Patent ID: 7480802
Filing Date: 2009-01-20
Classification: G06F,G10L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising: utilizing an enforcer contained within a digital rights management system, for controlling use of watermarked software objects, wherein the enforcer stores a predefined watermark key which defines a specific one of a plurality of identical watermarks embedded in the watermarked software object with different watermark keys to be used by the enforcer in subsequently controlling use of each one of said watermarked software objects, and wherein the predefined watermark key expires after a predefined period of time elapses since said predefined watermark key was initially stored in the enforcer; establishing a network connection to a server if the predefined watermark key is not possessed; issuing a request to the server for a new watermark key; storing the watermark key received from the server for subsequent use in controlling access to watermarked software objects; selecting one of a predefined plurality of predetermined watermark keys for use in controlling access to the software watermarked objects as the watermark key; and downloading the watermark key to the client computer.