System for controlling the distribution and use of digital works having a fee reporting mechanism

In a system for controlling the distribution and use of digital works, a method for reporting fees associated with said distribution and use, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) attaching one or more usage rights to a digital work, each of said one or more usage rights comprising an indicator of how said digital work may be distributed or used and a usage fee to be paid upon exercise of said right;
• b) storing said digital work and attached one or more usage rights in a server repository, said server repository for controlling access to said digital work;
• c) said server repository receiving a request to access said digital work from a requesting repository;
• d) said server repository identifying a usage right associated with said access request;
• e) said server repository determining if said identified usage right is the same as one of said one or more usage rights attached to said digital work;
• f) if said identified usage right is not the same as any one of said one or more usage rights attached to said digital work, said server repository denying access to said digital work;
• g) if said usage right is included with said digital work, said server repository determining if a usage fee is associated with the exercise of said usage right;
• h) if a usage fee is associated with said usage right, said server repository calculating said usage fee;
• i) said server repository transmitting a first assign fee transaction identifying said requesting repository as a payer for said usage fee to a first credit server;
• j) said requesting repository transmitting a second assign fee transaction identifying said requesting repository as a payer for said usage fee to a second credit server;
• k) said server repository transmitting said digital work to said requesting repository;
• l) said server repository transmitting a first confirm fee transaction to said first credit server;
• m) said requesting repository transmitting a second confirm fee transaction to said second credit server;
• and
• n) said first credit server and said second credit server reporting said usage fee to a billing clearinghouse for payment of said usage fee.

In a system for controlling the distribution and use of digital works, method for reporting fees associated with said distribution and use, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) attaching one or more usage rights to a digital work, each of said one or more usage rights comprising an indicator of how said digital work may be distributed or used and a usage fee to be paid for exercise of said right;
• b) storing said digital work and said attached one or more usage rights in a server repository, said server repository for controlling access to said digital work;
• c) said server repository receiving a request to access said digital work from a requesting repository;
• d) said server repository identifying a usage right associated with said access request;
• e) said server repository determining if said digital work has attached thereto said identified usage right;
• f) if said identified usage right is not attached to said digital work, said server repository denying access to said digital work;
• g) if said usage right is attached to said digital work, said server repository determining if a usage fee is associated with the exercise of said usage right;
• h) if a usage fee is associated with said usage right, said server repository determining a fee type;
• i) said server repository transmitting a first fee transaction identifying said requesting repository as a payee for said usage fee to a first credit server, said first fee transaction dependent on said determined fee type;
• j) said requesting repository transmitting a second fee transaction identifying said requesting repository as a payee for said usage fee to a second credit server, said second fee transaction dependent on said determined fee type;
• k) said server repository transmitting said digital work to said requesting repository;
• l) said first credit server reporting said first fee transaction to a billing clearinghouse;
• and
• m) said second credit server reporting said second fee transaction to said billing clearinghouse.

In a system for controlling the rendering of digital works by a rendering system, said rendering system comprised of a rendering repository and a rendering device, said rendering device utilizing a rendering digital work for rendering a digital work, a method for reporting fees associated with use of rendering digital works by said rendering device, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) storing a first digital work in a server repository, said digital work specifying a first usage fee to be reported of a use of said first digital work;
• b) storing a rendering digital work in said rendering repository, said first rendering digital work specifying a second usage fee to be reported for a use of said rendering digital work;
• c) said server repository receiving a request to use said first digital work from said rendering repository;
• d) said server repository determining if said request may be granted;
• e) if said server repository determines said request may not be granted, said server repository denying access to said first digital work;
• f) if said server repository determines said request may be granted, said server repository transmitting said digital work to said rendering repository;
• g) said server repository transmitting a first fee transaction identifying said rendering repository as a payee for said first usage fee for use of said first digital work to a first credit server;
• h) said rendering device rendering said first digital work using said rendering digital work;
• and
• i) said rendering repository transmitting a second fee transaction identifying said rendering repository as a payee for said first usage fee for use of said first digital work and said second usage fee for use of said rendering digital work to a second credit server.