Patent ID: 7778928

Claim:
A method for distributing a computer program product, said method comprising the steps of: obtaining a licence ticket bearing a licence key; inputting at a user computer a download source computer address of a download source computer of a supplier of said computer program product; establishing a computer network connection between said user computer and said download source computer; inputting said licence key at said user computer; transmitting said licence key from said user computer to said download source computer via said computer network connection; validating said licence key sent to said download source computer based on said transmitting of said licence key, utilizing said download source computer, wherein said receipt of said data indicating sale of said licence ticket validates said licence key associated with said licence ticket such upon subsequent receipt of said licence key at said download source computer said licence key will be treated as valid; and if said licence key is valid, then: (i) downloading said computer program product to said user computer; and (ii) installing said computer program product to be resident upon said user computer; wherein when said licence ticket is purchased a seller of said licence ticket transmits data indicating sale of said licence ticket to said supplier of said computer program product; wherein receipt of said data indicating sale of said licence ticket triggers said supplier of said computer program product to charge said seller for a licence to use said computer program product.