System and method for managing licenses of aggregate documents

Abstract

There is provided a method and system to manage licensing information associated with an aggregate document. In accordance with the method, a selection of an aggregate document that includes at least one associated sub-document is received. Each of the at least one sub-document is associated with at least one copyright flag. A sub-document is selected from the at least one sub-document. A copyright flag is selected from the at least one copyright flag associated with the selected sub-document. It is determined whether the selected copyright flag is resolved. The selected sub-document is exported to an export document capable of being transmitted to a computing system associated with a user if it is determined that the selected copyright flag is resolved.

1 . A method of managing licensing information associated with aggregate documents, the method comprising:
 receiving a selection of an aggregate document that includes at least one associated sub-document, each of the at least one sub-document associated with at least one copyright flag;   selecting a sub-document from the at least one sub-document;   selecting a copyright flag from the at least one copyright flag associated with the selected sub-document;   determining whether the selected copyright flag is resolved; and   exporting the selected sub-document to an export document capable of being transmitted to a computing system associated with a user if it is determined that the selected copyright flag is resolved.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 determining whether the selected copyright flag indicates that standard copyright applies to the selected sub-document;   locating a permission of an author for the selected sub-document; and   adding the selected sub-document to the export document if the permission is located.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein locating permission comprises determining the permission maintained in association with the selected sub-document in a database. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein locating permission comprises:
 contacting the author electronically to obtain the permission; and   receiving the permission from the author electronically.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein contacting the author electronically comprises requesting a user to provide an electronic address at which to contact the author. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein contacting the author electronically further comprises retrieving an electronic address at which to contact the author, the electronic address maintained in association with the selected sub-document in a database. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising determining whether the selected copyright flag indicates that non-standard copyright applies to the selected sub-document. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , the method further comprising automatically performing at least one action to resolve the at least one flag, the at least one action including one or more of adding attribution, license or watermark information to the export document. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , the method further comprising:
 determining whether additional information is required from the user; and   receiving the additional information from user via the user computing device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , the method further comprising:
 determining whether payment is required from the user; and   receiving the payment from user via the user computing device.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , the method further comprising:
 determining whether a requirement certification is required from the user; and   receiving the requirement certification from user via the user computing device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , the method further comprising transmitting the export document to the user computing device. 
     
     
         13 . A system to manage licensing information associated with aggregate documents, the system comprising:
 an aggregate document search engine configured to receive a selection of an aggregate document that includes at least one associated sub-document, each of the at least one sub-document associated with at least one copyright flag;   a sub-document selector configured to select a sub-document from the at least one sub-document;   a flag selector configured to select a copyright flag from the at least one copyright flag associated with the selected sub-document;   a license compliance engine configured to determine whether the selected copyright flag is resolved; and   an export document generator configured to export the selected sub-document to an export document capable of being transmitted to a computing system associated with a user if it is determined that the selected copyright flag is resolved.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the system further comprises:
 the method further comprising:
 an iterator configured to determine whether the selected copyright flag indicates that standard copyright applies to the selected sub-document; 
 a permission locator configured to locate a permission of an author for the selected sub-document; and 
 a sub-document adder configured to add the selected sub-document to the export document if the permission is located. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the permission locator is further configured to determine whether the permission is maintained in association with the selected sub-document in a database. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the permission locator is further configured to:
 contact the author electronically to obtain the permission; and   receive the permission from the author electronically.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the permission locator is further configured to request a user to provide an electronic address at which to contact the author. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the permission locator is further configured to retrieve an electronic address at which to contact the author, the electronic address maintained in association with the selected sub-document in a database. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13 , an iterator configured to determine whether the selected copyright flag indicates that non-standard copyright applies to the selected sub-document. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising an automatic flag resolver configured to automatically perform at least one action to resolve the at least one flag, the at least one action including one or more of attribution, license or watermark information added to the export document. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising an additional information receiver configured to:
 determine whether additional information is required from the user; and   receive the additional information from user via the user computing device.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising a payment receiver configured to:
 determine whether payment is required from the user; and   receive the payment from user via the user computing device.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising a requirement certificator configured to:
 determine whether a requirement certification is required from the user; and   receive the requirement certification from user via the user computing device.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising an export subsystem configured to transmit the export document to the user computing device. 
     
