APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING MEDIA CONTENT RIGHTS

摘要

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to maintain content rights parameters associated with media content and a user where the content rights parameters include limits to distribution of the media content to a plurality of communication devices associated with the user and where a portion of the plurality of communication devices use different communication protocols from another portion of the plurality of communication devices, monitor for access to the media content by one communication device of the plurality of communication devices of the user, and obtain rights control data that is adapted to allow for presentation of the media content by the one communication device of the user where the rights control data is generated based on the content rights parameters. Other embodiments are disclosed.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
monitoring, by a system comprising a processor, for media content that is distributable, the monitoring comprising polling media content sources communicating with the system via a network, wherein the media content is adapted for distribution to a communication device of a user, wherein the media content has content rights parameters associated therewith for limiting distribution of the media content; generating, by the system, rights control data based on the content rights parameters; detecting, by the system, an attempt to access the media content by the communication device; and transmitting, by the system, the rights control data over the network to the communication device to control a presentation of the media content at the communication device, wherein the content rights parameters are adapted to limit the presentation of the media content based on a time of day, a location of the communication device, a location of the user, or a combination thereof.