Patent ID: 8069116

Claim:
A computer implemented method for enforcing rights expressions specifying manners of use of an item, said method comprising: recording, by a computing device, a repository rights expression on computer readable media as a data structure that is readable by a repository computing device, said repository rights expression indicating a manner of use of an item at said repository computing device; associating said repository rights expression with said repository computing device; recording by a computing device, an item rights expression on computer readable media as a data structure that is readable by a repository computing device, said item rights expression indicating a manner of use of said item; associating said item rights expression with said item; and determining, by said repository computing device, what action said repository computing device is to take when said repository computing device processes said item based on a combination of said repository rights expression associated with said repository computing device and said item rights expression associated with said item, wherein said manner of use of said item at said repository computing device indicates at least one of what action said repository computing device is to take when said repository computing device processes said item and what action said repository computing device is to take when said repository computing device receives a request for said item.