Methods and apparatus are disclosed for facilitating online storage of
files (e.g., audio tracks, video, etc.) for playback/access or
sale/exchange by the owners of the files without violating copyrights
that copyright holders have in the files. For example, by providing a
playback service that does not store additional versions of an audio file
when the file is transmitted to, and immediately played on, a user device
without buffering, the present invention avoids violating copyright laws
by not making copies of the file. Numerous other aspects are disclosed.