System and method for controlling rights expressions by stakeholders of an item

Abstract

A system and method for controlling a rights expression specifying a manner of use of an item, including specifying by a provider of an item a rights expression indicating a manner of use of the item by a recipient of the item and a condition for use of the item by the recipient, the condition indicating that the use by the recipient of the item is subject to control; associating the rights expression with the item; and controlling the use by the recipient of the item based on the condition in the rights expression. In further exemplary embodiments, the use by the recipient of the item is subject to control by a stakeholder and/or a provider of the item and can be used to provide consumer protection based on parameters of use.

1 . A computer-implemented method for controlling use of an item, the method comprising:
 specifying a computer-readable rights expression, wherein the rights expression indicates a manner of use of the item by a recipient of the item and a first condition for use of the item by the recipient, the first condition indicating that the use of the item by the recipient is subject to control by a stakeholder;   associating the rights expression with the item;   receiving a request, at a repository computing device, for use of the item from the recipient;   granting by the stakeholder an authorization for use of the item by the recipient, in accordance with the first condition, the authorization including a second condition that must be satisfied for use of the item; and   controlling the repository computing device by the stakeholder to thereby control the use of the item by the recipient based on the rights expression and the authorization granted by the stakeholder, wherein the controlling step comprises:
 employing a master license that at least one of references the rights expression and is referenced by the item, the master license including a latest version of the rights expression; and 
 controlling the master license by the stakeholder to control the use of the item by the recipient. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the controlling step further comprising checking a current state of the rights expression by interpreting the master license. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the checking step is performed at various times. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the master license is referenced by more than one recipients. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second condition is associated with the use of the item. 
     
     
         6 . A system for controlling use of an item, the method comprising:
 a module operable to specify a computer-readable rights expression, wherein the rights expression indicates a manner of use of the item by a recipient of the item and a first condition for use of the item by the recipient, the first condition indicating that the use of the item by the recipient is subject to control by a stakeholder;   a module operable to associate the rights expression with the item;   a module operable to receive a request, at a repository computing device, for use of the item from the recipient;   a module operable to grant by the stakeholder an authorization for use of the item by the recipient, in accordance with the first condition, the authorization including a second condition that must be satisfied for use of the item; and   a module operable to control the repository computing device by the stakeholder to thereby control the use of the item by the recipient based on the rights expression and the authorization granted by the stakeholder, wherein control of the repository computing device comprises the steps of:
 employing a master license that at least one of references the rights expression and is referenced by the item, the master license including a latest version of the rights expression; and 
 controlling the master license by the stakeholder to control the use of the item by the recipient. 
   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein control of the repository computing device further comprises checking a current state of the rights expression by interpreting the master license. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the checking step is performed at various times. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the master license is referenced by more than one recipients. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the second condition is associated with the use of the item. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the two or more of the modules are combined into a single module.