METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING USE OF DIGITAL WORKS

A digital work utilization monitoring method and system for preventing illegal use such as unpermitted copying of digital works so that use of the digital works can be monitored by judging whether or not the use is legally permitted and for facilitating a smooth and appropriate circulation of digital works by promoting payments of use fees for use of digital works. A use license is issued on the basis of a permission application for using a digital work and the license is embedded into the digital work by means of a digital watermark. With the license having an identification code of a device used by a user, it is judged whether or not the use of the distributed digital work is legally permitted by monitoring. The license can be issued on condition that a use fee has been paid.