Patent ID: 8266715

Claim:
A method of performing Digital Rights Management (DRM) and tracking with respect to a digital content, the method comprising associating a DRM code with a digital content, the DRM code comprising a computer virus characteristic comprising the DRM code is being hidden in a memory; performing DRM by executing the DRM code prior to performing the digital content in a user terminal such that the DRM authorizes or prohibits the performance of the digital content in the user terminal based, at least in part, upon DRM information generated by the DRM code; and tracking with respect to the digital content based on the DRM information, wherein the DRM information is updated in accordance with activities with respect to the digital content wherein the DRM code performs a DRM function when the digital content is played using the computer virus characteristic, and the computer virus characteristic is provided in another program and privately performs a function, wherein the DRM information comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address, a play time of the digital content, a number of plays thereof, and a number of distributions thereof, wherein a distribution level and a utilization level of the digital content are identified by analyzing the IP address, the play time, the number of plays, and the number of distributions, and wherein the play or the distribution of the digital content is restricted based on the identified distribution level and utilization level.