Application No. 103'] 62,701
`Docket No. 111325-113 (290100)
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`In re Patent Application of:
`
`Xin WANG, et al.
`
`Group Art Unit: 3621
`
`Examiner: REAGAN, James A.
`
`Application No. 10x'l62,701
`
`Conf. No.: 6475
`
`Filed: June 6, 2002
`
`For: METHOD AND APPARATUS
`
`Date: February 21, 2006
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`MANAGING Tl-IE. TRANSFER
`
`OF RIGHTS
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`AMENDMENT
`
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`Customer Service Window, Mail Stop Amendment
`Randolph Building
`401 Dulany Street
`Alexandria, VA 22314
`
`Sir:
`
`In response to the Office Action of October 21, 2005, please amend the above-
`
`identified application as follows:
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`Amendments to the Claims begin on page 2 of this paper.
`
`Remarks begin on page 6 ofthis paper.
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`W6923 95. I
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`

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`Application No. I0r’l62,70l
`Docket No. H1325-113 (290100)
`Page 2 of 8
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`Amendments to the Claims:
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`This listing of claims will replace all prior versions, and listings, of claims in the application:
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`1.
`
`(Currently Amended) A method for transferring rights adapted to be
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`associated with one or more items from a rights supplier to a rights consumer, said method
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`comprising:
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`obtaining a set of rights associated with an item, said set of rights including
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`meta-rights specifying derivable rights that can be derived from the meta—rights by the rights
`
`consumer; and
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`determining whether the rights consumer is entitled to derive the derivable
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`rights specified by the meta-rights_;[[,]] and
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`if the rights consumer is entitled to derive the derivable rights specified by the
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`meta-rights, eriving one or more of the derivable rights[[,]] and generating a
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`license including the derived fights
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` .
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`2.
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`(Original) A method recited in claim I, further comprising, transmitting the set
`
`of rights, in the form of a license to the item, from the rights supplier to the rights consumer.
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`3.
`
`(Original) A method as recited in claim I, wherein the derived rights are rights
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`disposal rights.
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`(Original) A method as recited in claim I, wherein the items are content.
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`5.
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`(Original) A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the derived rights include
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`usage rights.
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`6.
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`(Original) A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the derived rights include
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`meta-rights that the rights consumer may transfer to another rights constuner in the form of a
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`license.
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`W692!-95.!
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`(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:90)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:43)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:16)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:27)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:21)
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`

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`Application No. 10r‘162,70l
`Docket No. 111325-113 (290100)
`Page 3 of 8
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`7.
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`(Original) A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the consumer is a content
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`distri butor.
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`8.
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`(Original) A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the consumer is a content
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`retailer.
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`9.
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`(Original) A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the consumer is a content
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`publisher.
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`10.
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`(Currently Amended) A license associated with an item and adapted to be used
`
`within a system for managing the transfer of rights to the item from a rights supplier to :1
`
`rights consumer, said license being adagted to be stored on a computing device, said license
`
`comprising:
`
`a set of rights including meta-rights specifying derivable rights that can be
`
`derived from the meta-rights by the rights consumer;
`
`a principal designating at least one rights consumer who is authorized to
`
`derive the derivable rights; and
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`a mechanism for providing access to the item in accordance with the set of
`
`rights.
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`11.
`
`(Original) A license as recited in claim 10, wherein the derived rights are
`
`rights disposal rights.
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`12.
`
`(Original) A license as recited in claim 10, wherein the items are content.
`
`13.
`
`(Original) A license as recited in claim 10, wherein the derived rights include
`
`usage rights.
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`14.
`
`(Original) A license as recited in claim 10, wherein the derived rights include
`
`meta-rights that the rights consumer may transfer to another rights consumer in the form of a
`
`license.
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`W'692395.1
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`(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:90)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:43)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:16)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:27)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:22)
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`

