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, by the rights management application from a rendering application, a request to use the protected electronic content; identifying one or more first rules securely associated with the protected electronic content specifying at least one first condition for use of the protected electronic content, the one or more first rules being specified by a first entity, the at least one first condition comprising a condition that the rendering application be configured to verify that the protected electronic content has been approved by a third-party entity prior to rendering the protected electronic content; determining that the at least one first condition has been satisfied; identifying one or more second rules associated with the rendering application specifying at least one second condition for use of the protected electronic content by the rendering application, the one or more second rules being specified by a second entity and being received by the rights management application separate from the one or more first rules, the at least one second condition comprising a condition that the rendering application possess a first credential issued by a first credentialing authority; determining that the at least one second condition has been satisfied; sending, by the rights management application to the rendering application, the protected electronic content; and rendering the protected electronic content by the rendering application.