Patent ID: 7730324

Claim:
A method comprising: receiving at a user device over a computer network a first utilization permit key specifically associated with a first set of data, wherein the first utilization permit key is configured to permit the user device to perform, with the first set of data, a first of a plurality of data use types, wherein the plurality of data use types are arranged in a hierarchy such that the first utilization permit key is also configured to permit the user device to perform, with the first set of data, any use types that are lower in the hierarchy than the first data use type; and receiving at the user device a second utilization permit key specifically associated with a second set of data distinct from the first set of data, wherein the second utilization permit key is configured to permit the user device to perform, with the second set of data, a second of the plurality of data use types, wherein the second utilization permit key is also configured to permit the user device to perform, with the second set of data, any use types that are lower in the hierarchy than the second data use type, wherein the second data use type is different from the first data use type; the user device performing, with the first and second sets of data, only the respective data use types that are permitted by the received first and second utilization permit keys; wherein the plurality of data use types includes at least one of the following use types: displaying, editing, storing, copying, transferring.