Method and apparatus for copy protection
AssigneeApple Computer, Inc.
InventorPaul J. Wehrenberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Copy protection techniques that utilize a watermark and a permission key are disclosed. The copy protection techniques can provide single-copy copy protection in addition to different levels of copy protection. The permission key and the watermark can also permit the invention to yield variable levels of copy protection. In one embodiment, content including a watermark is transmitted to a recipient. The recipient is allowed to read the content but not record the content unless the recipient possesses a permission key.
Claims18
A method of copy protecting content comprising:
- receiving content to be recorded, the content including a watermark encoded in the content and the watermark indicating that the content is copy protected;
- receiving an encrypted permission key;
- decrypting the encrypted permission key providing a decrypted permission key;
- extracting the watermark from the content;
- comparing the decrypted permission key and the watermark to determine if the decrypted permission key and the watermark match;
- and
- permitting the recording of the content if the decrypted permission key and the watermark match and otherwise prohibiting the recording of the content.
A computer readable medium including computer program code for copy protecting content, said computer readable medium comprising:
- computer program code configured to receive content to be recorded, the content including a watermark encoded in the content and the watermark indicating that the content is copy protected;
- computer program code configured to receive an encrypted permission key;
- computer program code configured to decrypt the encrypted permission key providing a decrypted permission key;
- computer program code configured to extract the watermark from the content;
- computer program code configured to compare the decrypted permission key and the watermark to determine if the decrypted permission key and the watermark match;
- and
- computer program code configured to permit the recording of the content if the decrypted permission key and the watermark match and otherwise prohibiting the recording of the content.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.