1. A computer-implemented method executed by one or more computing devices for verifying a rights expression chain which is represented by digital data, the method comprising: determining, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, whether a rights expression in the rights expression chain is associated with a statement of trusted issuance, the statement being distinguishable from the rights expression chain; determining, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, whether information included in the statement of trusted issuance corresponds to a trust root; determining, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, whether issuance of the statement of trusted issuance was authorized at the time the statement of trusted issuance was issued; and verifying, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, that performing a protected operation is allowed without tracing the rights expression chain to verify the trust root, based at least in part on the rights expression being a rights expression associated with a statement of trusted issuance, the statement being distinguishable from the right expression chain, the information included in the statement of trusted issuance corresponding to a trust root, and the issuance of the statement of trusted issuance being authorized at the time the statement of trusted issuance was issued, otherwise, verifying, by at least one of the one or more computing devices, that performing a protected operation is allowed by tracing the rights expression chain to verify the trust root.