1. A system comprising: an electronic appliance, the electronic appliance being operable to store a piece of electronic content and one or more electronic rules associated with the piece of electronic content, at least one of the one or more electronic rules comprising a data object that is distinct from the piece of electronic content and having been electronically transmitted to the electronic appliance independently of the piece of electronic content, wherein said rules can be delivered separately from said content through different connections; and each of said one or more electronic rules providing an indication of one or more uses of the piece of electronic content and one or more conditions that must be satisfied in order to make said one or more uses of the electronic content; and tamper-resistant software operable to be executed by the electronic appliance to enforce the one or more electronic rules.