A system for permitting offline content playback and for managing the rights
to
one or more digital content files within a computer network. The system manages
these rights by encrypting the content files to prevent unauthorized access to
the files. Encryption is accomplished by using one or more keys which are associated
with one or more segments of the content file. These keys enable an authorized
user to decrypt and playback the content files at a subsequent time. When the keys
are received, a license which specifies the rights of the user regarding the content
files, is obtained by the end user system, and verified locally to permit the content playback.
