1. A system for controlling the distribution and use of digital works comprising: means for attaching one or more usage rights to a digital work, each of said one or more usage rights specifying a particular instance of how said digital work may be used or distributed, each of said usage rights capable of specifying a digital ticket, the possession of said digital ticket being a condition on the exercise of a right specifying said digital ticket; a plurality of repositories for storing and exchanging digital works, each of said plurality of repositories comprising: storage means for storing digital works, their attached usage rights, and digital tickets; transaction processing means having a requester mode of operation for requesting access to a digital work, said request specifying a usage right, and a server mode of operation for processing requests to access said requested digital work based on said usage right specified in said request, the usage rights attached to said digital work, and digital tickets associated with said usage rights; a generic ticket agent for punching digital tickets to indicate that an associated usage right has been exercised; and a coupling means for coupling to another of said plurality of repositories across a communications medium.