Patent ID: 8667599

Claim:
An image forming apparatus having a function that is validated by installing a function license, the image forming apparatus comprising: a checking unit configured to check, when license information to restore the image forming apparatus to a state of factory shipment is input, whether a function license of a function of the image forming apparatus is installed; an installation history determination unit configured to determine, if the checking unit confirms that the function license is installed and the license information to restore the image forming apparatus to the state of factory shipment is input, whether there is any installation history of the function license on the image forming apparatus; and a deletion unit configured to invalidate the installed function license and delete the installation history, wherein, if the installation history determination unit determines that there is an installation history of the function license on the image forming apparatus, the deletion unit, according to the input license information to restore the image forming apparatus to the state of factory shipment, invalidates the installed function license and deletes the installation history, and wherein, if the installation history determination unit determines that there is not any installation history, the deletion unit does not invalidate the function license.