Patent ID: 8615469

Claim:
A computer readable non-transitory storage medium that includes instructions for managing access to content over a network, wherein the execution of the instructions enables actions, the actions comprising: receiving from a first client device, over the network, a request to access content; receiving a unique identifier associated with the first client device that enables a purchase of access to the content, wherein the purchase of access to the content is enabled prior to an availability and registering of the content at a ticketing service for subsequent access on the network; providing a transferable entitlement management message associated with the content to the first client device; receiving from a second client device, other than the first client device, at least a portion of the transferable entitlement management message and a request to redeem the purchase of access to the content; if the request is valid and the content is available, providing an access key to the second client device, to enable the second client device to access the content for playing based on at least an access constraint associated with the transferable entitlement management message; and distributing the content for access by client devices is optimized based on at least a number of transferable entitlement management messages associated with the content which are provided prior to the content's availability.