Method and apparatus for providing authorization to make multiple copies of copyright protected products purchased in an online commercial transaction

Abstract

A method for selling a digital content product in an online commercial transaction including the steps of encoding the digital content product; creating a digital file including a header having first information about the digital content product and at least one corporate rate associated with authorization to make a predetermined number of copies of the digital content product upon purchase by a buyer, and the encoded digital content product; storing, as a product for sale, the digital file at a host computer; providing access to the host computer by a buyer computer so that the buyer computer has access to the digital file and downloading the digital file to the buyer computer; displaying at least some of the first information together with the at least one corporate rate in a dialogue box at the buyer computer; subsequent to selection by the buyer via the buyer computer of the at least one corporate rate, establishing communication between the buyer computer and a broker computer so that the broker computer accounts for cost associated with the at least one corporate rate and authorizes the purchase by the buyer of the predetermined number of copies of the digital content product by sending a product key to the buyer computer for use in decrypting the encrypted digital content product.