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  Content regulationUSPTO Application #: 20060294371Title: Content regulation Abstract: A method and apparatus for regulating content is provided. In one embodiment, the invention is a method. The method includes interfacing with a content outlet. The method further includes comparing attributes of content to be downloaded with attributes of content in a media database. The method also includes providing restrictions based on a result of the comparing. The method may further include monetizing the method. Additionally, the method may include distributing royalty payments to rights-holders of content. (end of abstract)
Agent: Zilka-kotab, PC - San Jose, CA, US Inventor: Shawn Fanning USPTO Applicaton #: 20060294371 - Class: 713165000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Electrical Computers And Digital Processing Systems: Support, Multiple Computer Communication Using Cryptography, Security Kernel Or Utility, File Protection The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060294371. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present application generally relates to the field of regulating access to content. The present application relates more specifically to regulating downloading and other machine reproduction of content based on rights of owners of content. BACKGROUND [0002] Bootlegging, surreptitious copying and other methods of acquiring content without compensating a rights-holder for content is an old problem. From the advent of movable type (and relatively easy printing) through the introduction of photocopying, technology has made copying and effectively stealing content easier and easier. The march of technology has recently caught audio and video content in its wake, particularly with the rise of the Internet. [0003] However, this latest technology is based on digital representations of content, which can also incorporate various forms of copy protection and can allow for monitoring of transactions. Peer-to-peer and centralized content outlets presently exist. Exemplary of peer-to-peer content outlets are Gnutella.TM. and Kazaa.TM.. Exemplary of centralized content outlets are iTunes.TM., audible.com.TM. and the defunct Napster.TM.. Such content outlets provide access to a repository of content available typically as individual tracks of either audio (songs for example) or audiovisual/visual (movies for example) works. Presently, most content outlets may also be categorized as either authorized or unauthorized, with authorized content outlets providing content under a license from rights-holders and unauthorized content outlets providing unlicensed content. While some content may not require a license, most content of interest to consumers exists under restrictions of copyright held by authors and performers or their assignees. Many of the rights-holders are assignees of performers. Examples of rights-holders include media controllers such as studios, record labels and media companies, along with individual authors or performers. With current download technology and methodologies, many of the copies of content made in the downloading process are not licensed, and the rights-holders are not compensated for these copies. Thus, it may be useful to provide a way of compensating rights-holders for these copies. Some rights-holders have lost records of what content they hold rights to. Thus, it may be useful to provide a way for rights-holders to claim content, and to resolve disputes between multiple claimants to individual content. Similarly, some rights-holders have rights to vast amounts of content whereas other rights-holders may be concerned with small amounts of content. It may be useful to provide a single point of access for content outlets to determine what is owed for content, rather than a myriad number of rights-holders to contact. SUMMARY [0004] The present invention is described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, apparatuses and methods of varying scope. In addition to the aspects of the present invention described in this summary, further aspects of the invention will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by reading the detailed description that follows. [0005] A method and apparatus for regulating content is provided. In one embodiment, the invention is a method. The method includes interfacing with a content outlet. The method further includes comparing attributes of content to be downloaded with attributes of content in a media database. The method also includes providing restrictions based on a result of the comparing. The method may further include monetizing the method. Additionally, the method may include distributing royalty payments to rights-holders of content. [0006] In an alternate embodiment, the invention is a system. The system includes a database of content. The system also includes a rights-holder interface. The system further includes a content outlet interface. The system may further include a crawler. The system may also further include a financial interface. [0007] In another alternate embodiment, the invention is a method. The method includes receiving a song selection. The method also includes comparing the song selection to records of a database of songs. The method further includes indicating results of the comparing. The method may also include monetizing the method. The method may further include providing restrictions to the song. The method may also include indicating the song is unclaimed. The method may further include prohibiting copying of the song. [0008] In yet another alternate embodiment, the invention is an apparatus. The apparatus includes means for tracking content. The apparatus also includes means for interfacing between content users and the means for tracking content. The apparatus further includes means for interfacing between content rights-holders and the means for tracking content. [0009] In yet another alternate embodiment, the invention is a method. The method includes receiving a song claim. The method also includes comparing the song claim to records of a database of songs. The method further includes indicating results of the comparing. The method may further include indicating a dispute exists. The method may also include resolving the dispute. The method may further include forwarding royalties. [0010] In still another embodiment, the invention is a method. The method includes crawling a network with an intelligent agent to find content. The method further includes evaluating the content. The method also includes transmitting a digital fingerprint of the content to a database of content. The method further includes storing the digital fingerprint of the content in the database of the content. [0011] Embodiments of the invention presented are exemplary and illustrative in nature, rather than restrictive. The scope of the invention is determined by the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the figures. However, the embodiments and figures are illustrative rather than limiting, they provide examples of the invention. [0013] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a system for controlling access to content. [0014] FIG. 2A illustrates an embodiment of a method of determining rights-holders of content. [0015] FIG. 2B illustrates an embodiment of a method of providing content. [0016] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a system for providing content. [0017] FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a system for determining rights-holders of content. [0018] FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a record of content in a database. [0019] FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a medium (or media) which may in turn embody instructions which, when executed by a processor, may cause the processor to perform a method. [0020] FIG. 7 shows embodiments of several computer systems that are coupled together through a network. Continue reading... Full patent description for Content regulation Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Content regulation patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Content regulation or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Adaptive transparent encryption Next Patent Application: Securely providing extensible third-party plug-ins Industry Class: Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Content regulation patent info. 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