Method of and apparatus for controlling access to data

摘要

Control of access to data within a first data processing device is provided. The data processing device contains at least one data item which has a use policy associated with it. In response to a request from or a requirement of a second data processing device to perform an operation on the data item, the first data processing device seeks information about the ability of the second data processing device to respect conditions specified in the policy and on the basis of a comparison between the policy and the ability of the device to satisfy the policy, the first data processing device decides whether to allow the operation to be performed.