Unit-based licensing for third party access of digital content

An apparatus comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable memory;
• and
• a processor configured to execute instructions stored on the memory to:
• receive a request for access to content, the request for access indicating a customer account and a third party;
• identify a cardinality of assigned units for the content;
• identify a cardinality of available licensing units allocated to the customer account;
• determine whether the cardinality of the assigned units is within the cardinality of the available licensing units;
• and
• output a response, wherein outputting the response includes:
• indicating that the request is granted, on a condition that the cardinality of the assigned units is within the cardinality of the available licensing units, and
• indicating that the request is denied, on a condition that the cardinality of the assigned units exceeds the cardinality of the available licensing units.

A method comprising:

• transmitting, by a processor in response to instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, a request for access to content, the request for access indicating a customer account and a third party;
• and
• receiving a response, wherein receiving the response includes:
• identifying, in the response, an indication that the request is granted, on a condition that a cardinality of assigned units for the content is within a cardinality of available licensing units allocated to the customer account, and
• identifying, in the response, an indication that the request is denied, on a condition that the cardinality of the assigned units exceeds the cardinality of the available licensing units.