System and method for distributing protected audio content on optical media

A compact disc, comprising:

• a first session readable by a compact disc player;
• first data representing all or substantially all media content on the compact disc, the first data stored on the first session and protected so that the first data cannot be decoded into a renderable media presentation by an optical media drive;
• a second session readable by an optical media drive;
• second data representing all or substantially all of the media content on the compact disc, the second data stored on the second session and encrypted so that the second data cannot be decoded into a renderable media presentation by the compact disc player;
• at least one digital rights management license, written to the second session, and describing allowed uses for the second data;
• digital rights management software stored on the second session that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to use the digital rights management license to determine whether or not a requested use of the second data is allowed, and to prevent the requested use of the second data if the license does not permit the requested use;
• at least one decryption key stored on the second session and used by the digital rights management software to decrypt the second data.

A system for protecting media content, the system comprising:

• a computing device;
• media content stored on the computing device;
• at least one digital rights management license stored on the computing device and describing allowed uses for the media content;
• digital rights management software stored on the computing device and that, when executed by the computing device, causes the computing device to use the digital rights management license to determine whether or not a requested use of the media content is allowed, and to prevent the requested use of the media content if the license does not permit the requested use;
• and
• wherein the media content, the at least one digital rights management license, and the digital rights management software were installed on the computing device from a single storage medium that contained the content, the license, and the software.

A method of transferring digital data stored on a removable storage medium to an external device, the method comprising:

• loading digital rights management software from the medium;
• retrieving a digital rights management license from the medium;
• and
• using the digital rights management license to determine whether or not a transfer of the digital data to the external device is allowed.

A removable computer readable storage medium storing media content and a program that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to:

• read digital data stored on the medium in a second format and representing all or substantially all of the media content, wherein the medium also contains digital data stored in a first format that also represents all or substantially all of the media content;
• locate a digital rights management license stored on the medium;
• and
• using the digital rights management license to determine whether or not a requested use of the digital data stored in the second format is allowed.