An information processing apparatus including: a data communication portion operable to communicate with a first image forming apparatus that is an image forming apparatus within a local network to which the information processing apparatus belongs and that holds a prime key issued by an external authentic activation key issuing system and a second image forming apparatus (2B, 2C) that is an image forming apparatus within the local network to which the information processing apparatus belongs and that has installed thereon an application (Ap) which has not yet been activated; a storage portion operable to store a key generation program for issuing an activation key based on the prime key; and a control portion operable, when the data communication portion receives from the second image forming apparatus (2B, 2C) an activation request requesting issuance of the activation key, to make the data communication portion acquire from the second image forming apparatus (2B, 2C) that has submitted the activation request a serial number of the second image forming apparatus (2B, 2C), make the data communication portion acquire the prime key from the first image forming apparatus, check whether or not the acquired key is an authentic key provided from the activation key issuing system, and if so, generate, by performing calculation according to a previously set calculation formula by using the key generation program and the acquired serial number, the activation key for use on the second image forming apparatus (2B, 2C) that has submitted the activation request, and make the data communication portion transmit the generated activation key to the second image forming apparatus (2B, 2C) that has submitted the activation request. a data communication portion operable to communicate with a first image forming apparatus that is an image forming apparatus within a local network to which the information processing apparatus belongs and that holds a prime key issued by an external authentic activation key issuing system and a second image forming apparatus (2B, 2C) that is an image forming apparatus within the local network to which the information processing apparatus belongs and that has installed thereon an application (Ap) which has not yet been activated; a first image forming apparatus that is an image forming apparatus within a local network to which the information processing apparatus belongs and that holds a prime key issued by an external authentic activation key issuing system and that is an image forming apparatus within a local network to which the information processing apparatus belongs and that holds a prime key issued by an external authentic activation key issuing system and a second image forming apparatus (2B, 2C) that is an image forming apparatus within the local network to which the information processing apparatus belongs and that has installed thereon an application (Ap) which has not yet been activated; that is an image forming apparatus within the local network to which the information processing apparatus belongs and that has installed thereon an application (Ap) which has not yet been activated; a storage portion operable to store a key generation program for issuing an activation key based on the prime key; and a control portion operable, when the data communication portion receives from the second image forming apparatus (2B, 2C) an activation request requesting issuance of the activation key, to make the data communication portion acquire from the second image forming apparatus (2B, 2C) that has submitted the activation request a serial number of the second image forming apparatus (2B, 2C), make the data communication portion acquire the prime key from the first image forming apparatus, check whether or not the acquired key is an authentic key provided from the activation key issuing system, and if so, generate, by performing calculation according to a previously set calculation formula by using the key generation program and the acquired serial number, the activation key for use on the second image forming apparatus (2B, 2C) that has submitted the activation request, and make the data communication portion transmit the generated activation key to the second image forming apparatus (2B, 2C) that has submitted the activation request. make the data communication portion acquire from the second image forming apparatus (2B, 2C) that has submitted the activation request a serial number of the second image forming apparatus (2B, 2C), make the data communication portion acquire the prime key from the first image forming apparatus, check whether or not the acquired key is an authentic key provided from the activation key issuing system, and if so, generate, by performing calculation according to a previously set calculation formula by using the key generation program and the acquired serial number, the activation key for use on the second image forming apparatus (2B, 2C) that has submitted the activation request, and make the data communication portion transmit the generated activation key to the second image forming apparatus (2B, 2C) that has submitted the activation request.