Patent ID: 8666826

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for accessing an authorized copy of media content corresponding to metadata shared with a social network of a user, the computer-implemented method comprising performing computer-implemented operations for: receiving, from the social network of the user, shared metadata about media content; receiving, at a computer of a member of the social network of the user, a command to utilize an authorized copy of media content corresponding to the shared metadata; in response to receiving the command, obtaining information from the shared metadata identifying the media content and initiating a search of a data storage device accessible by the computer of the member, the search being for determining if the computer of the member has access to the authorized copy of the media content stored at the data storage device and being based upon the information identifying the media content; displaying a user interface control to utilize the authorized copy of the media content, in response to determining that the computer of the member has access to the authorized copy of the media content stored at the data storage device; and presenting a user interface control to obtain an authorized copy of the media content, in response to determining that an authorized copy of the media content is not stored at the data storage device.