Patent ID: 7769641

Claim:
A method comprising: receiving a request for access to a media content asset from a first user of a web-based service, the request received via a wide area network by an apparatus providing the web-based service, the request specifying a second user identified as a user of the web-based service and that has provided access to the media content asset; retrieving, by the apparatus from a user database, a user entry describing attributes associated with the second user; determining by the apparatus whether the user entry includes digital rights metadata enabling the apparatus to determine whether the second user is licensed to share at least a portion of the media content asset with another user of the web-based service; and selectively providing the first user with access to at least the portion of the media content asset based on the apparatus determining from the digital rights metadata that the media content asset is licensed to the second user and that the second user is licensed to share at least the portion of the media content asset with another user of the web-based service, and determining that the first user is authorized by the second user to access the media content asset.