Toward semantics‐aware management of intellectual property rights
| Date | 27 February 2007 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/14684520710731038 |
| Pages | 59-72 |
| Published date | 27 February 2007 |
| Author | Ernesto Damiani,Cristiano Fugazza |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Toward semantics-aware
management of intellectual
property rights
Ernesto Damiani and Cristiano Fugazza
Dipartimento di Tecnologie dell’Informazione, Universita
`degli Studi di Milano,
Crema, Italy
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to introduce the advantages of semantics-aware
representation formalisms in the integration of digital rights management (DRM) infrastructures
grounded on heterogeneous formats.
Design/methodology/approach – After discussing the notion of semantics-aware IPR and its
relationship with Semantic Web-style metadata, we exemplify the advantages of adopting it by
providing two different use cases. XML-based DRMLs are mapped with a shared ontology-based
representation in such a way that dependencies between elements can be drawn.
Findings – Individual formalisms may take advantage of a semantics-aware infrastructure to check
consistency of DRM policies according to dependencies not explicit in the specification language. On
the other hand, distinct formalisms can be integrated with each other according to fine-grained
translation mechanisms.
Originality/value – Inference procedures can pre-process this knowledge base and derive implicit
knowledge that can be used by programming logic in the actual enforcement of DRM policies.
Keywords Semantics, Intellectual property, Worldwide web, Open systems,Automation
Paper type General review
Introduction
The information and entertainment industry is one of the fastest growing and most
profitable sectors of today’s economy. Distributing information in digital form,
however, raises numerous concerns due to the fact that it is difficult for digital content
providers to control what others do with the information. This is especially true on the
Internet, which is highly vulnerable to unauthorised use of information. Unauthorised
distribution, forgery and defacement of digital content have become widespread,
triggering a technological “arms race” between content providers and malicious users.
For the last 10 years the industry has been demanding an efficient mechanism for
digital content protection.
Digital Rights Management (DRM) technologies supporting secure transmission of
digital products from publishers to consumers have become a crucial factor in the
marketing of digital content. In general DRM systems seek to manage access to digital
content, restricting it to individuals or organisations that are entitled by payment or
affiliation to have access. Digital content managed by DRM can take many different
forms, including music, information, software applications, video and even enterprise
e-mail. First generation DRM technologies focused on encryption-based solutions for
locking digital content and limiting its distribution to authorised users. Early DRM
techniques included limiting the number of devices on which content could be accessed
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
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Toward
semantics-aware
management
59
Article received
25 September 2006
Reviewed by EuDiRights
Workshop Committee
Approved for publication
10 October 2006
Online Information Review
Vol. 31 No. 1, 2007
pp. 59-72
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
1468-4527
DOI 10.1108/14684520710731038
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