The US Patent Office issues new patents on Tuesdays. Issued patents and published applications may be early indicators of the kinds of issues being addressed by inventors and/or the companies for whom they work. Assigned to Phocis Limited, today's patent deals generally with rights management.
7,210,039, Digital rights management, assigned to Phocis Limited.
Abstract
The present invention relates to digital rights management and more particularly to a system and method for securely publishing and controlling the usage of digital content. Advantageously a publisher or owner of digital content or of a copyright work can distribute securely that work in a secure digital form.
This patent appears to be a great example of how to get something issued in the United States by not citing relevant art to the patent examiner. Maybe other art was cited but not listed in the issued patent. Nonetheless, for an application filed in 2001 with a 2000 priority date, lots seems to be missing:
Foreign Patent Documents
0843449 Nov., 1997 EP 0994404 Apr., 2003 EP 2228807 Sep., 1990 GB WO 97/14087 Apr., 1997 WO WO 98/42098 Sep., 1998 WO WO 99/31842 Jun., 1999 WO WO 00/58810 Oct., 2000 WO
Other References
International Search Report for PCT/GB01/04133, Mar. 18, 2003. cited by other .
Kaplan, Marc, "IBM Cryptolopes.TM., SuperDistribution and Digital Rights Management," SuperDistribution and Digital Rights Management. Dec. 30, 1996. cited by other.Primary Examiner: Peeso; Thomas R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovec PA
