A CD-ROM is recorded with a CD-ROM effective period and an effective period of
a content stored in the CD-ROM. A CD-ROM effective period judging section of a
personal computer reads the effective periods, compares these periods with a machine
date generated by a machine date generating section and enables a purchase slip
transmitting section to transmit a purchase slip only when the machine data falls
within the effective periods. A CD-ROM effective period judging section of a center
compares the present date with the CD-ROM effective period and the content effective
period registered on a goods master, reads the key from the goods master and transmits
the key to the personal computer only when both of a CD-ROM number and a content
ID written onto the received purchase slip fall within the effective periods.