1. A method for managing the use of electronic content at a computing device, the method including: executing a rendering application on the computing device, the rendering application being associated with at least a first digital certificate; requesting, through a rights management engine executing on the computing device, permission for the rendering application to render a piece of electronic content, the piece of electronic content being encrypted and associated with at least a second digital certificate and at least a first electronic rule, wherein the first electronic rule includes: data specifying one or more conditions associated with rendering the piece of electronic content, the one or more conditions including a condition that the piece of electronic content be rendered by a rendering application associated with the first digital certificate; determining, using the rights management engine, whether the one or more conditions specified in at least the first electronic rule have been satisfied; decrypting the piece of electronic content; and rendering the decrypted piece of electronic content using the rendering application.