PLATFORM INDEPENDENT ECOSYSTEM FOR CREATION, CONSUMPTION AND TRADE OF USER-GENERATED DIGITAL CONTENT

摘要

A platform and application independent ecosystem for the creation, consumption and trade of user generated digital content permits any application operating on any platform to participate in market driven economy for user generated digital objects (UGDOs). The trading system is independent of all participating applications. A metadata attribution method for UGDOs in combination with heterogeneous application support through well-defined interfaces facilitates unlimited participation. Attributed metadata may be understood and consumed across platforms and applications. Flexible UGDO rights enforcement techniques in combination with flexible fair exchange service for those rights support all manner of UGDOs and commercial transactions therefore. Participating application may provide rights enforcement in some instances. The nature of enforcement may rest on the nature of UGDO content, rights in UGDOs or author preferences. The trading system assures that all transactions in the UGDO economy are secure, fault tolerant and atomic, providing integrity and confidence in UGDO economy.