Content access rights management system which embeds restricted metadata into a picture

Abstract

An apparatus comprises a content item receiver which receives a content item such as a digital photo or an audio or video clip. A user preference model generates data indicative of user preferences for content item access. An access rule processor determines a set of self-governance rules for the first content item in response to the user preference model. The self-governance rules are indicative of allowable actions for the first content item in other devices. A file processor includes the set of self-governance rules with the content item and a network interface transmits the content item to a second apparatus . The second apparatus comprises functionality for restricting access to the content item in accordance with the set of self-governance rules. The invention may provide improved access rights management and in particular for personal content items.