Patent ID: 7290285

Claim:
A system for distributing an electronic version of a printed document comprising: a memory device storing at least one electronic document file that is based at least in part on a source electronic document provided by a content provider, wherein the source electronic document is the electronic version of the printed document; a distribution system in operable communication with the memory device, the distribution system programmed for: responding to requests from a client for delivery of the at least one electronic document file; retrieving a copy of the requested electronic document file from the memory device; associating with the copy of the electronic document file one or more rights comprising a subset that includes all or fewer than all of a plurality of rights associated with the copy of the electronic document file, wherein each of said rights defines an action capable of being performed on at least a portion of the copy of the electronic document file, the plurality of rights may include any number of rights, and a number of said subsets into which the plurality of rights may be divided is not limited to two; encrypting the copy of the electronic document file with an issue key; using a user key to encrypt into a key token the issue key and information usable to determine the one or more rights associated with the copy; and providing the encrypted copy of the electronic document file, with the associated key token, to the client wherein the client comprises a first client and one of the rights associated with the copy of the electronic document file includes the ability of the first client to share with a second client at least a portion of a body of content comprising the electronic document file in a form that enables the second client to access the shared content based on rights derived from the first client through an act of said sharing even if the second client is not otherwise entitled to access the shared content.