1. A method for controlling the number of times that a usage right associated with a digital work can be exercised, the method comprising: specifying a digital work; specifying a license associated with the digital work, the license including a usage right for the digital work, the usage right specifying a manner of use of the digital work and the usage right specifying a digital ticket, the digital ticket being a digital work separate from the license and indicating a number of times the usage right may be exercised, whereby the license can be distributed without the digital ticket; requesting access to the digital work including an identification of the manner of use specified by the usage right; determining the validity of the usage right based on a number of times the digital ticket has been used; granting or denying access to the digital work based on the result of the validity determining step; and updating the digital ticket if access to the digital work is granted and the usage right has been exercised.