`
`Application No. l0fl62,701
`Docket No. 111325-113 (290100)
`Page 4 of8
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`15.
`
`(Original) A license as recited in claim 12, wherein the consumer is a content
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`distributor.
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`16.
`
`(Original) A license as recited in claim 12, wherein the consumer is a content
`
`17.
`
`(Original) A license as recited in claim 12, wherein the consumer is a content
`
`publisher.
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`18.
`
`(Original) A license as recited in claim 10, further comprising a digital
`
`signature corresponding to a party issuing the license.
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`19.
`
`(Previously Presented) A license as recited in claim 10, fi.ll1l1B!’ comprising at
`
`least one condition that must be satisfied to exercise at least one of said meta-rights.
`
`20.
`
`(Original) A license as recited in claim 19, further comprising at least one state
`
`variable related to said at least one condition.
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`21.
`
`(Currently Amended) A method for deriving rights adapted to be associated
`
`with one or more items from meta-rights, said method comprising:
`
`obtaining a set of rights associated with an item, said set of rights including
`
`meta-rights specifying derivable rights that can be derived from the meta-rights by t=he—a
`
`rights consumer; and
`
`generating a license associated with said item and including one or more the
`
`derived rights.
`
`22.
`
`(Original) A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the derived rights are
`
`rights disposal rights.
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`23.
`
`(Original) A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the items are content.
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`W|592395.l
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`(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:90)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:43)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:16)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:27)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:23)
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`

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`Application No. 10/162,701
`Docket No. 111325-113 (290100)
`Page 5 of 8
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`24.
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`(Original) A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the derived rights include
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`usage rights.
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`25.
`
`(Previously Presented) A license as recited in claim 10, wherein said derivable
`
`rights comprise at least one condition that is associated with at least one state variable.
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`26.
`
`(Previously Presented) A method as recited in claim 1, comprising:
`
`generating said license including the derived rights with the rights consumer
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`designated as a principal.
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`27.
`
`(Previously Presented) A method as recited in claim 1, comprising:
`
`generating said license including the derived rights with a party other than the
`
`rights consumer designated as a principal.
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`W6923911
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`(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:90)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:43)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:16)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:27)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:24)
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`

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`Application No. 10/162,701
`Docket No. 111325-113 (290100)
`Page 6 of 8
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`REMARKS
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`The Office Action of October 21, 2005 has been received and its contents reviewed.
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`Claims 1-27 are pending in this application, and claim 10 is amended. Thus, claims 1-27
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`remain pending.
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`In view of the above amendments and the following remarks,
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`reconsideration and allowance of the application is respectfully requested.
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`Claims 10-19 and 25 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 101 as being directed to non-
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`statutory subject matter. In particular, the Office asserts that a license is non-statutory
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`because it is not tangibly embodied. However, claim 10 as amended herein recites a license
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`that is “adapted to be stored on a computing device," which Applicants submit is clearly
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`statutory subject matter. Accordingly, Applicants respectfully request that this rejection be
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`reconsidered and withdrawn.
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`In addition, ciaims 1-27 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § l02(b) as being c_lga_r_ly
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`anticipated by U.S. Patent 5,892,900 to Ginter et al. In particular, the Office asserts that
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`Ginter discloses usage rights associated with digital works evolving as publishers and
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`distributors provide the digital content to consumers. (Col. 47, line 56, to C01. 48, line 33,
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`Col. 4, lines 14-27; Col. 5, lines 29-41, as well as “other relevant and related Figures and
`
`text”).
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`However, Ginter fails to teach, disclose, or suggest each and every feature of the
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`claims. For example, Ginter fails to teach, disclose, or suggest that rights associated with an
`
`item can include “meta-rights specifying derivable rights that can be derived from the meta-
`
`rights by the rights consumer", that a determination is made regarding whether the rights
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`consumer “is entitled to derive the derivable rights specified by the meta-rights", or that, “if
`
`the rights consumer is entitled to derive the derivable rights specified by the meta-rights,
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`deriving one or more of the derivable rights and generating a license including the derived
`
`rights” as is recited in claim 1. Similarly, Ginter fails to teach, disclose, or suggest a license
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`that comprises “a set of rights including meta-ri ghts specifying derivable rights that can be
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`derived from the meta-rights by the rights consumer” or “a principal designating at least one
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`rights consumer who is authorized to derive the derivable rights” as is recited in claim 10.
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`Moreover, Ginter fails to teach, disclose, or suggest a method for deriving rights adapted to
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`W692395.I
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`(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:90)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:43)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:16)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:27)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:25)
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`

