Devices, systems and methods for restricting use of digital content

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods for restricting use of digital content are provided. Among those embodiments which may be construed as providing a method for restricting use of digital data, a preferred method includes the steps of: enabling a user to receive digital data; and preventing the user from copying the digital data to a digital data recording medium if: (a) copy information corresponding to the digital data indicates that such copying is not to be permitted; or (b) the digital data recording medium is not an authorized digital data recording medium.

1 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising: 
 determining whether the digital data is being received from a digital data recording medium (DDRM);    if the digital data is being received from a DDRM, determining whether the DDRM is a second generation DDRM;    if the DDRM is a second generation DDRM, enabling the digital data to be played.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining whether the digital data is being received from a DDRM comprises the steps of: 
 if the digital data is not being received from a second generation DDRM, determining whether the digital data is to be copied or ripped;    if the digital data is to be copied, determining whether an authorized recording medium is provided for copying the digital data thereon;    if an authorized recording medium is not provided, preventing copying of the digital data;    if an authorized recording medium is provided, enabling copying of the digital data onto the authorized recording medium.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining whether the digital data is being received from a DDRM comprises the steps of: 
 if the digital data is not being received from a DDRM, reading identification information of the digital data.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving digital data comprises the step of receiving digital data via the Internet.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the digital data comprises audio data, and wherein the step of enabling the digital data to be played comprises the step of enabling the digital data to be played as audio.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of preventing copying of the digital data comprises the step of informing a user that the digital data may not be copied.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of enabling copying of the digital data onto the authorized recording medium comprises the step of marking the authorized recording medium with the digital data recorded thereon as a second generation.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of updating watermark and tag information of the digital data.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of determining whether the digital data is to be copied or ripped comprises the steps of: 
 if the digital data is to be ripped, marking the digital data as a home copy; and    reading identification information of the digital data.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein identification information is selected from at least one of the group consisting of: watermark information, tag information and encryption information.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the step of reading identification information comprises the steps of: 
 determining whether the identification information is provided in an appropriate format;    if the identification information is not in an appropriate format, marking the digital data as a home copy;    if the identification information is in an appropriate format, placing a tag and watermark in a database.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein an appropriate format is SDMI format, and wherein the step of marking the digital data as a home copy comprises the step of converting the rip tag file to SDMI format.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of: 
 determining whether the digital data is to be recorded to a DDRM;    if the digital data is not to be recorded to DDRM, enabling the digital data to be played;    if the digital data is to be recorded to DDRM, determining recording the digital data to DDRM is authorized;    if recording the digital data to DDRM is not authorized, preventing the user from recording the digital data to DDRM;    if recording the digital data to DDRM is authorized, determining whether an authorized recording medium is provided for copying the digital data thereon;    if an authorized recording medium is not provided, preventing copying of the digital data;    if an authorized recording medium is provided, enabling copying of the digital data onto the authorized recording medium.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of preventing copying of the digital data comprises the step of informing a user that the digital data may not be copied.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of enabling copying of the digital data onto the authorized recording medium comprises the step of marking the authorized recording medium with the digital data recorded thereon as a second generation.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of updating watermark and tag information of the digital data.  17 .- 42 . (canceled)  
   
   
       43 . A method for restricting use of digital data comprising the steps of: 
 enabling a user to receive digital data;    evaluating a digital data recording medium; and    preventing the user from copying the digital data to the digital data recording medium if:    copy information corresponding to the digital data indicates that such copying is not to be permitted; or    the digital data recording medium is not an authorized digital data recording medium.    
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising: 
 enabling copying of the digital data to a secure medium, if copy information corresponding to the digital data is not provided.    
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the digital data recording medium is selected from the group consisting of: a compact disc, a digital audio tape, and a digital versatile disk.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the digital data is selected from the group consisting of: audio content, video content and audio/video content, and wherein the method further comprises the step of: 
 allowing the user to play the digital data.    
   
   
       47 . A device for restricting use of digital data by a user, said device comprising: 
 a first input configured to receive digital data;    a second input configured to receive inputs from a user; and    a recording media interface component configured to communicate with a digital recording medium, said recording media interface communicating with said first input and said second input and being adapted to evaluate a digital data recording medium;    said device being configured to prevent the user from copying the digital data to the digital data recording medium if:    copy information corresponding to the digital data indicates that such copying is not to be permitted; or    the digital data recording medium is not an authorized digital data recording medium.    
   
   
       48 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein said device is further configured to determine whether digital data received via said first input is from a digital data recording medium (DDRM) and, if the digital data is from a DDRM, to determine whether the DDRM is a second generation DDRM such that, if the DDRM is a second generation DDRM, said device plays the digital data in response to an associated input provided via said second input from the user.  
   
   
       49 . The device of  claim 48 , further comprising: 
 a third input electrically communicating with said recording media interface and configured to receive analog data.    
   
   
       50 . The device of  claim 48 , further comprising: 
 logic circuitry configured to determine whether digital data received via said first input is from a DDRM and, if the digital data is from a DDRM, to determine whether the DDRM is a second generation DDRM such that, if the DDRM is a second generation DDRM, said device plays the digital data in response to an associated input provided via said second input from the user, said logic circuitry electrically communicating with said recording media interface.    
   
   
       51 . A method for restricting use of digital data comprising the steps of: 
 enabling a user to receive digital data;    evaluating a digital data recording medium to determine whether the user is authorized to copy the digital data to the recording medium; and    if the recording medium indicated that such recording is authorized, enabling the digital data to be recorded to the recording medium.