SYSTEM FOR MANAGING RIGHTS AND PERMITTING ON-LINE PLAYBACK OF DIGITAL CONTENT

摘要

A system for managing the rights to one or more digital content files within a computer network, and for permitting the on-line playback of such content files by an authorized user. In order to manage these rights, the system encrypts the content files to prevent unauthorized access to the files. Encryption is accomplished by using one or more keys which are associated with one or more segments of the content file. These keys enable an authorized user to decrypt and playback the content files at a subsequent time. Upon receiving the keys, an end user's system retrieves a license from a license server which specifies the rights of the user as it relates to the content files.