Patent ID: 7061482

Claim:
A method of delivering a digital media file to a receiving device, comprising the following steps: a) dividing a master version of a digital media file into a first series of time frames and a second series of different time frames; b) delivering the first series of time frames to one or mote users without any form of access control, the first series capable of being used to form a version of the media file which is incomplete and/or corrupted; c) delivering the second series of time frames to one or more said users the second series capable of being re-combined with the first series to form a re-assembled version of the media file which is complete and uncorrupted, in which access to the second series is only granted to users satisfying defined access control criteria; wherein the receiving device automatically records a defined time period of the first series of time frames irrespective of any user selection of a record function of the receiving device; and wherein the defined period is adequate to enable a user to record an entire media work even though the user only selects the record function of the device substantially after commencement of receiving the media work.