Abstract: The invention has the object of offering a method for selling authored work data through data communication means which fulfills the demands of potential buyers to be able to browse and the demands of vendors to be able to prevent copying. In response to a request to download authored work data made from a client to a server through data communication means, a client program is sent from the server to the client for downloading, authored work data and access management information are sent to the client program, and the authored work data is displayed by the client program under the management of the access management information. As a result, a portion of the authored work data is made freely accessible, but restrictions are made to complete disclosure or the preparation of copies.