Digital rights management firm Authentica last month obtained an important patent on the technology behind the company's key product. Here it is, in grep-ready HTML (with page images also available).

I just happened to notice that this patent was awarded on September 11, 2001. I also find it interesting that although Authentica is just down the road in nearby Waltham, the three inventors live in Pennsylvania and Delaware. They also know their lawyers; this patent was handled by Steptoe & Johnson LLP (www.steptoe.com).

Authentica's DRM Patent: US # 6,289,450