Data protection via reversible data damage

Abstract

A security system purposely damages at least a portion of content material, using a damaging process that is easily reversible, until a verification of authorization is determined. While the authorization to access the content material is in an unverified state, an undamaged version is provided for immediate rendering, but any stored versions of the content material is stored in the damaged state. When the authorization is verified, the damaging process ceases, and the stored damaged version is repaired, thereby allowing unimpeded subsequent access to the authorized content material. If sufficient evidence is obtained to warrant a determination that the content material is unauthorized, the access to the material is terminated, and any stored content material remains in the damaged state, thereby precluding subsequent access to the unauthorized content material.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.