfer of said digital asset.

16 . The system of claim 14 wherein at least said first set of distribution rules include indexing information and a location of said one or more second host servers to facilitate transfers.

17 . A method of distributing digital assets in a peer-to-peer connectable environment across a network, including between a first peer network device and a second peer network device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) introducing a digital asset into the peer-to-peer connectable environment, said digital asset having an associated first set of distribution rules; and

(b) storing and distributing said digital asset at a first network accessible location so that a transfer of said digital asset can be made by the first peer network device and/or the second peer network device; and

(c) generating a tracking record associated with said transfer; and

(d) repeating at least step (c) for any subsequent transfers of said digital asset within the network;

wherein said transfer as well as any of said subsequent transfers over the network involving said digital asset between the first peer network device, the second peer network device and/or the first network accessible location are processed in accordance with said first set of distribution rules and are associated with tracking records.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein said peer network devices embed tracking information within a modified version of said digital asset for each new instantiation of said digital asset created for a transfer.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein said tracking information includes a unique identifier for each transfer of said modified version of said digital asset within the electronic network.

20 . The method of claim 17 wherein administration information for said digital asset is changed during transfers.