METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING DIGITAL ASSETS

In one embodiment, a technique for managing an electronic data representation includes storing first and second attributes in response to the creation of the electronic data representation by a user. The electronic data representation may be any type of digital asset, for example. The first and second attributes may be accessed in response to a message including the digital asset being sent by another or the same user. The message may be allowed to pass from a first domain (e.g., a trusted domain) to a second domain (e.g., an open domain) or the message may be maintained in the first domain in response to the first and second attributes. The first attributes may be an asset signature including an identifier and a digital watermark, for example. The second attributes may be an asset policy including distribution lists for sending and/or receiving the message, a content appropriate for sending field, and a time frame for message sending, for example.