DISPLAYING COLLECTIONS OF DIGITAL CONTENT ITEMS

1 . A computing device comprising:

a set of memory resources, including instruction memory that stores a set of instructions, and a data store that stores a collection of digital content items, each digital content item includes one or more files corresponding to a content portion and one or more files that include metadata for providing a visual representation of the digital content item;

one or more processors that are coupled to the memory to retrieve instructions in performing operations that include:

in response to a request from the user to transfer the right of possession of a particular digital content item to a second user, at least partially implement the transfer of the right of possession of the digital content item by deleting or disabling the one or more files corresponding to the content portion of the particular digital content item, without deleting or disabling the one or more files corresponding to the metadata for visually representing the particular digital content item; and

provide an interface that accesses the data store in order to display the visual representation of each digital content item in the collection, including the visual representation of the particular digital content for which the right of possession has been transferred.

2 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors at least partially implement the transfer of the right of possession by locking the one or more files corresponding to the content portion of the particular digital content item.

3 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the interface graphically indicates that the right of possession of the particular digital content item has been transferred.

4 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the interface displays the visual representation of each of the plurality of digital content items in sections, including a section that displays the visual representation of digital content items for which the right of possession has been transferred.

5 . The computing device of claim 4 , wherein each digital content item in the collection corresponds to an e-book, and wherein the plurality of sections includes book shelves.

6 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors generate, with the visual representation of the particular digital content item provided with the interface, a selectable feature that enables a user to re-acquire the right of possession for the particular digital content item from a network service.

7 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors at least partially implement the transfer of the right of possession in response to receiving a programmatic instruct from a network service that controls the right of possession for the particular digital content item.

8 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the collection of digital content items include one or more e-books, electronic magazines or electronic comic books.

9 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the collection of digital content items include audio and/or video content.

10 . A method for controlling distribution of digital content items, the method being implemented by one or more processors and comprising:

associating a collection of digital content items with an account, wherein at least some of the digital content items of the collection are downloaded on a computing device that is associated with the account and include one or more files corresponding to a content portion and one or more files that include metadata for providing a visual representation of the digital content item;

receiving a request from a user to transfer a right of possession to one of the digital content items of the collection that is downloaded on the computing device that is associated with the account;

in response to receiving the request, programmatically instructing the computing device that is associated with the account to delete or disable the one or more files corresponding to the content portion of the particular digital content item, without deleting or disabling the one or more files that include metadata for providing the visual representation of the particular digital content item; and

signaling the computing device to include indicia that indicates the right of possession to the particular digital content item has been transferred.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein programmatically instructing the computing device includes signaling the computing device to lock the one or more files corresponding to the content portion of the particular digital content item.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising signaling the device to include a feature with the visual representation of the particular digital content item that links to and identifies the particular digital content item with a network service where the right of possession to the digital content item can be re-acquired.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the collection of digital content items include one or more e-books, electronic magazines or electronic comic books.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the collection of digital content items include audio and/or video content.

15 . A method for controlling distribution of digital content items, the method being implemented by one or more processors and comprising:

storing a collection of digital content items, each digital content item includes one or more files corresponding to a content portion and one or more files that include metadata for providing a visual representation of the digital content item;

implementing, at least in part, a transfer of the right of possession of the digital content item by deleting or disabling the one or more files corresponding to the content portion of the particular digital content item, without deleting or disabling the one or more files corresponding to the metadata for visually representing the particular digital content item; and

providing an interface that accesses the data store in order to display the visual representation of each digital content item in the collection, including the visual representation of the particular digital content for which the right of possession has been transferred.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein implementing the transfer includes locking the one or more files corresponding to the content portion of the particular digital content item.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein providing the interface includes graphically indicating that the right of possession of the particular digital content item has been transferred.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein providing the interface includes display the visual representation of each of the plurality of digital content items in multiple sections, including a section that displays the visual representation of digital content items for which the right of possession has been transferred.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein each digital content item in the collection corresponds to an e-book, and wherein the multiple sections include book shelves.

20 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising generating, with the visual representation of the particular digital content item provided with the interface, a selectable feature that enables a user to re-acquire the right of possession for the particular digital content item from a network service.