A method, system, and device for handling creation of derivative works and for assigning usage rights to the derivative works for enforcing usage rights associated with digital works, including detecting computer-related events that are indicative of manipulations of an original work for creating a derivative work; and maintaining a history of information, including at least one of rights associated with electronic content related to each of the events, origin of electronic content related to each of the events, and event related information that can be used to determine the origin of and rights associated with electronic content.