Method and apparatus for hierarchical assignment of rights to documents and documents having such rights
A self-contained device for protecting content, the content having usage rights associated therewith, includes a usage rights portion having usage rights that control the use of the content; a rights management module that authorizes a request to access to the content based on the usage rights; a rights assignment module that generates and updates the usage rights based on the content access; and an interface module that allows accessing of the content.
1. A method for transferring rights associated with digital works, the method comprising:
receiving, by a first device, rights for a digital work, the rights comprising at least a usage right and a delegation right for the digital work, wherein the usage right defines a use for the digital work and the delegation right governs assigning rights for further distribution of the digital work, and wherein the delegation right is associated with tracking actions requiring the recording of any distribution action relating to the digital work;
receiving, by a right management module, a request to delegate rights for the digital work;
determining, by the right management module, whether the request is allowable based on the delegation right of the digital work and a distribution history of recorded distribution actions relating to the digital work; and
assigning, by a right assignment module, at least one of the usage right and the delegation right to a second device if it is determined that the request is allowable.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the right management module and the right assignment module are on the first device.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising maintaining, by a tracking module, the distribution history.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the assigned at least one of the usage right and the delegation right allows the second device to further assign rights to a third device.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the tracking module associates the distribution history with the digital work.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the tracking module is separate from the first device.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the assigned at least one of the usage right and the delegation right allows the second device to further assign rights to a third device.
8. A system for transferring rights associated with digital works, the system comprising:
a first device configured to receive rights for a digital work, the rights comprising at least a usage right and a delegation right for the digital work, wherein the usage right defines a use for the digital work and the delegation right governs assigning rights for further distribution of the digital work, and wherein the delegation right is associated with tracking actions requiring the recording of any distribution action relating to the digital work;
a right management module configured to receive a request to delegate rights for the digital work, and determine whether the request is allowable based on the delegation right of the digital work and a distribution history of recorded distribution actions relating to the digital work; and
a right assignment module configured to assign at least one of the usage right and the delegation right to a second device if it is determined that the request is allowable.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the right management module and the right assignment module are on the first device.
10. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a tracking module configured to maintain the distribution history.
11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the assigned at least one of the usage right and the delegation right allows the second device to further assign rights to a third device.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the tracking module associates the distribution history with the digital work.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the tracking module is separate from the first device.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the assigned at least one of the usage right and the delegation right allows the second device to further assign rights to a third device.