     
         25 . A method of building aggregate documents, the method comprising:
 generating an aggregate document;   associating a sub-document to the generated aggregate document;   discovering at least one license term that applies to the associated sub-document; and   generating at least one copyright flag for the at least one discovered license term in association with the sub-document.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein generating an aggregate document comprises generating an aggregate document identifier for the aggregate document in a first database. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein associating a sub-document to the generated aggregate document comprises associating an identifier for the sub-document to the identifier for the aggregate document in the first database. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein generating at least one copyright flag comprises associating at least one copyright flag identifier for the at least one discovered license term to an identifier for the sub-document in a second database. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising associating at least one value identifier to the at least one copyright flag identifier for the identifier of the sub-document in the second database. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising maintaining the sub-document in a document repository. 
     
     
         31 . A system to build aggregate documents, the system comprising:
 an aggregate document generator configured to generate an aggregate document;   a sub-document adder configured to associate a sub-document to the generated aggregate document;   a sub-document license discoverer configured to discover at least one license term that applies to the associated sub-document; and   a sub-document license flag generator configured to generate at least one copyright flag for the at least one discovered license term in association with the sub-document.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the aggregate document generator is further configured to generate an aggregate document identifier for the aggregate document in a first database. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein sub-document adder is further configured to associate an identifier for the sub-document to the identifier for the aggregate document in the first database. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the sub-document license flag generator is further configured to associate at least one copyright flag identifier for the at least one discovered license term to an identifier for the sub-document in a second database. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the sub-document license flag generator is further configured to associate at least one value identifier to the at least one copyright flag identifier for the identifier of the sub-document in the second database. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 31 , further comprising a document repository configured to maintain the sub-document. 
     
     
         37 . A method of assessing license compliance of an aggregate document that includes at least one associated sub-document, the method comprising:
 selecting a copyright flag associated with a sub-document of the at least one sub-document, the copyright flag associated with licensing information for the sub-document;   determining whether the copyright flag is resolved; and   selectively exporting the selected sub-document to an export document for transmission to a computing system based on determination that the copyright flag is resolved.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising resolving the copyright flag. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein resolving the copyright flag comprises:
 determining whether standard copyright or non-standard copyright applies based on the copyright flag; and   resolving the copyright flag in accordance with the determination that standard copyright or non-standard copyright applies.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising automatically resolving the copyright flag when non-standard copyright applies. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein automatically resolving the copyright flag comprises adding information to the export document or transmitting notification of sub-document use. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising receiving at least one of additional information, payment and requirement certification when non-standard copyright applies. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising automatically resolving the copyright flag when standard copyright applies. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein automatically resolving the copyright flag comprises determining that author permission is recorded or received. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising receiving at least one of author contact information, author permission, and user certification when standard copyright applies. 
     
     
         46 . A system of assessing license compliance of an aggregate document that includes at least one associated sub-document, the system comprising:
 a license compliance engine configured to:
 select a copyright flag associated with a sub-document of the at least one sub-document, the copyright flag associated with licensing information for the sub-document; and 
 determine whether the copyright flag is resolved such that the sub-document can be selectively exported to an export document for transmission to a computing system based on determination that the copyright flag is resolved. 
   
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the license compliance engine is further configured to resolve the copyright flag. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein the license compliance engine is further configured to:
 determine whether standard copyright or non-standard copyright applies based on the copyright flag; and   resolve the copyright flag in accordance with the determination that standard copyright or non-standard copyright applies.   
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the license compliance engine is further configured to automatically resolve the copyright flag when non-standard copyright applies. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the license compliance engine is further configured to add information to the export document or transmit notification of sub-document use. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the license compliance engine is further configured to receive at least one of additional information, payment and requirement certification when non-standard copyright applies. 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 48 , further comprising automatically resolving the copyright flag when standard copyright applies. 
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 52 , wherein the license compliance engine is further configured to determine that author permission is recorded or received. 
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the license compliance engine is further configured to receive at least one of author contact information, author permission, and user certification when standard copyright applies.