Method for determining internet users geographic region

A method at a clearing house to verify the geographic region of an end user device for receiving encrypted digital content, the method comprising:

• determining a credit card clearing address of an end user using an address verification system, wherein the end user sends a request via an end user device for a delivery of encrypted digital content;
• verifying that an IP address of the end user device requesting delivery of the encrypted digital content is an identical IP address of the end user device requesting a license to use the encrypted digital content;
• and
• authorizing the decrypting of the encrypted digital content if the address verification system returns an address in a first predetermined geographic region and the IP address of the end user device is in a second predetermined geographic region.

A computer readable medium containing programming instructions for execution at a clearing house to verify the geographic region of an end user device for receiving encrypted digital content, the programming instructions comprising:

• determining a credit card clearing address of an end user using an address verification system, wherein the end user sends a request via an end user device for the delivery of encrypted digital content;
• verifying that an IP address of the end user device requesting delivery of the encrypted digital content is an identical IP address of the end user device requesting a license to use the encrypted digital content;
• and
• authorizing the decrypting of the encrypted digital content if the address verification system returns an address in a first predetermined geographic region and the IP address of the end user device is in a second predetermined geographic region.

A system to verify the geographic region of an end user device for receiving encrypted digital content, comprising:

• means for determining a credit card clearing address of an end user using an address verification system, wherein the end user sends a request via an end user device for the delivery of encrypted digital content;
• means for verifying that an IP address of the end user device requesting delivery of the encrypted digital content is an identical IP address of the end user device requesting a license to use the encrypted digital content;
• and
• means for authorizing the decrypting of the encrypted digital content if the address verification system returns an address in a predetermined geographic region and the IP address of the end user device is in the second predetermined geographic region.

A clearing house system to verify the geographic region of an end user device for receiving encrypted digital content, comprising:

• an address verification system for determining a credit card clearing address of an end user, wherein the end user sends a request via an end user device for the delivery of encrypted digital content;
• a storage area for storing an IP address of the end user device requesting a license to use the encrypted digital content and a comparator for verifying that an IP address of the end user device is identical to the IP address previously stored;
• and
• a notification message sent to the end user device for authorizing the decrypting of the encrypted digital content if the address verification system returns an address in a predetermined geographic region and the IP address of the end user device is in the second predetermined geographic region.