Method and apparatus for distributing enforceable property rights

Abstract

An enforceable property right and a system for controlling the manner of use of an item in accordance with usage rights. The enforceable property right includes an item ticket having a security mechanism incorporated therein and specifying an item for which the item ticket can be redeemed and a license associated with the item ticket. The license includes usage rights specifying a manner of use for redeeming the item ticket and a mechanism for unlocking said security mechanism.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for utilizing an item, the apparatus comprising:
 one or more processors; and   one or more memories operatively coupled to at least one of the one or more processors and having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause at least one of the one or more processors to:
 enable the receipt of an electronic item ticket associated with the item, the electronic item ticket having a security mechanism incorporated therein, including an item reference that references the item, and being distinctly separate from the item; 
 enable the receipt of a digital license associated with the electronic item ticket, the digital license indicating one or more permitted utilizations of the item and at least one condition for unlocking the security mechanism of the electronic item ticket; 
 determine whether the at least one condition for unlocking the security mechanism of the electronic item ticket is satisfied; 
 unlock the security mechanism of the electronic item ticket based on a determination that the at least one condition for unlocking the security mechanism of the electronic item ticket is satisfied to thereby allow utilization of the item in accordance with at least one of the one or more permitted utilizations of the item; and 
 utilize the item in accordance with the at least one of the one or more permitted utilizations of the item. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic item ticket includes at least one of a description of the item and an ID correlated to the item. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the security mechanism is encryption and the security mechanism is unlocked using a decryption algorithm. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more permitted utilizations of the item are specified by one or more usage rights. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the permitted utilizations is at least one of rendering, distribution, viewing, playing, printing, modifying, and copying. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the item is at least one of digital content, a service, and a tangible or intangible good. 
     
     
         7 . A computer-implemented method executed by one or more computing devices for utilizing an item, the method comprising:
 receiving, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, an electronic item ticket associated with an item, the electronic item ticket having a security mechanism incorporated therein, including an item reference that references the item, and being distinctly separate from the item;   receiving, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, a digital license associated with the electronic item ticket, the digital license indicating one or more permitted utilizations of the item and at least one condition for unlocking the security mechanism of the electronic item ticket;   determining, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, whether the at least one condition for unlocking the security mechanism of the electronic item ticket is satisfied;   unlocking, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, the security mechanism of the electronic item ticket based on a determination that the at least one condition for unlocking the security mechanism of the electronic item ticket is satisfied to thereby allow utilization of the item in accordance with at least one of the one or more permitted utilizations of the item; and   utilizing, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, the item in accordance with the at least one of the one or more permitted utilizations of the item.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the electronic item ticket includes at least one of a description of the item and an ID correlated to the item. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the security mechanism is encryption and the security mechanism is unlocked using a decryption algorithm. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more permitted utilizations of the item are specified by one or more usage rights. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the permitted utilizations is at least one of rendering, distribution, viewing, playing, printing, modifying, and copying. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the item is at least one of digital content, a service, and a tangible or intangible good. 
     
     
         13 . At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause at least one of the one or more computing devices to:
 receive an electronic item ticket associated with an item, the electronic item ticket having a security mechanism incorporated therein, including an item reference that references the item, and being distinctly separate from the item;   receive a digital license associated with the electronic item ticket, the digital license indicating one or more permitted utilizations of the item and at least one condition for unlocking the security mechanism of the electronic item ticket;   determine whether the at least one condition for unlocking the security mechanism of the electronic item ticket is satisfied;   unlock the security mechanism of the electronic item ticket based on a determination that the at least one condition for unlocking the security mechanism of the electronic item ticket is satisfied to thereby allow utilization of the item in accordance with at least one of the one or more permitted utilizations of the item; and   utilize the item in accordance with the at least one of the one or more permitted utilizations of the item.   
     
     
         14 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the electronic item ticket includes at least one of a description of the item and an ID correlated to the item. 
     
     
         15 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the security mechanism is encryption and the security mechanism is unlocked using a decryption algorithm. 
     
     
         16 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more permitted utilizations of the item are specified by one or more usage rights. 
     
     
         17 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the permitted utilizations is at least one of rendering, distribution, viewing, playing, printing, modifying, and copying. 
     
     
         18 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the item is at least one of digital content, a service, and a tangible or intangible good.