A
digital content file including a
license control mechanism controlling the licensed use of
digital content and a
system and method for distributing licensable
digital content files and licenses. A digital content file includes a digital content, which may be
executable code or data, an embedded file
access control mechanism and a dynamic
license database associated with the file access mechanism for storing
license information used by the file
access control mechanism in controlling use of the digital content. The file
access control mechanism includes a license monitor and control mechanism communicating with the dynamic license
database and controlling use of the digital content and a
license control utility providing communications between a user
system and an external
system to communicate license definition information and includes a
graphical user interface.
License information may be stored initially in the dynamic license
database or provided from an external system. The system allows the distribution of digital content files and the acquisition of licenses with seamless
transaction processing through an
order processing system generating an order identification and
authorization for a license and a product configuration and order database containing license management databases associated with the digital content files and containing license information to be transmitted to a user system upon
receipt of an order identifier. The product configuration and order database also generates a license
record for each transaction.