Patent ID: 8185918

Claim:
A method for managing access to at least one add-on data file having an add-on data file attribute, which is used by a software application, comprising: monitoring with a computer input/output commands of the software application to an application programming interface of a code layer to determine whether an access to a data file with the add-on data file attribute is requested by the software application, wherein the monitoring input/output commands is performed by a separate control logic, which checks an authorized use of the software application; checking whether an access code for the add-on data file is present in an access code list related to the software application if at least one of the monitored input/output commands request access to the add-on data file; if the access code is not present in the access control list, retrieving the access code from an external source outside of the access control list; and providing access to the add-on data file if the access code is present.