Embodiments provide a method and device for distributing an electronic document. The electronic document possesses first authorized copies information used to record a first number of authorized copies for the electronic document a local user may distribute. Every time the electronic document is distributed to a user, second authorized copies information is sent to the user, which second authorized copies information is used to record a second number of authorized copies for the electronic document the user may distribute, and the second number of authorized copies is less than or equal to the first number of authorized copies currently recorded in the first authorized copies information.