Transferring electronic content

Abstract

A method and apparatus for transferring electronic content. The method and apparatus include providing electronic content to a first user, providing the first user with a key packet, the key packet including a decryption key and content rights information, transferring the electronic content and the key packet from the first user to a second user and rendering rights of the first user to the electronic content unusable upon transfer of the electronic content and the key packet from the first user to the second user.

1 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 : A method for transferring electronic content, comprising:
 providing encrypted electronic content to a first user;   providing said first user with a key packet, said key packet comprising: a decryption key for decrypting said encrypted electronic content; and   content rights information;   re-encrypting said electronic content, thereby producing re-encrypted electronic content;   producing a second user key packet comprising: a second user decryption key for decrypting said re-encrypted electronic content; and second user content rights information;   transferring said re-encrypted electronic content and said second user key packet from said first user to a second user; and   rendering rights of said first user to said electronic content unusable upon transfer of said re-encrypted electronic content and said second user key packet from said first user to said second user.   
     
     
         36 : The method according to  claim 35  and wherein said re-encrypting comprises:
 decrypting said electronic content using said decryption key; and   encrypting said electronic content to produce said re-encrypted electronic content.   
     
     
         37 : The method according to  claim 35  and wherein said re-encrypting comprises performing secondary encryption. 
     
     
         38 : The method according to  claim 35  and wherein said re-encrypting comprises re-encrypting “on-the-fly”. 
     
     
         39 : The method according to  claim 35  and wherein said second user key packet is decryptable using a key encryption key. 
     
     
         40 : A method for transferring electronic content, comprising:
 providing encrypted electronic content to a first user;   providing the first user with a key packet, said key packet comprising: a decryption key for decrypting said encrypted electronic content; and content rights information;   the first user adding additional material to said electronic content, thereby producing extended electronic content;   transferring said extended electronic content and a second user key packet from the first user to a second user; and   rendering rights of the first user to said electronic content unusable upon transfer of said electronic content and said second user key packet from the first user to the second user.   
     
     
         41 : The method according to  claim 40  and also comprising:
 re-encrypting said extended electronic content, thereby producing re-encrypted extended electronic content; and   producing the second user key packet, the second user key packet comprising: a second user decryption key; and second user content rights information.   
     
     
         42 : The method according to  claim 41  and wherein said re-encrypting comprises:
 decrypting said encrypted electronic content using said decryption key; and   encrypting said extended electronic content to produce said re-encrypted extended electronic content.   
     
     
         43 : The method according to  claim 41  and wherein said re-encrypting comprises performing secondary encryption. 
     
     
         44 : The method according to  claim 41  and wherein said re-encrypting comprises re-encrypting “on-the-fly”. 
     
     
         45 : The method according to  claim 41  and wherein said second user key packet is decryptable using a key encryption key. 
     
     
         46 : The method according to  claim 40  and wherein said electronic content is associated with a first price payable by said first user and said extended electronic content is associated with a second price payable by said second user. 
     
     
         47 : The method according to  claim 46  and wherein said second price is higher than said first price. 
     
     
         48 : The method according to  claim 40  and wherein said second user key packet is divided into a main packet and at least one dependent packet.