Patent ID: 7162635

Claim:
A computer implemented method of handling stored authoritative copy objects that have been created by signing information objects by respective transfer agents, submitting signed information objects to a trusted third-party repository of information objects, validating the submitted signed information objects by at least testing the integrity of the contents of each signed information object and the validity of the signature of the respective transfer agent, and applying a wrapper to each validated information object including a current date-time stamp and a digital signature and authentication certificate of the trusted third-party repository of information objects, which handles at least one authoritative copy object based on rules established by an owner of the at least one authoritative copy object, comprising the steps of: establishing at least one type of information object as an authoritative copy object that is not to be released by a trusted third-party repository of information objects; enabling at least one selected user to access at least one selected type of authoritative copy object; identifying at least one type of authoritative copy object required to conclude a deal; and identifying and controlling at least one selected authoritative copy object as a transferable record.