A system, method and device for creating a rights expression for association with an item for use in a system for controlling use of the item in accordance with the rights expression, including specifying rights expression information indicating a manner of use of an item, the rights expression information including at least one element, the element having a variable and corresponding value for the variable; generating a profile of the rights expression information, including removing the value for the variable from the element; and generating an identification for the profile, whereby the rights expression information can be enforced on the device based on the variable and the identification for the profile.