Patent ID: 6957194

Claim:
A method for providing limited printing of a digital work having one or more rights associated therewith within a distributed system having at least one distributed repository configured to enforce use of said digital work in accordance with said one or more rights, said method comprising: associating a limited printing right with a digital work, said limited printing right specifying a type of printer and type of ticket required for exercising said limited printing right of said digital work for a limited printing fee; distributing a copy of said digital work along with said ticket to a consumer; permitting exercise of said limited printing right by a distributed repository coupled to a printer device, and operating in a server mode of operation as part of a printer system, when said consumer exercises said limited printing right by presenting the ticket, and if the type of printer and type of ticket specified by said limited printing right correspond to the presented ticket and the printing device of the printing system; and reporting said limit printing fee as a transaction in response to said consumer exercising said limited printing right, wherein said distributed repository is operative to receive a request for said printing of said digital work as manner of use of said digital work and permits said digital work to be printed only if printing as specified as the manner of use in the request corresponds to printing as specified in said limited printing right.