Abstract: The present invention relates to electronic books that are accessed over a computer network, such as the Internet. One embodiment of the invention relates to a shared electronic book, i.e. a book in which multiple users each have the right to access the book but only one of the users is allowed to actually access the book at a given point in time. Another embodiment of the invention relates to the detection of potentially fraudulent access of an electronic book. Yet a further embodiment of the invention is concerned with preventing electronic copying of an electronic book when the book is provided to users over an intranet that is not under the direct control of the provider of the electronic book.