Apparatus and method for performing contents distribution process

An information processing apparatus and method, information management apparatus and method, recording medium, and program that permit efficient use of hardware resources and distribute contents with ease are provided. When communication can be established via a network (when the line is available), clients 11-1 through 11-3, which have acquired contents from a contents distribution server and stored them, transmit the stored contents to remote clients in accordance with destination designation information attached to the contents. For example, client 11-1 transmits the contents, which have been acquired from the contents distribution server and stored, to clients 12-1 and 12-2, which are designated as destination clients by the destination designation information. The present invention can be applied, for example, to a router or a personal computer providing a communication section and a hard disk or other storage medium.