System and method for licensing software

摘要

A system and method for licensing software using a clearinghouse to license only the technology modules that an end user registers. The clearinghouse maintains registration information which can be used to bill a software provider for the technology licensed to the end user. The system can be used to compensate technology owners only after the end user registers an unlicensed technology module. Thus, the system and method allows software vendors to reduce costs by licensing only the technologies that an end user actually uses. The clearinghouse can also be used to track the usage of software functionality to determine the popularity of a particular technology.

主权项

1. A method for licensing software on a computer hardware platform, the software including at least two functions each corresponding to a technology, comprising:
in response to a client user initially utilizing the at least one function in the software, transmitting, by the software, an activation request by the software without user interaction for a technology corresponding to the at least one function to a registration clearinghouse, wherein transmitting the activation request causes registration information related to the technology corresponding to the at least one function to be compiled in a registration database; determining, by a software provider, that the activation request of the technology has been transmitted by the software, wherein the activation request comprises a notification sent from the software to the software provider in response to the client user initially utilizing the at least one function; andin response to the determination, paying, by the software provider, a licensing fee of the technology to a technology holder, wherein the software provider pays licensing fees to the technology holder only for actual usage of functions in the software by the client user, wherein the licensing fee paid for the actual use of functions is paid on a function-by-function basis.