Methods, systems and apparatus for recognizing genuine products

1. An apparatus for indicating the legitimate use of a feature of a physical product covered by an intellectual property right, the apparatus comprising:

an electronic intellectual property (IP) tag, the electronic IP tag comprising a wireless data communication interface, a memory for storing data, and a data processor, and

an electronic IP seal wherein the electronic IP seal comprises the electronic IP tag and further comprises a tamper detection component, the tamper detection component connected to the electronic IP tag, the tamper detection component having a physical state, wherein the tamper detection component is adapted to irreversibly change its state from an initial state into another state in response to physical deformation of an object that the tamper detection component is embedded in, and wherein the electronic IP tag and the tamper detection component are adapted such that if the tamper detection component is no longer in the initial state then said authenticating of said digital IP sign data or said electronic IP tag cannot be done successfully, wherein the physical state of the tamper detection component encodes a specific value of a tamper data element and the electronic IP tag is adapted to determine the value of the tamper data element encoded in the state of the tamper detection component and the electronic IP tag is adapted such that if the specific value of the tamper data element encoded in the state of the tamper detection component doesn't correspond to a specific pre-determined value then said authenticating of said digital IP sign data or said electronic IP tag cannot be done successfully;

whereby:

the memory is adapted to store digital IP sign data associated with said intellectual property right and comprising an identifier of said intellectual property right;

the electronic IP tag is adapted to communicate with an electronic reading device using said wireless data communication interface for sending said digital IP sign data to said electronic reading device and for exchanging data with said electronic reading device for authenticating said digital IP sign data or said electronic IP tag to said electronic reading device;

the memory is further adapted to store a private key of a public-private key pair associated to said intellectual property right; and

the data processor is adapted to perform an asymmetric cryptographic algorithm parameterized with said private key for said authenticating said digital IP sign data or said electronic IP tag to said electronic reading device, wherein the electronic IP tag is adapted to use the determined value of the tamper data element to reconstruct or determine a value of said private key.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic IP tag is further adapted to receive using said wireless data communication interface a challenge from said electronic reading device, to generate a response to said challenge by said data processor performing said asymmetric cryptographic algorithm using said challenge as an input for said asymmetric cryptographic algorithm, and to return said response to said electronic reading device using said wireless data communication interface.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said generated response to said challenge comprises an electronic signature generated by said data processor a digital signature algorithm based on said asymmetric cryptographic algorithm parameterized with said private key.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said digital IP sign data further comprises a public key related data element for said electronic reading device to retrieve a public key of said public-private key pair.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said digital IP sign data further comprises a certificate related data element for said electronic reading device to retrieve a public key certificate certifying said public key and linking said public key to at least part of said digital IP sign data.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said certificate links said public key to said identifier of said intellectual property right.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the object that the tamper detection is embedded in is a product packaging and the physical deformation in response to which the tamper detection component changes its state is an opening of the product packaging.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic IP tag is adapted to store the specific pre-determined value as a reference value and to compare this reference value to the determined value of the tamper data element which is encoded in the physical state of the tamper detection and to refrain from correctly authenticating itself or the digital IP sign data if the comparison indicates that the determined value of the tamper data element doesn't match the stored reference value.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic IP tag is adapted to use the determined value of the tamper data element when performing said authenticating of said digital IP sign data or said electronic IP tag.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic IP tag is adapted to store said private key encrypted with the specific pre-determined value, to use the determined value of the tamper data element to decrypt the encrypted authentication key and to use the resulting decrypted value to parameterize said asymmetric cryptographic algorithm for said authenticating said digital IP sign data or said electronic IP tag to said electronic reading device.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic IP tag is comprised in a physical product comprising a visible feature corresponding to said intellectual property right.