Patent ID: 7249029
Filing Date: 2007-07-24
Classification: G06F,G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method of using a computerised administration system to administer licensing of uses of copyright material, in which at least some uses of the copyright material each require a plurality of different licenses from a plurality of different licensors, the method comprising: an administrator storing in a database of the computerised administration system information regarding the copyright material available for license, said information having been supplied by a variety of different licensors and said information including identification information identifying for each copyright material the associated plurality of different licensors and licence information specifying terms and conditions of the plurality of licenses needed to license uses of the copyright material; and a plurality of applicants for licences to use the copyright material each using licensee computer apparatus to access and interrogate the database of the computerised administration system to determine the plurality of difference licenses for a particular use of copyright material, who are the relevant plurality of different licensors and what terms and conditions are attached to the relevant licences; wherein: an applicant for licences uses the licensee computer apparatus thereof to submit an application for licences to the computerised administration system with the licence application specifying a use of copyright material and then the computerised administration system informs the licence applicant of the plurality of licences required and the associated plurality of different licensors; the licence applicant in the license application by exchange of digital information between the licensee computer apparatus and the computerised administration system acquires from the plurality of different licensors the plurality of licenses required for the specified use of copyright material; the computerised administration system allocates a unique identifier to the licence application and records in a database of issued licences in respect of each unique identifier details of the licensee, the plurality of licences issued and the relevant licensors; and the licence applicant makes available the licensed copyright material directly to consumers by delivering the copyright material digitally via the telecommunications network to the consumers independently of the administrator and the licence applicant includes the unique identifier in the digitally delivered copyright material.