Method and system for conducting transactions between repositories

A method, system and software for establishing a secure communications channel between repositories using a repository transaction protocol, including generating a registration identifier and registration message including an identification certificate, and an identifier of a master repository that encrypted the identification certificate; receiving the registration message and verifying the identity by verifying the identification certificate; validating the authenticity, including, generating a message to test the authenticity, sending the generated message, and verifying if upon receiving the generated message whether the generated message is correctly processed; and exchanging messages including a session key used for communications and transactions including generating a request for a digital work, associating usage rights information with the request for digital work, and determining if the usage rights information associated with the request corresponds to usage rights associated with the digital work. The usage rights define a manner in which the digital work is used or distributed.