The present invention is a method and apparatus for a first user to create intellectual property, in the form of digital media, then sell it to a second user. Users can collaborate to create intellectual property in an efficient manner by following a preferred procedure. The intellectual property can be distributed in an encrypted form which allows the intellectual property owner to specify the conditions of use that must be met for a specified intellectual property user to use the intellectual property. The user can authenticate the intellectual property in a distributed secure platform before final payment. The intellectual property owner can tag each copy of the intellectual property to trace the source of unauthorized copies.