System, method, apparatus and means for protecting digital content

#The present invention relates to network techniques. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to network techniques for addressing the unauthorized distribution of digital content.

#Advances in network and communications technologies have led to the widespread use and availability of information. Unfortunately, this has also led to the widespread copying and distribution of unauthorized copies of digital content. Digital copies of music, motion pictures, books, and other works of intellectual property are increasingly available over the Internet. This problem is exacerbated by the introduction and increasing popularity of peer-to-peer (“P2P”) networks which allow users to register to participate in a file sharing network and directly retrieve content stored at a computing device of another user.

#Reference is now made to FIG. 1, where a network 10 is depicted which includes a file sharing network 108 over which user devices 102 interact to share files 40. File sharing network 108 may be any wired or wireless network which is configured to enable users operating user devices 102 to share files. For example, file sharing network 108 may be a peer to peer (“P2P”) network such as the existing networks organized by Gnutella, etc. Currently, users operating user devices 102 may utilize file sharing network 108 to make their files available for copying by other users. For example, the user operating user device 102a may register to participate in file sharing network 108 and may make files 40a and 40b available for distribution to other participants of file sharing network 108. Another participant of file sharing network 108, such as the user operating user device 102n, may interact with user device 102a over network 108 to make a copy of files 40a and 40b. In this manner, users may share and distribute files. Frequently, users share and distribute unauthorized copies of digital content.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an existing file sharing network of the type in which features of embodiments of the present invention may be utilized.

#FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary protection system implementing features of embodiments of the present invention.

#FIG. 3 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a content protection system device for use in embodiments of the present invention.

#Applicants have recognized that there is a need for systems, methods, apparatus, and means for protecting digital content. According to some embodiments, digital content is protected under the control of a content protection system which operates to analyze one or more file sharing networks, create a number of decoy files based on the analysis, disseminate the decoy files to file sharing networks, and monitor and analyze the results of the dissemination. According to some embodiments, the monitoring and analysis may result in further disseminations in order to achieve a desired efficacy.

#A number of terms are used herein to describe features of embodiments of the present invention. As used herein, the term “content” is used to refer to digital data which is configured to include some work of authorship or other intellectual property such as, for example, a video, a piece of music such as a song, a motion picture and/or motion picture soundtrack, software, executable code, an image, or the like. As used herein, the term “protected content” or “content to be protected” is used to refer to a particular item of content for which features of embodiments of the present invention are used to reduce, eliminate, or otherwise impair unauthorized distribution and use. For example, a record label may utilize features of embodiments of the present invention to reduce, eliminate, or otherwise impair unauthorized distribution of a hit single.

#As used herein, the term “file” is used to refer to an entity of digital data available on a file sharing network. An item of content to be protected may be embodied in a single file, or it may be distributed in several files. In general, a “file” includes data (such as meta-tags or other meta-data) which is contained in a header of the file and which defines attributes of the contents of the file. A “file” also includes the content. The content may be in the clear or it may be encrypted or otherwise encoded. Typically, as used herein, a “file” is identified by a filename. Each file has a size. Each file also has a format type. For example, a file containing a video may be formatted as an MPEG file (with a .mpg file extension) or in any other file format allowing the play of video images. A file containing an audio recording may be formatted as an MPEG-3 file (with an .mp3 file extension), or in any other file format allowing the play of sound recordings. A file may also be compressed (e.g., using any available file compression program such as PKZIP® or the like) or otherwise encoded.