Patent ID: 7853531

Claim:
A rights management system for managing use of items having usage rights associated therewith, said system comprising: a first activation device defining a first trust zone and being adapted to issue a first software package that enforces first usage rights within the first trust zone, wherein the first trust zone includes one or more user devices associated therewith and which are activated by the first software package for receiving items within the first trust zone; a second activation device defining a second trust zone and being adapted to issue a second software package that enforces second usage rights within the second trust zone, wherein the second trust zone includes one or more user devices associated therewith and which are activated by the second software package for receiving items within the second trust zone; at least one first license device associated with said first trust zone, said first license device being adapted to generate a license associated with said items and including the first usage rights specifying a manner of use of the items, said license specifying one or more trust zones in which said license is valid; and at least one user device associated with said first trust zone, said user device being adapted to receive said first software package, receive said license associated with said items, and to use said items in accordance with said license, wherein said items are digital content, and said license is one of: an open license that specifies that said digital content is used in accordance with the usage rights by user devices having said first software package or said second software package, and a closed license that permits said digital content to be used in accordance with the usage rights only by user devices having said first software package.