Abstract: The present invention is designed to improve distribution of electronic objects by permitting publishers to enforce the copyrights associated with their objects. In accordance with the present invention, respective unique publisher identification information (e.g., including publisher identity, account number, and copyright fees for a given document, etc.) is embedded by the system into respective conventional object data files. When a user initially downloads a given electronic file and seeks to access same (e.g., via viewing and/or printing), the user is required by the system to electronically purchase (e.g., via electronic finds transfer, Cybercash.TM., credit card transactions, or the like) an appropriate user access license for the object, based upon the publisher identification information embedded in the object. At the time of purchase of such license, the system requires the user to supply sensitive user information (e.g.