METHOD FOR THE PREVENTION OF UNAUTHORIZED DUPLICATION OF INFORMATION-CARRYING SUBSTRATES

摘要

The present invention relies on one or more intrinsic physical or chemical characteristics of the substrate materials to distinguish unauthorized duplications of information-carrying substrates. In one aspect of the present invention, a method is disclosed for preventing unauthorized duplication of information to be distributed on information-carrying substrates, by requiring such distribution to be through a substrate of a type selected from a designated class of substrates. Unauthorized duplication can be identified by relying on at least one designated intrinsic physical or chemical characteristic that distinctively represents the type of substrate. The designated intrinsic characteristic is detected by an information processing device that is configured to operate to access the information authorized to be distributed using the type of substrate when the designated characteristic has been detected. Accordingly, any duplication of the information on other types of substrates outside said class of substrates would be recognized as not being an authorized duplication by said information processing device. By controlling the availability of the information-carrying substrate material to only authorized information-carrying substrate producers for production of the information-carrying substrate, unauthorized duplication of information-carrying substrates by unauthorized production entities can be prevented. In a further aspect of the present invention, a process is disclosed for the prevention of unauthorized duplication of information-carrying substrates. The process comprises monitoring the "order to delivery" process such that information-carrying substrates are produced without allowing substrate material and/or substrates to be obtained by an unauthorized party.