1. A method for distributing an image-recording medium, the method comprising the steps of: (a) encoding an identifying mark within a recorded image area on the image-recording medium; (b) associating a tracking memory having tracking information with the image-recording medium with the tracking memory having tracking information stored therein; (c) distributing the image-recording medium to users of the image- recording medium; and, (d) reading the tracking information from the tracking memory and storing the tracking information in a database that associates the users to whom the image-recording medium has been distributed with the identifying mark recorded in the image area.