Patent ID: 8898657

Claim:
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; and in 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.