Patent ID: 8230225

Claim:
A method of certified publication of content, the method comprising: an access server receiving from a first entity a catalog-entry for content, the catalog-entry including a content-description and a first digital signature generated by the first entity for the content; the access server providing to a second entity an access token for use by the second entity to obtain the content from the first entity, and conditioning the providing of the access token to the second entity on a determination that the second entity has a right to obtain the content; the access server validating the access token when requested to do so by the first entity, wherein the first entity provides the second entity with the content after validation of the access token; the access server receiving from the second entity a certification flag provided in response to successful evaluation by the second entity of the content received by the second entity from the first entity, wherein successful evaluation of the content by the second entity comprises (i) establishing a second digital signature of content received by the second entity from the first entity, and verifying that the second digital signature matches the first digital signature in the catalog-entry and (ii) testing the content to ensure the content has at least one expected characteristic; responsive to receipt of the certification flag, the access server updating the catalog-entry for the content, to indicate that the content is certified, whereby the updated catalog-entry is available for reference by a third entity.