Content protection

Abstract

The information marked on one electronic content is compared to that marked on another electronic content in order to determine if either are unauthorised. There are a number of ways of comparing the information in order to make this determination. One way is to detect if two electronic content accessed by the same device have information associated with different users. Another way is to detect if two electronic content accessed by different devices have information associated with a single user. A further way is to use the time or sequence of access in conjunction with the information. Other ways of determining unauthorised content are disclosed.

1 .- 81 . (canceled) 
     
     
         82 . A method for protecting content, implemented using at least one processor, the processor adapted to execute instructions stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium to perform the method comprising the following steps:
 receiving a first content;   extracting first data from the first content;   receiving a second content, the second content being different to the first content;   extracting second data from the second content, wherein the second data relates to an advert;   determining that the second content is authorized for performance on the basis of a comparison of the first and second data indicating that the first content corresponds to the advert; and   restricting the performance of the second content if it has not been authorized for performance.   
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the second content is watermarked with the second data. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the second content is performed If it is authorized for performance. 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the first content and second content are sent sequentially. 
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the first content and the second content are joined together. 
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the first content and the second content are within the same file. 
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the first content is interspersed within the second content. 
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the first content is embedded within displayed second content. 
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the first and second content are on a webpage. 
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein it is determined that the second content is authorized for performance if the first content corresponds to the advert and the number of blocks between the first and second content is less than a threshold. 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein performance of the second content is restricted if the number of blocks of the first content received is below a threshold. 
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the first content and the second content are streamed over the internet or broadcast. 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 83 , the method comprising the steps of:
 embedding the second data in the second content as a digital watermark;   sending the first content and the second content.   
     
     
         95 . A system for protecting content, the system comprising:
 an electronic device, wherein the electronic device is configured for:
 receiving a first content; 
 extracting first data from the first content; 
 receiving a second content, the second content being different to the first content; 
 extracting second data from the second content, wherein the second data relates to an advert; 
 determining that the second content is authorized for performance on the basis of a comparison of the first and second data indicating that the first content corresponds to the advert; 
 restricting the performance of the second content if it has not been authorized for performance. 
   
     
     
         96 . The system of  claim 95 , wherein the second content is watermarked with the second data. 
     
     
         97 . The system of  claim 96 , wherein the electronic device performs the second content if it is authorized for performance. 
     
     
         98 . The system of  claim 96 , wherein the electronic device is: a television, computer, mobile phone or a music player. 
     
     
         99 . The system of  claim 96 , the system comprising:
 a server; wherein the server is configured for:
 receiving the advert content and the second content; 
 embedding the second data in the second content as a digital watermark; 
 sending the advert content and the second content to the electronic device. 
   
     
     
         100 . A product for protecting content, the product configured to be operable with the system of  claim 96 , the product comprising:
 an advert content;   a second content, different to the advert content;   wherein the second content is watermarked with information relating to the advert content.   
     
     
         101 . The product of  claim 100 , wherein the first content and the second content comprise at least one of: audio, video, photographs, electronic artwork, electronic books and video games.