Patent ID: 8371855

Claim:
A primary computing device that is configured to facilitate sharing of digital media, comprising: a processor; memory in electronic communication with the processor; instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to: receive a plurality of requests for a copy of a digital media, wherein the respective requests are received from a plurality of secondary computing devices; determine at least one permitted action for users of the plurality of secondary computing devices regarding the requested digital media, wherein the at least one permitted action is specified by a user of the primary computing device; determine restrictions associated with the requested digital media, wherein the restrictions are imposed by an entity other than the user of the primary computing device and the restrictions limit the scope of the permitted actions specified for the users of the plurality of secondary computing devices; generate licenses for the requested digital media, wherein the licenses comprise the at least one permitted action and the restrictions, a number of licenses limited by the entity other than the user of the primary computing device; transmit a one of the copies of the digital media and one of the licenses to one of the secondary computing devices; and when a number of the secondary computing devices requesting the digital media exceeds the number of licenses, refrain from transmitting additional copies of the digital media to secondary computing devices until a license becomes available.