Use Licenses

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

To consume rights-protected content, a use license is required. A use license specifies the permissions that a particular user has for the rights-protected content. A use license is issued by the server that issued the corresponding publishing license.

Each user who receives rights-protected content and who is named in the publishing license for that content can request a use license. An RMS-enabled application then uses RMS technology features to read, interpret, and enforce the usage permissions that are packaged with the content.

A use license contains the symmetric content key for decrypting the content and it is encrypted with the public key of the user. This ensures that only the requesting user can consume the rights-protected content. A use license is signed by the private key of the cluster that issues the use license.