Methods and apparatus for electronic file use and management

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for facilitating online storage of files (e.g., audio tracks, video, etc.) for playback/access or sale/exchange by the owners of the files without violating copyrights that copyright holders have in the files. For example, by providing a playback service that does not store additional versions of an audio file when the file is transmitted to, and immediately played on, a user device without buffering, the present invention avoids violating copyright laws by not making copies of the file. Numerous other aspects are disclosed.

1 . A method comprising:
 storing a first copy of an audio file, the first copy of the audio file being owned by a first party who does not have custody of the first copy of the audio file;   receiving a request for playback of the audio file;   verifying the request is from the first party; and   transmitting a signal representative of the first copy of the audio file to one or more playback devices associated with the first party, the playback devices being operative to receive the signal and play the audio file without storing any portion of the audio file for longer than a minimal time that the playback devices may require to play the portion upon receiving the portion of the audio file.