User controlled, decentralized, distributed, and secure content distribution

A method for controlling the distribution of a data item using a data set and a blockchain,

• wherein the data set is stored at a data storage,
• wherein the data set comprises a first encrypted data item and a first file identifier paired with the first encrypted data item, and the first encrypted data item has been generated by an encryption of the data item by a first user terminal using a first public key,
• wherein the blockchain comprises the first file identifier and a first recipient identifier identifying one or more, or a plurality of, allowed first recipients with access to the data storage and the blockchain, and each allowed first recipients has the first recipient identifier and a first private key matching the first public key, wherein the first file identifier is paired with the first recipient identifier in the blockchain
• wherein the method is performed by a second user terminal being an allowed first recipient of the one or more, or the plurality of, allowed first recipients, and the method comprises:
• identifying the first file identifier in the blockchain using the first recipient identifier,
• sending a request containing the first file identifier to the data storage for a downloading of the first encrypted data item,
• receiving the first encrypted data item from the data storage, and
• decrypting the first encrypted data item using the first private key,
• wherein identifying the first file identifier in the blockchain comprises:
• validating the request to determine that the first encrypted data item can be downloaded by traversing the blockchain.

A method for controlling the distribution of a data item using a data set and a blockchain,

• wherein the data set is stored at a data storage,
• wherein the data set comprises a first encrypted data item and a first file identifier paired with the first encrypted data item, and the first encrypted data item has been generated by an encryption of the data item by a first user terminal using a first public key,
• wherein the blockchain comprises the first file identifier and a first recipient identifier identifying one or more, or a plurality of, allowed first recipients with access to the data storage and the blockchain, and each allowed first recipients has the first recipient identifier and a first private key matching the first public key, wherein the first file identifier is paired with the first recipient identifier in the blockchain,
• wherein the method is performed by the data storage and comprises:
• receiving a request for a downloading of the first encrypted data item from a second user terminal being an allowed first recipient of the one or more, or the plurality of, allowed first recipients, wherein the request contains the first file identifier,
• validating the request for the downloading of the first encrypted data item and/or for identifying the first file identifier by traversing the blockchain, and
• sending the first encrypted data item to the second user terminal.