Print-on-demand authorization and retrieval for third party print shops using standardized two-dimensional barcode look-up

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable code embodied therein for controlling a data processing apparatus, the computer readable program code configured to cause the data processing apparatus to execute a process for managing printing a hard copy of a work from a digital copy of the work, the process comprising the steps of:

• a content provider of the digital copy of the work dynamically generating a standardized two-dimensional barcode when the digital copy of the work is produced for a user acquiring rights to the digital copy of the work, the barcode containing a unique URL of the content provider and being embedded in a portion of the digital copy of the work where digital rights management protection is omitted;
• and
• a print shop scanning the barcode from the digital copy of the work provided by the user to be readily linked to the content provider, and obtaining authorization and royalty information for printing the hard copy of the work for the user.