System for controlling the distribution and use of digital works using digital tickets

1. In a computer controlled system for the distribution of digital works, a method for controlling the number of times that a usage right attached to a digital work may be exercised, said method comprising the steps of:

a) creating a digital work;

b) defining a usage right for said digital work, said usage right specifying a digital ticket indicating a predetermined number of times that said usage right may be exercised, said digital ticket being intangible and nonmagnetic;

c) creating said digital ticket with an indicator of said predetermined number;

d) storing said digital work, said usage right and said digital ticket in a first repository;

e) a second repository transmitting a request to access said digital work to said first repository, said request specifying said usage right;

f) said first repository determining if said digital ticket for said usage right indicates that said usage right has been exercised said predetermined number of times;

g) if said digital ticket indicates that said usage right has been exercised said predetermined number of times, said firs repository denying access to said digital work;

h) if said digital ticket indicates that said usage right has not been exercise said predetermined number of times, said first repository granting access to said digital work; and

i) said first repository punching said digital ticket to indicate a instance of exercising said usage right.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said usage right specifies a manner of rendering at least a portion of the digital work.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein the manner of rendering is viewing at least a portion of the digital work.

4. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein the manner of rendering is printing at least a portion of the digital work.

5. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein the manner of rendering is playing at least a portion of the digital work.

6. A method that controls the number of times that a usage right associated with a digital work may be exercised comprising:

creating a digital work;

determining a usage right for the digital work, the usage right specifying a digital ticket, said digital ticket being intangible and nonmagnetic and indicating a number of times the usage right may be exercised;

requesting access to the digital work including an identification of the usage right;

determining the validity of the usage right at least based on the number of times the digital ticket has been used;

granting or denying access to the digital work based on the result of the determining step;

updating the digital ticket if access to the digital work is granted.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein said usage right specifies a manner of rendering at least a portion of the digital work.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein the manner of rendering is viewing at least a portion of the digital work.

9. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein the manner of rendering is printing at least a portion of the digital work.

10. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein the manner of rendering is playing at least a portion of the digital work.

11. A method as recited in claim 6 , wherein said digital ticket is an instance of a digital work.

12. A method as recited in claim 6 , wherein said digital ticket is stored in a memory device.

13. A method as recited in claim 12 , wherein said memory device is an ASIC chip.

14. A method as recited in claim 12 , wherein said memory device is a PC card.

15. A method as recited in claims 12 , wherein said memory device is removable.

16. An information storage media comprising code that controls the number of times that a usage right associated with a digital work may be exercised within a system having repositories for enforcing the usage rights, said media comprising:

code that defines content of a digital work;

code that specifies a usage right for controlling how a repository permits access to the content for the digital work, the usage right specifying a digital ticket, said digital ticket being intangible and nonmagnetic and indicating a number of times the usage right may be exercised;

code that requests access to the digital work including an identification of the usage right;

code that determines the validity of the usage right at least based on the number of times the digital ticket has been used;

code that grants or denies access to the digital work based on the validity determination;

code that updates the digital ticket if access to the digital work is granted.

17. The storage media as recited in claim 16 wherein said usage right specifies a manner of rendering at least a portion of the digital work.

18. The storage media as recited in claim 17 wherein the manner of rendering is viewing at least a portion of the digital work.

19. The storage media as recited in claim 17 wherein the manner of rendering is printing at least a portion of the digital work.

20. The storage media as recited in claim 17 wherein the manner of rendering is playing at least a portion of the digital work.

21. An information storage medium as recited in claim 16 , wherein said digital ticket is an instance of a digital work.

22. An information storage medium as recited in claim 16 , wherein said digital ticket is stored in a memory device.

23. An information storage medium as recited in claim 22 , wherein said memory device is an ASIC chip.

24. An information storage medium as recited in claim 22 , wherein said memory device is a PC card.

25. An information storage medium as recited in claim 22 , wherein said memory device is removable.