Abstract: A system for administering permission for use of specified information owned by an information owner in a use circumstance by an information user includes: (a) an information control unit for comparing an information use permission request with information use directions for effecting the administering; the information use permission request identifying at least the information and the use circumstance; the information use directions including criteria prescribing permitted use of the information; (b) a communication facility coupled with the information control unit for effecting communication to receive the information use permission request from the information user; the information control unit communicating a permitting indicator to the information user when the use circumstance conforms with the information use directions for the information; and (c) an information storage unit coupled with at least one of the information control unit and the communication facility for storing the information use direct