A method of distributing electronic content is disclosed. The method comprises distributing a first electronic object to a user's computer system (600), the first electronic object being associated with an encrypted piece of electronic content, the first electronic object comprising first control information governing use of the piece of electronic content, the first control information specifying one or more permitted uses of the piece of electronic content, and separately distributing a second electronic object to the user's computer system, the second electronic object comprising second control information governing use of the piece of electronic content. The first and second control information are configured to be applied in combination by tamper resistant hardware and/or software (503) running on the user's computer system to securely govern use of the piece of electronic content. A corresponding method of receiving electronic content is also disclosed.