System and method for distributing information for storage media

A system for distributing geographic data to end users' navigation systems comprising:

• a remote central facility having first geographic data stored thereat;
• an end user database located at said remote central facility;
• a plurality of local terminals;
• a communications system by which each of said plurality of local terminals can access the remote central facility;
• and
• a data distribution program that writes geographic data obtained from said remote central facility onto an end user's data medium at one of said plurality of local terminals upon confirming that the end user is authorized to obtain said geographic data.

A method for distributing a geographic database to an end user for use in a navigation system of the end user, the method comprising:

• providing the end user with a data storage medium along with a navigation system wherein the data storage medium is removable from the navigation system;
• providing a local terminal having an interface into which the end user can insert the data storage medium;
• and
• providing a program that the end user can use from the local terminal to have geographic data written onto the data storage medium, wherein the program performs the steps of:
• reading an identification code from the data storage medium;
• confirming whether the end user is entitled to have the geographic data stored on the data storage medium;
• and
• upon confirmation that the end user is entitled to have the geographic data stored on the data storage medium, writing the geographic data onto the data storage medium.