Electronic copyright license repository

Abstract

A content distribution system for transporting audio or video licenses between content players that use digital rights management (DRM) is disclosed. The content distribution system includes at least a second license repository and an authentication engine. The second license repository receives second information describing a second plurality of content licenses. A first license repository stores a first plurality of content licenses. The first plurality of content licenses enables use of a plurality of content objects with a first content player within confines of DRM. The second license repository is geographically distant from the first license repository. The authentication engine authorizes the second plurality of content licenses of the second license repository. The second plurality of content licenses enables use of the plurality of content objects with the second content player within the confines of DRM.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A content distribution system that distributes content objects that are usable within confines of digital rights management (DRM), the content distribution system comprising:
 a first content repository that stores a first plurality of content objects; and   a first license repository that stores and maintains a first plurality of content licenses, wherein
 the first content repository provides the first plurality of content objects to a first content player that implements the DRM, 
 the first license repository provides the first plurality of content licenses to the first content player, and 
 the first plurality of content licenses enable use of the first plurality of content objects with the first content player within confines of the DRM; 
   a second content repository that stores a second plurality of content objects; and   a second license repository that stores and maintains a second plurality of content licenses, wherein
 the second content repository provides the second plurality of content objects to a second content player that implements the DRM, 
 the second license repository provides the second plurality of content licenses to the second content player, 
 the second plurality of content licenses enable use of the second plurality of content objects with the second content player within confines of the DRM, 
 the second content player is separate from the first content player, 
 each of the first and second pluralities of content objects are separate files from the first and second pluralities of content licenses, and 
 the DRM does not allow the first plurality of content objects associated with the first content player to be played by the second content player while the first plurality of content licenses exists on the first content player; and 
   a migration server that includes at least an authentication engine and a license repository, wherein:
 the migration server is separate from the first and second content players, 
 the migration server issues the second plurality of content licenses to the second license repository, each content license of the second plurality of content licenses being associated with a license of the first plurality of content licenses, and 
 the authentication engine authorizes the second plurality of content licenses of the second license repository. 
   
     
     
         3 . The content distribution system that distributes content objects that are usable within confines of DRM as recited in  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first plurality of content licenses comply with a first DRM technique,   the second plurality of content licenses comply with a second DRM technique, and   the first DRM technique is different from the second DRM technique.   
     
     
         4 . The content distribution system that distributes content objects that are usable within confines of DRM as recited in  claim 2 , wherein one or more originators of the first plurality of content objects provide the second plurality of content licenses to the second license repository. 
     
     
         5 . The content distribution system that distributes content objects that are usable within confines of DRM as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the second plurality of content licenses:
 identifies the second plurality of content objects, and   specifies a scope of the licenses for the second plurality of content objects.   
     
     
         6 . The content distribution system that distributes content objects that are usable within confines of DRM as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the migration server provides the second plurality of content licenses to the second license repository. 
     
     
         7 . The content distribution system that distributes content objects that are usable within confines of DRM as recited in  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first plurality of content objects are encoded in a first codec,   the second plurality of content objects are encoded in a second codec, and   the first codec is different from the second codec.   
     
     
         8 . The content distribution system that distributes content objects that are usable within confines of DRM as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a content transcoder for converting format of the first plurality of content objects to form the second plurality of content objects. 
     
     
         9 . The content distribution system that distributes content objects that are usable within confines of DRM as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the second license repository is geographically distant from the second content player. 
     
     
         10 . The content distribution system that distributes content objects that are usable within confines of DRM as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the second license repository is collocated with the second content player. 
     
     
         11 . The content distribution system that distributes content objects that are usable within confines of DRM as recited in  claim 2 , wherein when the second content repository provides the second plurality of content licenses to the second content player, the migration server deactivates corresponding ones of the first plurality of content licenses, to prevent simultaneous use of the second plurality of content objects on the first and the second content players. 
     
     
         12 . The content distribution system that distributes content objects that are usable within confines of DRM as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the migration server allows both the first plurality of content licenses and the second plurality of content licenses to co-exist, but not to be in use concurrently. 
     
     
         13 . A machine-implementable method for issuing content licenses that are compatible with a DRM technique, comprising:
 accessing a first plurality of content licenses from a first repository of a first content player, wherein:
 the first content player is associated with the DRM technique, 
 the first plurality of content licenses are maintained by the DRM technique, 
 the first plurality of content licenses enable use of a plurality of content objects within confines of the DRM technique on the first content player, 
 the content objects are separate files from the first plurality of content licenses, and 
 the first plurality of content licenses are associated with a plurality of licensors; 
   issuing a second plurality of content licenses, wherein:
 each license of the second plurality of content licenses is associated with a license of the first plurality of content licenses, 
 the second plurality of content licenses is compatible with the DRM technique on a second content player, and 
 the confines of the DRM technique do not authorize the first plurality of content licenses while the content objects are on the second content player; 
   sending the second plurality of content licenses to a store, wherein:
 the store is physically remote to the first repository, and 
 the store retains the second plurality of content licenses; 
   sending authentication information of a licensee of the second plurality of content licenses; and   writing the second plurality of content licenses to a second repository of the second content player, wherein the second content player can use the plurality of content objects within the confines of the DRM technique.   
     
     
         14 . The machine-implementable method for issuing content licenses that are compatible with a DRM technique as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising encrypting the second plurality of content licenses before sending the second plurality of content licenses to the store. 
     
     
         15 . The machine-implementable method for issuing content licenses that are compatible with a DRM technique as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising transcoding the plurality of content objects to a format compatible with the second content player. 
     
     
         16 . The machine-implementable method for issuing content licenses that are compatible with a DRM technique as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising authenticating an identity of a user of the second content player. 
     
     
         17 . The machine-implementable method for issuing content licenses that are compatible with a DRM technique as recited in  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first plurality of content licenses comply with a first DRM technique for the first content player,   the second plurality of content licenses comply with a second DRM technique for the second content player, and   the first DRM technique is different from the second DRM technique.   
     
     
         18 . The machine-implementable method for issuing content licenses that are compatible with a DRM technique as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of content licenses:
 identifies the plurality of content objects, and   specifies a scope of a license for the plurality of content objects.   
     
     
         19 . A software product comprising instructions stored on non-transitory, computer-readable storage media, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, perform steps of the machine-implementable method for issuing content licenses that are compatible with a DRM technique, as recited in  claim 13 . 
     
     
         20 . A system comprising one or more processors adapted to execute the software product as recited in  claim 19 . 
     
     
         21 . The machine-implementable method for issuing content licenses that are compatible with a DRM technique as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising allowing the first plurality of content licenses to exist on the first content player and the second plurality of content licenses to simultaneously exist on the second content player.