Method and apparatus for licensing computer programs using a DSA signature

摘要

A method and apparatus for using a Digital Signature Algorithm (DSA) for providing licensing of software. Three steps are required to allow setting up a license, issuing a license and for customer update of the license. An initialization step generates a public and private key pair. A license generation step follows the initialization step and involves feeding the private key and data for the license terms through the DSA to create a digital signature. The digital signature hash value is distributed to the customer as a valid license. The customer performs license verification by running the signature, public key and data for the license through the DSA on the customer's machine.