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`Application No. l0;'l62,701
`Docket No. 111325413 (290100)
`Page 7 of 8
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`be associated with one or more items from meta-rights comprising “obtaining a set of rights
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`associated with an item, said set of rights including meta-rights specifying derivable rights
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`that can be derived from the meta-rights by a rights consumer” or “generating a license
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`associated with said item and including one or more derived rights" as is recited in claim 21.
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`Instead, the cited portions of Ginter merely relate to a VDE, or a Virtual Distribution
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`Environment, capable of protecting the electronic rights of distributors, including licenses,
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`and suggest that VDE agreements may be modified such that a given piece of content may be
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`subject to different control information at different times or places of handling, depending on
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`the evolution of its content control information. In addition, Ginter discloses that a certain
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`party or group of parties may be subject to content control information that differs from
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`another party or group of parties.
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`In this regard, Ginter appears to disclose that distributors
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`and consumers can be subject to different content control information for the same piece of
`COTIIBDI.
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`However, there is no apparent suggestion or disclosure in Ginter whatsoever that
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`usage rights associated with a piece of content can include meta-rights that specify derivable
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`rights that can be derived from the meta-rights by a rights consumer, as is recited in the
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`claims.
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`In addition, there is no suggestion or disclosure in Ginter whatsoever that a
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`determination may be made whether the rights consumer is entitled to derive derivable rights
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`specified by meta-rights, as is recited in the claims. Accordingly, Applicants respectfully
`
`request that the rejection of claim 1-27 under 35 U.S.C. § l02(b) in view of Ginter be
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`reconsidered and withdrawn.
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`Moreover, the Examiner broadly asserts other relevant and related Figures and text of
`
`Ginter disclose the invention. As is evidenced by the arguments presented above, Applicants
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`have clearly distinguished Ginter from the claimed invention. However, given the extreme
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`size of the Ginter patent (i.e., 163 drawing sheet and 380 columns of text), if the Examiner
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`disagrees with Applicants arguments for any reason and decides to issue any further
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`rejections in view of Ginter, Applicants respectfully request the Examiner provide a more
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`detailed explanation of the factual basis of this rejection and more clearly point out the
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`specific portions of Ginter which the Examiner believes teach the claimed features. See
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`M.P.E.P. § 707.070); (“Where the applicant traverses any rejection, the examiner should, if
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`W692 395.}
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`(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:90)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:88)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:43)(cid:82)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:86)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:16)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:27)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:26)
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`

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`Application No. l0;‘l62,70l
`Docket No. 111325-113 (290100)
`Page 8 of 8
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`he or she repeats the rejection, take note of the applicant's argument and answer the substance
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`of it.”).
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`In view of the foregoing, Applicants submit that the present application is in condition
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`for allowance and a notice to that effect is respectfully requested.
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`If, however, the Examiner
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`deems that any issue remains after considering this response, the Examiner is invited to
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`contact the undersigned attorney to expedite the prosecution and engage in ajoint effort to
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`work out a mutually satisfactory solution.
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`Respectfully submitted,
`
`ertzler
`Stephen M.
`Registration No. 58,247
`
`Date: February 21, 2006
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`NIXON PEABODY LLP
`Suite 900, 401 9"‘ Street, N.W.
`Washington, o.c. 20004-2128
`(202) 535-3000
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`W692 39 5. I
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