In a Post-Delivery scenario, a user attempts to play your content before he or she has received a license. This may commonly be the case when a user has obtained the file through alternate means (e.g. in an email from a friend - a situation commonly referred to as 'Super-Distribution') or when a previously issued license has expired. In this scenario Windows Media Player cannot detect an applicable license so it directs the user to a webpage where he/she can obtain one, this webpage is known as the License Acquisition URL and is typically located on your website. Once the consumer has satisfied the requirements set forth on this webpage a license will be issued and the content can be played.

Probably the most common used method of delivery, Pre-Delivery allows you to issue the license before the customer downloads the file. For example, a customer would visit your website to browse your catalog while adding any files of interest to a shopping cart, once satisfied with their selections they would then proceed to checkout. After a successful checkout (e.g. their credit card was approved), a simple call would be quietly dispatched to MediaCinch, using the programming language of your choice (i.e. PHP, ASP, Ruby, etc.), who returns the requested license(s). This process takes only a second or two, after which you would direct the customer the appropriate file download location.

Where can I find more information?
We have provided some links below to Microsoft's website, which is chock full of information. And, while some of the information there is more technical in nature, much is still geared toward the lay-person so, no-matter your level of expertise, you're sure to find what your looking for.