A method and apparatus allow application of licenses, including limited use licenses, to media objects downloaded to a media device. The media object may include elements such as playable content, label/cover art, metadata, promotional versions, or other related information. The limited use license may include terms for use of the playable content over a period of time or for a number of plays/executions. The limited use license may also be tied to a subscription that defines license terms to classes of media objects, such as all music from a given publisher. In one embodiment, the limited use license allows a media object to be played three times over a period of three days.