License devolution apparatus

A license devolution method, comprising:

• storing in a first storage medium contents encrypted with a predetermined key, a first media ID identifying the first storage medium, and encryption secure information generated by encrypting with the first media ID, the key and a first license information, which represents a right to use the contents;
• decoding the first encryption secure information by reading the first media ID and using the first media ID to obtain the key and the first license information;
• generating a second encryption secure information by reading a second media ID identifying a second storage medium and encrypting with the read second media ID, the key and a second license information, which represents a second right to use the contents that is devolved from the first license information stored on the first storage medium by passing down the first license information of the first storage medium to the second storage medium as a successor of the first storage medium and degenerating the first license information in the first storage medium;
• and
• storing the second encryption secure information in said second storage medium, wherein the right to use the contents stored in the first storage medium is devolved from the first storage medium to the second storage medium.

A license devolution system in communication with computer readable storages, comprising:

• an access unit accessing a first storage unit having a first storage ID and storing contents encrypted with a predetermined key, and storing a first encryption secure information generated by encrypting the key and a first license information that represents a right to use the contents, with the first storage ID, and accessing a second storage unit having a second storage ID identifying the second storage unit;
• a decoder decoding the first encryption secure information stored in said first storage unit by reading the first storage ID and using the first storage ID to obtain the key and the first license information;
• a devolving unit devolving the right to use the contents of the first storage unit to the second storage unit by generating a second license information that represents a second right to use the contents devolved from the first license information stored on the first storage unit by passing down the first license information of the first storage medium to the second storage medium as a successor of the first storage medium and degenerating the first license information in the first storage medium;
• and
• an encryption unit reading the second storage ID, and encrypting the key and the second use information with the read second storage ID to generate a second encryption secure information stored in said second storage unit.

A license devolution computer, comprising:

• a composite storage unit comprising a first storage unit, a second storage unit, and a composite storage access unit accessing the first storage unit having a first storage ID and storing contents encrypted with a predetermined key and storing a first encryption secure information generated by encrypting the key and a first license information, which represents a right to use the contents, with the first storage ID, and accessing the second storage unit having a second storage ID identifying the second storage unit, the composite storage access unit comprising:
• a decoder decoding the first encryption secure information stored in said first storage unit by reading the first storage ID and using the first storage ID to obtain the key and the first license information;
• and
• a devolving unit reading the second storage ID and devolving the right to use the contents of the first storage unit to the second storage unit by generating a second license information, which represents a second right to use the contents devolved from the first license information stored on the first storage unit by passing down the first license information of the first storage medium to the second storage medium as a successor of the first storage medium and reducing the first license information in the first storage medium according to the passing down, and encrypting the key and the second use information with the second storage ID to generate a second encryption secure information stored in said second storage unit.