Abstract: A method for controlling access to a telecommunicable data file provided by a content provider to one or more authorized recipients; comprising the steps of: encrypting the data file, associating with the encrypted data file a toll server software device; the toll server software device comprising; means for receiving authorization data from a potential recipient means for communicating the authorization data to a toll server for validation, and means for decoding the data file if authorization is validated, uploading the encrypted data file and toll server software device to a communications network accessible by recipients, downloading the encrypted data file and toll server device to a recipient requiring access to the data file, requesting authorization data from the recipient and communicating the authorization data to a toll server for validation, and, on successful validation, downloading a decryption key suitable for decrypting the data file from the toll server to the toll server device, and decrypti