A data distribution system has a portable user terminal, which sends a portable terminal ID or memory card ID and electronic money are sent to a store-based terminal (10) and receives data content, a store-based terminal (11), which receives the portable terminal ID or memory card ID and electronic money from the portable user terminal (10), and which sends these to a billing center (12), along with a content ID and a store-based terminal ID, a billing center (12) that receives the content ID, the portable terminal ID or memory card ID, the store-based terminal ID, and the electronic money from the store-based terminal (11), and a content center (13), which receives the content ID, the portable terminal ID or memory card ID, and the store-based terminal ID, and which distributes data content, via the store-based terminal (11), to the portable terminal (10).