System and method for activating a rendering device in a multi-level rights-management architecture

Abstract

A digital rights management system for the distribution, protection and use of electronic content. The system includes a client architecture which receives content, where the content is preferably protected by encryption and may include a license and individualization features. Content is protected at several levels, including: no protection; source-sealed; individually-sealed (or “inscribed”); source-signed; and fully-individualized (or “owner exclusive”). The client also includes and/or receives components which permit the access and protection of the encrypted content, as well as components that allow content to be provided to the client in a form that is individualized for the client. In some cases, access to the content will be governed by a rights construct defined in the license bound to the content. The client components include an object which accesses encrypted content, an object that parses the license and enforces the rights in the license, an object which obtains protection software and data that is individualized for the client and/or the persona operating the client, and a script of instructions that provides individualization information to a distributor of content so that the content may be individualized for the client and/or its operating persona. Content is generally protected by encrypting it with a key and then sealing the key into the content in a way that binds it to the meta-data associated with the content. In some instances, the key may also be encrypted in such a way as to be accessible only by the use of individualized protection software installed on the client, thereby binding use of the content to a particular client or set of clients.

1 - 48 . (canceled)  
   
   
       49 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable to perform acts comprising: 
 detecting the installation of predetermined software;    detecting an activation status of said predetermined software; and    if said activation status indicates that said predetermined software is not activated, launching an activation feature to activate said predetermined software.    
   
   
       50 . The computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions as recited in  claim 49 , wherein the computer-executable instructions are wrapped by one or more scripting functions using a client scripting language.  
   
   
       51 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 50 , wherein said one or more scripting functions enable use of said computer-executable instructions with at least two different browsing programs.  
   
   
       52 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 49 , wherein said activation feature is implemented by said predetermined software, and wherein said act of launching said activation feature comprises the act of launching said predetermined software.  
   
   
       53 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 49 , wherein said computer-executable instructions further comprise instructions to perform the act of providing an activation certificate.  
   
   
       54 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 53 , wherein said computer-executable instructions further comprise instructions to perform the act of providing data which identifies a user who activates said predetermined software.  
   
   
       55 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 49 , wherein said software can exist in either an activated state or a non-activated state, wherein said software is enabled to perform a first set of actions when said software is in said non-activated state, and wherein said software is enabled to perform said first set of actions and a second set of actions when said software is in said activated state.  
   
   
       56 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 55 , wherein said software is associated with a first persona when said software is in said activated state, and wherein said second set of actions comprises actions that said first persona is permitted to perform and that a second persona is not permitted to perform.  
   
   
       57 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 56 , wherein said second set of actions comprises the rendering of digital content items that are licensed for use by said first persona and are not licensed for use by said second persona.  
   
   
       58 . A method of supporting an electronic distribution infrastructure, said method comprising the acts of: 
 providing, to a first party, at least one of the following: 
 a first set of computer-executable instructions for use with first browsing software; and  
 a second set of computer-executable instructions for use with second browsing software, and  
   providing, to a second party, a browser-executable script which uses either said first or said second sets of computer-executable instructions, according to whether said script is executed under said first or said second browsing software, to perform one or more actions, wherein said one or more actions are selected from the group consisting of: 
 detecting the installation of software;  
 detecting the activation of said software;  
 launching a feature to activate said software;  
 providing information related to the identity of said first party; and  
 providing an activation certificate associated with said first party.  
   
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein said group consists of: 
 detecting the activation of said software;    launching a feature to activate said software;    providing information related to the identity of said first party; and    providing an activation certificate associated with said first party.    
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein said group consists of: providing an activation certificate associated with said first party.  
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein said browser-executable script comprises a scripting language.  
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein said browser-executable script is transmittable by said second party to said first party using the hypertext transport protocol.  
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein said software can exist in either an activated state or a non-activated state, wherein said software is enabled to render a first set of content items when said software is in said non-activated state, wherein said software is enabled to render said first set of content items and a second set of content items when said software is in said activated state, said second set of content items being licensed to said first party, there being a second party to which said second set of content items is not licensed, said second set of content items being cryptographically bound to said activation certificate associated with said first party.  
   
   
       64 . A method of engaging in a transaction with a remote computing device, said method comprising the acts of: 
 including a script of instructions in a web page; and    transmitting said web page to said remote computing device;    wherein said instructions are selected from the group consisting of:    detecting the installation of software;    detecting the activation of said software;    launching a feature to activate said software;    providing information related to the identity of a user of said computing device; and    providing an activation certificate associated with said user.    
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein said group consists of: 
 detecting the activation of said software;    launching a feature to activate said software;    providing information related to the identity of said user; and    providing an activation certificate associated with said user.    
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein said group consists of providing an activation certificate associated with said user.  
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein said script includes instructions to: 
 detect whether said script is executing on first browsing software or second browsing software; and    perform either a first action or a second action according to whether said script is executing on said first or said second browsing software.    
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein said software can exist in either an activated state or a non-activated state, wherein said software is enabled to render a first set of content items when said software is in said non-activated state, wherein said software is enabled to render said first set of content items and a second set of content items when said software is in said activated state, said second set of content items being licensed to said user, there being a second user different from said user to which said second set of content items is not licensed, said second set of content items being cryptographically bound to said activation certificate associated with said user.