Systems and methods for controlling distribution, copying, and viewing of remote data

A method for providing secure digital communication, the method comprising:

• providing a source file to a sending component on a first computer;
• said sending component attaching metadata to said source file where said metadata identifies specifics about how said source file may be used;
• said sending component encrypting said source file using a first key;
• said sending component encrypting said metadata using a second key, different from said first key;
• said sending component combining said encrypted source file, said encrypted metadata file, said first key, and said second key into a secure file in accordance with an algorithm, which mixes components of said encrypted source file, said metadata file, said first key, and said second key together;
• said first computer transmitting said secure file to a second computer;
• a receiving component on said second computer receiving said secure file;
• said receiving component obtaining said second key from said source file and
• utilizing said second key to decrypt said metadata;
• if said specifics about how said source file may be used are currently met,
• said receiving component retrieving said first key from said source file and decrypting said source file;
• and
• said receiving component displaying said source file in a framework which does not allow said specifics about how said source file may be used to be violated;
• if said specifics about how said source file may be used are not currently met,
• said receiving component losing said second key.

A computer readable memory comprising:

• computer readable instructions for obtaining a source file;
• computer readable instructions for attaching metadata to said source file where said metadata identifies specifics about how said source file may be used;
• computer readable instructions for encrypting said source file using a first key;
• computer readable instructions for encrypting said metadata using a second key, different from said first key;
• computer readable instructions for combining said encrypted source file, said encrypted metadata file, said first key, and said second key into a secure file in accordance with an algorithm, which mixes components of said encrypted source file, said metadata file, said first key, and said second key together;
• computer readable instructions for transmitting said secure file with a wrapper file which includes a location of said first key, a location of said second key, and which records at least one aspect of a transmission of said secure file;
• computer readable instructions for decrypting said metadata file using said second key, wherein if said specifics of how said source file may be used are not met:
• said first key is not retrieved from said source file;
• and
• the location of the first key is deleted from said wrapper file.