System & Method for Managing Transfers of Digital Assets Over a Network

1 . A system for managing transfers of digital assets over a network, comprising:

(a) a management computing system coupled to the network; and

(b) a first software routine executing on said management computing system, said first software routine being adapted to prepare a digital asset for transfer over the network in accordance with a set of distribution rules;

wherein a modified version of said digital asset is generated by said first software routine, said modified version including a unique identification number associated with a first instantiation of said modified version of said digital asset; and

(c) a second software routine executing on said management computing system, said second software routine being adapted to track transfers of said digital asset over the network; and

wherein a separate instantiation of said digital asset is created for each transfer occurring over the network.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said set of distribution rules are provided by a rights-holder management system, and include restrictions on terms of use and time periods of use.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein said set of distribution rules include information on title, author, and identification numbers for said digital asset.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said unique identification number is embedded into said first instantiation of said modified version of said digital asset using a steganographic process.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said transfers of said digital asset take place in a peer-to-peer manner over the network in coordination with said management computing system and such that a complete tracking history for said digital asset is maintained by the system.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein said second software routine interfaces with a first client system and a second client system connected to the network in a peer to peer relationship, and provides unique identification numbers for each transfer occurring over the network between said first client system and said second client system.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said first software routine further identifies network accessible locations available for transfers of said digital asset.

8 . The system of claim 1 , further including an accounting routine for performing accounting functions in connection with said transfers, including crediting of rights holders accounts, crediting of transaction host accounts, and/or debiting of user accounts.

9 . The system of claim 1 , further including a monitoring routine for performing authentication operations on digital assets stored and/or transferred between client systems over the network, said authentication operations including a determination of an embedded serial number of a digital asset and an identification of a last authorized transfer of said digital asset.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein adjustments to a user account, including access privileges, are made in accordance with the determinations made by said monitoring routine.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a subsequent unique identification number used for a second instantiation of said digital asset is derived in part from said unique identification number.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein a tracking history for said digital asset, including all transfers over the network, can be derived from said subsequent unique identification number.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least some portions of said modified version of said digital asset are encrypted and/or contain steganographically processed data.

14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein distributions of said digital asset over said network are not preconditioned on securing authorization for individual copies of said digital asset.

15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein electronic indexes and catalogs are provided by the management computing system for facilitating locating and transferring of said digital asset.

16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said unique identification number is embedded into at least said first instantiation of said modified version of said digital asset in a location within such asset that is specified by an offset generated by the digital asset management computing system.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein said offset identifies a frame and word count within the digital asset.

18 . The system of claim 16 wherein a serial number is encoded within least significant bits of successive words within the digital asset so as to not alter user perceptible content.

19 . A system for managing transfers of digital assets over a network, comprising:

(a) a management computing system coupled to the network;

said management computing system including an asset index organized and searchable at least by title and artist;

(b) a first software routine executing on said management computing system, said first software routine being adapted to prepare a digital asset for transfer over the network in accordance with a set of distribution rules;

wherein a modified version of said digital asset is generated by said first software routine, said modified version including a unique identification number associated with a first instantiation of said modified version of said digital asset; and

(c) a transaction database for storing transfer tracking information;

(d) a second software routine executing on said management computing system, said second software routine being adapted to track transfers of said digital asset over the network and generate said transfer tracking information; and

wherein a separate instantiation of said digital asset is created for each transfer occurring over the network;

(e) a reconciliation software routine executing on said management computing system and adapted to reconcile said transfer tracking information with transaction data provided by client devices receiving said digital asset over the network;

wherein user perceptible content of said digital asset is not encrypted or copy protected.

20 . A method of managing transfers of digital assets over a network, comprising the steps of:

(a) coupling a digital asset management computer to the network; and

(b) providing a digital asset to said digital asset management computer; and

(c) providing a set of distribution rules for said digital asset; and

(d) preparing a modified version of said digital asset for transfer over the network in accordance with said set of distribution rules, said modified version including a unique identification number associated with a first instantiation of said modified version of said digital asset; and

(e) tracking transfers of said digital asset over the network;

wherein a separate instantiation of said digital asset is created for each transfer occurring over the network.