US Patent 7092909 Information processing apparatus and method, and distribution medium

An information processing apparatus utilizing encrypted information corresponding to content of purchased right, includes a memory for storing the encrypted information, usage control policy indicating content of purchased right and price tag for specifying price content corresponding to the content of the purchased right. A first generating device generates a usage control status including the purchase history of the information on the basis of the usage control policy and the price tag stored in the memory. A setting device sets usage history based on usage of the information to the usage control status. A second generating device calculates an accounting price and generates accounting information including the accounting price based on the purchase history or the usage history, and/or puts a limit on purchasable usage conditions based on the purchase history or the usage history on the occasion the right is purchased again on different format from the control policy.