Methods and apparatus for creating a license defining permissions to use electronic content. The methods include selecting a plurality of habitat types, each an aspect of a user environment to which a license can be bound, the selection based on input from a retail customer; determining one or more habitat values and relations for each selected type; and creating a license to use the electronic content, the license including an and-or logic expression of habitat terms, each term containing one of the selected types and its set of corresponding values and relations. Each habitat term may include a key for decrypting or unlocking the electronic content. In another aspect, the methods include receiving from a retail customer an input selecting habitat types and one or more habitat values for each selected type; and requesting from a server a license file to permit use of an electronic content, the license file including an and-or logic expression of habitat terms, each term containing one of the selected types and its corresponding values. In another aspect, the methods include receiving electronic content at a user computer; receiving a license file permitting use of the electronic content at the user computer, the license file including an and-or logic expression of habitat terms, each term containing a set of access permissions; extracting the set of permissions from an evaluation of the expression that renders the expression true; and allowing an end user to access the electronic content according to the extracted permissions.