Internet User Identity Verification

"Internet User Identity Verification" Patents

Claim 18 of the US Patent 6665797

"Internet User Identity Verification" Patents:

US and Australia Patents granted : US 6665797, AU 765841, and world-wide patents pending.

It is related to using a payment account information to verify the identity of a user, the payment account may be a credit account, before providing the user access to computer software/apparatus.

iTunes of Apple, MusicMatch, RealNetworks and other Internet Music Shops call it computer registration, they allow a user to register up to 5 computers for enjoying music tracks purchased (infringing US Patent 6665797, claims 6, 18, 20, 21 etc), without requiring repeated payment. For details, please refer to our comparison charts.

The scope of the US Patent 6665797 is best illustrated with Claim 18 thereof, as follows

A method for protecting software from unauthorised use, by restricting the use thereof to be under control of a single person, comprising a sub-method; said sub-method comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing a communication between a processing apparatus, say, first processing apparatus and a remote electronic transaction system;

(b) verifying said person having a valid account, by said remote electronic transaction system, basing on authenticated information related to said person, said information being communicated to said remote electronic transaction system from said processing apparatus;

(c) using a positive result of said verification as a pre-condition for

permitting use of said software on said first processing apparatus;

wherein said sub-method a cost is being charged from said account; and thereafter, said sub-method being capable of being used on a processing apparatus, say, second processing apparatus, without re-charging from said account said cost.