A digital contents distribution system has a multi-layered structure
including a server device (CS device) of one or a small number of
managers which are each to be a manager main body, a plurality of server
devices (DS devices) of middle managers, and client terminal devices (SC
terminal devices) of a large number of users. Accesses from the
respective users are processed in the server devices of respective ones
of the middle managers. It is therefore possible to prevent an
inconvenience in which the accesses from a large number of users
concentrate on the CS device of the manager. As a result, it is possible
to reduce the load imposed on the CS device, and to perform a smooth
distribution service of digital contents.