Digital work identification and licensing method

Abstract

A method and system are provided for facilitating the purchase of a license for a downloaded file of a copyrighted work. In one embodiment, a method for licensing a digital copy of a copyrighted work includes determining an identity of the digital copy by using at least one computer program, calculating a fee for a license for the digital copy by the at least one computer program. The step of calculating includes the step of measuring at least one metric of the digital copy. A license is then provided for the copy after receiving payment of the fee.

1 - 28 . (canceled)  
     
     
         29 . A method for identifying an unidentified digital work on a remote client of a wide area network, the method comprising: 
 distributing an application from a host to a remote client, the application operable to scan files on a storage media operated by the remote client, to read a predetermined portion of each file, and to calculate a checksum value for each file, the checksum value determined by each corresponding predetermined file portion;    receiving the checksum value from the remote client for each of at least selected ones of the files;    comparing each checksum value against a database of checksum values each associated with an identifier for a digital copy of a known work; and    providing data identifying at least one file on the remote client for which a checksum value has been calculated that matches a record in the database of checksum values.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the comparing step further comprises comparing against a database indicating whether each known work is copyrighted.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the comparing step further comprises comparing against a database indicating whether a license is available for each copyrighted work.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising notifying the remote client that at least one of the files scanned by the application has been associated with a copyrighted work.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the distributing step further comprises distributing the application comprising a function of determining whether each scanned file is marked as authorized by a copyright holder for storage on the storage media.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising notifying the remote client that at least one file scanned by the application is an unauthorized copy of a copyrighted work.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising inviting the remote client to acquire a license for the unauthorized copy.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising determining a fee for obtaining a license for the unauthorized copy based at least in part on a measured quality of the unauthorized copy.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising electronically collecting a licensing fee for the unauthorized copy from the remote client.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising instructing the application to calculate a second checksum for a selected file, wherein the second checksum is to be determined by a substantially larger portion of the selected file than the checksum value for the selected file received in the receiving step.  
     
     
         39 . A system for identifying an unidentified digital work on a remote client of a wide area network, the system comprising: 
 an application in a memory connected to a network-connected host, the application configured for distributing to a remote client and operable to scan files on a storage media operated by the remote client, to read a predetermined portion of each file, and to calculate a checksum value for each file, the checksum value determined by each corresponding predetermined file portion; and    further software operable by the host in cooperation with instances of the application on remote clients to perform the functions of: 
 receiving the checksum value from the remote client for each of at least selected ones of the files;  
 comparing each checksum value against a database of checksum values each associated with an identifier for a digital copy of a known work; and  
 providing data identifying at least one file on the remote client for which a checksum value has been calculated that matches a record in the database of checksum values.  
   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the comparing function further comprises comparing against a database indicating whether each known work is copyrighted.  
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the comparing function further comprises comparing against a database indicating whether a license is available for each copyrighted work.  
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the further software further comprises a function for notifying the remote client that at least one of the files scanned by the application has been associated with a copyrighted work.  
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein the application further comprises a function of determining whether each scanned file is marked as authorized by a copyright holder for storage on the storage media.  
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the further software further comprises a function for notifying the remote client that at least one file scanned by the application is an unauthorized copy of a copyrighted work.  
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the further software further comprises a function for inviting the remote client to acquire a license for the unauthorized copy.  
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the further software further comprises a function for determining a fee for obtaining a license for the unauthorized copy based at least in part on a measured quality of the unauthorized copy.  
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the further software further comprises a function for electronically collecting a licensing fee for the unauthorized copy from the remote client.  
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the further software further comprises a function for instructing the application to calculate a second checksum for a selected file, wherein the second checksum is to be determined by a substantially larger portion of the selected file than the checksum value for the selected file received by the receiving function of the further instructions.