New pending patent applications are published by the USPTO on Thursdays. Both of today's Spotlight Applications concern aspects of blockchains (smart contracts, distributed ledgers) and rights management broadly construed. Assigned to GE, the first application discloses techniques for the prevention of black-listed parts from being 3D-printed. Assigned to Alibaba, the second application discloses techniques for blockchain-based copyright protection.
20200269511, "Prevention of black-listed parts from being 3D-printed," assigned to General Electric.
Abstract
According to some embodiments, systems and methods are provided comprising receiving, via a communication interface of an authorization module comprising a processor, a part file with instructions to manufacture one or more parts with an additive manufacturing machine; generating a shape signature for the part based on the part file; providing a data store storing one or more stored shape signatures, wherein the one or more stored shape signatures are one of an authorized-to-print stored shape signature and an unauthorized-to-print stored shape signature; determining the generated shape signature of the part corresponds to at least one of the authorized-to-print stored shape signatures or at least one of the unauthorized-to-print stored shape signatures; and receiving the determination of whether the generated shape signature of the part corresponds to at least one authorized-to-print stored shape signature or at least one unauthorized-to-print stored shape signature. Numerous other aspects are provided.
20200274872, "Blockchain-based copyright protection method and apparatus, and electronic device," assigned to Alibaba.
Abstract
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for a blockchain-based right protection. One of the methods includes: sending, to a blockchain network, a request for verifying a right to access a digital product, the request comprising identity information associated with a target user; receiving, from the blockchain network, a response comprising a result of verifying the right to access the digital product based on the identity information associated with the target user; in response to the result being that the verifying the right to access the digital product is successful, determining identification information for tracing the target user; and embedding the identification information for tracing the target user in content associated with the digital product.
