Patent ID: 7020704

Claim:
A system for managing the distribution of licensed media assets, the system comprising: a portal comprising at least one server computer executing a media library database server application that manages access to a master library of licensed media assets by establishing a virtual private library for each of a plurality of users, each of said virtual private libraries comprising licensed media assets of said master library that are licensed by one of said plurality of users and that can be accessed by a plurality of media player devices via one or more communication networks; a first media player device being operated by a first user and being operable to: communicate with said portal to access licensed media assets in a virtual private library for said first user; receive a new licensed media asset independent from the portal and that is not currently included in the master library or the virtual private library for said first user; and transfer the reference of the new licensed media asset to the portal for inclusion in the virtual private library for said first user; and a second media player device being operated by said first user and being operable to: communicate with said portal to access licensed media assets in said virtual private library for said first user, including said new licensed media asset, of which the license includes multiple device access to the media assets.