Method and system for digital rights management of documents

Abstract

An improved method and system for digital rights management is described.

1 . A method for sending an electronic document and/or message from a sender to a recipient, and encrypting the document and/or message, the method comprising:
 selecting document to encrypt and send to the recipient;   selecting a set of recipient rights for the document;   encrypting the document;   sending the encrypted document from the sender to the recipient;   receiving the encrypted document at a terminal of the recipient; and   accessing the document according to the set of recipient rights.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the set of rights include at least one from the following set:
 reading rights indefinitely; 
 reading rights up to a preset date; 
 printing rights indefinitely; 
 printing rights up to a preset date; 
 copying rights indefinitely; and 
 copying rights up to a preset date. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the encrypting the document includes utilizing the terminal of the recipient to establish a computer passport. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further including utilizing at least one of the following: the terminal's MAC address, master serial number, Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) information or BIOS date. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further including using a certificate of the sender. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further including selecting from a set of certificates of the sender. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further including selecting a document to wipe out completely from any storage device. 
     
     
         8 . A system for sending an electronic document and/or message from a sender to a recipient, and encrypting the document and/or message, the system comprising:
 a sender's email system that selects a document to encrypt and send to the recipient, wherein the sender's email system provides selection of a set of recipient rights for the document, encryption of the selected document and the ability to send the encrypted document from the sender to the recipient;   a receiver's email system that receives the encrypted document at a terminal of the recipient; and   a viewer that accesses the document according to the set of recipient rights.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the set of rights include at least one from the following set:
 reading rights indefinitely; 
 reading rights up to a preset date; 
 printing rights indefinitely; 
 printing rights up to a preset date; 
 copying rights indefinitely; and 
 copying rights up to a preset date. 
 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the encryption of the document includes utilizing the terminal of the recipient to establish a computer passport. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  further including utilizing at least one of the following: the terminal's MAC address, master serial number, Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) information or BIOS date. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8  further including using a certificate of the sender. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the sender's email system includes selection from a set of certificates of the sender. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the sender's email system includes selection of a document to wipe out completely from any storage device. 
     
     
         15 . A method for sending an electronic document and/or message from a sender to a recipient, and encrypting the document and/or message, the method comprising:
 selecting a document to encrypt and send to the recipient;   selecting a set of recipient rights for the document, wherein the set of recipient rights includes at least from the following set:
 reading rights indefinitely; 
 reading rights up to a preset date; 
 printing rights indefinitely; 
 printing rights up to a preset date; 
 copying rights indefinitely; and 
 copying rights up to a preset date; 
   encrypting the document;   sending the encrypted document from the sender to the recipient;   receiving the encrypted document at a terminal of the recipient; and   accessing the document according to the set of recipient rights.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the encrypting the document includes utilizing the terminal of the recipient to establish a computer passport. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further including utilizing at least one of the following: the terminal's MAC address, master serial number, Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) information or BIOS date. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  further including using a certificate of the sender. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  further including selecting from a set of certificates of the sender. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  further including selecting a document to wipe out completely from any storage device.