Systems and methods for secure transaction management and electronic rights protection

A method for securely performing an electronic transaction involving the transfer of rights to information, the method comprising:

• accessing a first control set that a first party desires to govern the transaction, the first control set including at least a first term relating to the scope of rights sought by the first party and a second term relating to the withholding of private information of the first party;
• accessing a second control set that a second party desires to govern the transaction, the second control set including at least a first term relating to the scone of rights the second party is willing to give and a second term relating to the collection of private information of the first party;
• comparing one or more terms of the first control set with one or more terms of the second control set as part of a bargaining process through which terms and conditions acceptable to each party are identified wherein, during the bargaining process, the second party proposes one or more alternative terms under which the second party would charge an additional amount for the information in exchange for collecting a lesser amount of private information from the first party;
• and
• creating a third control set that is acceptable to each party, the third control set including at least a first term relating to the scone of rights granted to the first party and a second term relating to the collection of private information of the first party, the third control set being operable to govern at least one aspect of the first party's access to, or use of, the information.

A method for electronically controlling use of a first entity's personal information, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving a first set of one or more electronic terms, said first set of terms indicating one or more acceptable uses of one or more pieces of the first entity's personal information;
• (b) receiving a second set of one or more electronic terms, said second set of terms indicating one or more desired uses of one or more pieces of the first entity's personal information;
• (c) comparing, at least in part, the first set of terms with the second set of terms;
• and
• (d) electronically authorizing at least one of said desired uses of one or more pieces of the first entity's personal information, the authorized use corresponding to one or more of said acceptable uses.

A computer program package for electronically negotiating terms of an electronic agreement between a first entity controlling information and a second entity seeking access to the information, the computer program package providing instructions which, if executed by a computer system, cause the system to perform operations comprising:

• (a) receiving a first set of one or more electronic terms, said first set of terms indicating one or more acceptable uses of one or more pieces of the first entity's personal information;
• (b) receiving a second set of one or more electronic terms, said second set of terms indicating one or more desired uses of one or more pieces of the first entity's personal information;
• (c) comparing, at least in part, the first set of terms with the second set of terms;
• and
• (d) electronically authorizing at least one of said desired uses of one or more pieces of the first entity's personal information, the authorized use corresponding to one or more of said acceptable uses.

A computer program package for electronically negotiating terms of an electronic agreement between a first entity controlling information and a second entity seeking access to the information, the computer program package providing instructions which, if executed by a computer system, cause the system to perform operations comprising:

• generating a first control set representing initial terms offered by the first entity in exchange for obtaining rights to the information, the first control set specifying, at least in part, desired privacy requirements;
• generating a second control set representing initial terms that the second entity is willing to accept in exchange for granting rights to the information;
• wherein the second entity rejects at least one of the initial terms of the first control set and proposes at least one alternative term to the first entity;
• generating a third control set of agreed upon terms;
• and
• granting rights to the information to the first entity in accordance with the terms of the third control set.