Abstract: A distributed workload media processing system including: a storage server storing playlists, including a substantially permanent origin identifier identifying a remote device, the storage server programmed to store the plurality of playlists in a plurality of formats; and a network server in communication with the storage server and in communication with remote user devices, the network server programmed to add a references to the plurality of playlists stored in the storage server identifying any remote devices sharing a playlist and, when a change occurs to a particular playlist, send an indication of the change to any remote devices identified as sharing the particular playlist; the network server further programmed to receive requests requiring processing from the remote user devices and to transfer at least part of processing of the requests to the remote user devices instead of performing the at least transferred part of the processing on the network server.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for sharing digital media content and creating and sharing digital media content lists that in some embodiments may take the form of device independent playlists. The methods and systems can determine if a user can access content referenced by the playlists and if not, enable the user to gain legal access to the content. In some embodiments, systems and methods for accessing digital content include receiving a request to search a database comprising digital content lists based at least in part on parameters received from a user. A digital content list including at least one reference to digital content is returned in response to the request. It is determined if any of the digital content referred to by the at least one reference to digital content is playable by the user. In other embodiments, systems and methods can find users with similar digital content.