A method for distributing content over a network by providing a predetermined electronic contract for distributing the content between a retailer and a distributor, wherein terms of the contract are independent of the content and the retailer distributes the content to a consumer and the distributor has rights in the content. A step of presenting a candidate retail offer for the distribution of the content to the consumer and receiving a request from the consumer to exercise the candidate retail offer. Finally, validating the candidate retail offer for the distribution of the content by accessing the electronic contract and determining if the candidate retail offer is consistent with the electronic contract. Upon successful validation, providing the content to the consumer, receiving compensation information from the consumer indicating at least the amount of compensation for the content provided and allocating the compensation according to the electronic contract.