To greatly accelerate distribution by providing an article of limited version which is usable having at least some of its functions, quality, and period limited and to provide an article which can be sent and received, specially, through a communication network such as the Internet, an article distribution managing device which manages the distribution of the article, an article distrib uting method and an article distribution system which distribute the article.
This article 1 has registered identification information unique to the owner or the article itself and is equipped with a limit key 15 where the unique identification information is registered by the owner 7 of the article for a non-owner 8 as information for identifying the last article providing source and a limit use means 12 which allows the article to be used while having its functions, quality, and period limited through the registration of the limit key 15; and the limit key 15 can be outputted so that it is provided for the outside.
INAGAKI TAKASHI
TAURA HISATOSHI