Patent ID: 7370063

Claim:
A method of distributing audio comprising the steps of: (a) storing at least one audio compilation on a server arranged to communicate with another computing device, each said audio compilation associated with a respective ownership license to a first number of instances of the totality of said audio compilation, each audio compilation comprising individual audio tracks selectively, separately transferable over a communications channel to and from said server; (b) assigning a respective second number of instances of ownership of each said track, said second number equal to the sum of the number of individual audio compilations to which the respective said track belongs, each multiplied by the said first number of instances associated with the respective said individual audio compilation included in said sum; (c) identifying a said audio track selected for purchase by a third party by download to said another computing device; (d) determining the availability of an instance of ownership of said audio track; (e) transferring a copy of said track to said other computing device if at least one instance of ownership of said audio track is available, and thereafter incrementing the said second number of instances of ownership of said track downward by one; and (f) preventing transfer of a copy of said audio file if no instance of ownership of said audio unit is available.