US Patent No: 6,073,123

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

Method and apparatus for detecting unauthorized copies of software

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for detecting unauthorized copies of software. Each copy of software is uniquely identified by a license number. Each use of each copy is termed a session. Each copy's sessions are numbered sequentially. Each session is assigned a random session stamp when it begins. For each copy, a stamp history is kept, giving the next session number and the session stamps for prior sessions. If software copies having the same license number are used on two different computers, their stamp histories will show different next-session numbers and/or different session stamps for prior sessions, indicating two copies of the software exist, which may be, e.g., a license violation. Each software copy maintains a stamp history database (SHD) comprising a stamp history for itself and for other copies of software for which it has received a stamp history. When a software copy creates data files or transmits information over a network, it attaches all or part of its SHD to the files or information, in order to relay stamp history data to other copies of software. When another software copy receives the data files or information, it updates its own SHD using the attached SHD information. In addition to protection of a software copy, the present method can be applied to protection of a data set, detecting old versions of software that remain in use after newer versions have been installed, and to limit the number of times a copy of software is executed.

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First Claim

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Patent Owner(s)

  • Assignment data not available. Check USPTO

International Classification(s)

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Staley, Clinton A Atascadero, CA 7 209

Cited Art

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
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CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA (1)
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SOFTWARE CONCEPTS, INC. (1)
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Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cites

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
SONY CORPORATION (7)
7,343,405 Apparatus and method for computation of a pricing index 1 2000
7,492,895 Data recording method and apparatus, data reproducing method and apparatus, and data recording and/or reproducing system 0 2001
7,827,112 Digital signal processing apparatus, digital signal processing method, information center, and data delivery system 0 2002
7,672,568 Outputting apparatus, outputting method, recording apparatus, recording method, reproduction apparatus, reproduction method and recording medium 0 2003
7,159,089 Outputting apparatus, outputting method, recording apparatus, recording method, reproduction apparatus, reproduction method and recording medium 3 2004
8,151,071 Copy protection apparatus and method 0 2006
7,853,530 Digital signal processing apparatus, digital signal processing method, information center, and data delivery system 0 2006
 
SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA LLC (5)
7,228,342 System for utilizing an incentive point system based on disc and user identification 2 2001
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7,216,156 Incentivizing software sharing thru incentive points 1 2005
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8,433,759 Direction-conscious information sharing 0 2010
 
AOL INC. (2)
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CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA (2)
7,530,117 Method and apparatus for preventing unauthorized use of software 2 2004
8,281,406 Image processing apparatus and reinstallation method therefor 0 2008
 
DIGIMARC CORPORATION (2)
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8,290,202 Methods utilizing steganography 0 2007
 
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8,015,299 Method and system for administering a concurrent user licensing agreement on a manufacturing/process control information portal server 0 2010
 
EMC CORPORATION (1)
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FACEBOOK, INC. (1)
7,325,065 Identifying unauthorized communication systems using a system-specific identifier 4 2002
 
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION (1)
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JVC KENWOOD CORPORATION (1)
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KINGLITE HOLDINGS INC. (1)
6,453,469 Method and apparatus to automatically deinstall an application module when not functioning 25 1999
 
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MICROSOFT CORPORATION (1)
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NAMCO BANDAI GAMES INC. (1)
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NOKIA TELECOMMUNICATIONS OY (1)
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SYMANTEC CORPORATION (1)
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UNILOC LUXEMBOURG S. A. (1)
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OTHER [CHECK PATENT PROFILE FOR ASSIGNMENT INFORMATION] (1)
8,447,421 Traffic-based media selection 0 2008