1. A method for managing the use of protected electronic content by a rights management application executing on a computing device, the method comprising: receiving, from a first application executing on the computing device, by a second application executing on the computing device, a request to use the protected electronic content and a first credential associated with the first application; receiving, from the second application executing on the computing device by the rights management application, the request to use the protected content and a second credential associated with the second application; validating, by the rights management application, the second credential; sending, by the rights management application based on validating the second credential, the protected electronic content to the second application; validating, by the second application, the first credential; and sending, by the second application based on validating the first credential, the protected electronic content to the first application for use in accordance with the request.