Patent ID: 8078542

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for transferring rights associated with an item from a rights supplier to a rights consumer, the method comprising: obtaining a set of rights associated with the item, the set of rights including a first usage right and a meta-right, wherein the first usage right defines a manner of use for the item and the meta-right specifies a right to create a right to obtain a second usage right, and wherein the meta-right is provided in digital form and is enforceable by a repository; determining, by a repository, whether a rights consumer is entitled to the right to create a right to obtain the second usage right specified by the meta-right; and exercising the meta-right to create a right to obtain the second usage right as specified by the meta-right, if the rights consumer is entitled to create a right to obtain the second usage right, wherein another rights consumer has the right to obtain the second usage right that shares a state with the first usage right.