System for distributing information using a secure peer-to-peer network

1 . A secure peer-to-peer network, comprising:

a server connected to a network;

a first peer computer connected to the network;

wherein the first peer computer is configured to communicate requests for information to the server;

wherein the server is configured to respond to requests for information by providing the identity of at least a second peer computer;

wherein the requested information is stored on the second peer computer; and

wherein the first peer computer is configured to obtain the requested information from the second peer computer;

wherein the first peer computer is configured to obtain from the server information to verify the reliability of the information provided by the second peer computer.

2 . The secure peer-to-peer network of claim 1 , wherein:

a computer program is installed on at least one of the peer computers; and

the information received by the peer is information enabling the modification of the computer program.

3 . The secure peer-to-peer network of claim 1 , wherein the server is configured to provide verification information to a peer computer upon request.

4 . The secure peer-to-peer network of claim 3 , wherein the verification information includes at least one checksum.

5 . The secure peer-to-peer network of claim 3 , wherein:

the information obtained from the second peer computer is encrypted; and

the verification information enables the decryption of the information obtained from the second peer computer.

6 . The secure peer-to-peer network of claim 1 , wherein the server is configured to provide verification information to a peer computer possessing the required digital rights upon request.

7 . The secure peer-to-peer network of claim 6 , wherein the server is configured to provide an option to acquire required digital rights to a peer computer requesting verification information, when the peer computer does not possess the required digital rights.

8 . The secure peer-to-peer network of claim 7 , wherein the information includes audio information.

9 . The secure peer-to-peer network of claim 8 , wherein the information also includes video information.

10 . A server, comprising:

hosted information stored on the server;

a list identifying computers, where the list is stored on the server; and

verification information stored on the server;

wherein the list identifying computers identifies a number of computers that acquired the hosted information at some point in the past;

wherein the verification information can be derived from the hosted information in accordance with a predetermined algorithm.

11 . The server of claim 10 , wherein the list identifying computers includes computers that have obtained the verification information from the server.

12 . The server of claim 10 , wherein the server is configured to respond to requests for the hosted information by providing the list identifying computers unless the list does not identify any computers.

13 . The server of claim 10 , wherein the server is configured to provide the verification information upon request.

14 . The server of claim 10 , wherein:

the hosted information is subject to digital rights management; and

the server is configured to provide verification information in response to a request from a device possessing the digital rights required to use the hosted information.

15 . The server of claim 10 , wherein the list identifying computers identifies a maximum of 100 computers.

16 . The server of claim 15 , wherein the list identifying computers identifies a maximum of 50 computers.

17 . The server of claim 16 , wherein the list identifying computers identifies a maximum of 20 computers.

18 . A computer configured to obtain information, comprising:

software;

wherein the software configures the computer to enable it to request information from a server;

wherein the software configures the computer to receive peer tables from a server;

wherein the software configures the computer to send requests for information to computers listed in a received peer table;

wherein the software configures the computer to send requests to a server for verification information relating to information received from other computers;

wherein the software configures the computer to verify the reliability of information received from other computers using verification information received from the server.

19 . The computer of claim 18 , wherein the software configures the computer to request information from the server at least once a week.

20 . The computer of claim 19 , wherein the software configures the computer to request information from the server at least once a day.

21 . The computer of claim 20 , wherein the software configures the computer to request information from the server at least once every eight hours.

22 . A method of obtaining information comprising:

contacting a server to request the information;

receiving information identifying peer computers possessing the information from the server;

contacting the peer computers to request the information;

receiving the information;

contacting the server for verification information; and

verifying the reliability of the information.

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the information is provided by a peer computer.

24 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the information is provided by a server.

25 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising obtaining the digital rights to use the received information.