Patent ID: 8205266

Claim:
A software licence management system in which a licence to use a software product is represented by a data token, the system comprising: a computer processor; a software controller at a user device for controlling use of a software product at the user device wherein the software controller is adapted for: allowing said use of the software product at the user device only during a use period associated with a current data token representing the licence for the software product and supplied to the software controller by a licence management server, the licence management server communicating with the software controller via a data communications network; enabling user access to an exchange token, dependent on the current data token supplied by the licence management server, whereby the exchange token can be supplied as a current data token to another said software controller, and supplying one of the current data token and the exchange token via the network to the licence management server to be exchanged for a new data token to replace the current data token (a) to extend the licence for the software product beyond the use period associated with a current data token supplied by the licence management server and (b) if the current data token is an exchange token from another said software controller.