Patent ID: 7483860

Claim:
A method for providing a license management system over a network ,the method comprising: (a) establishing a user account on a server coupled to the network, wherein a user has obtained a copy of one or more software products from one or more software publishers, and wherein the software products have corresponding licenses; (b) receiving an upload of the corresponding licenses used by a user computer from the user computer to the server; (c) associating the uploaded licenses with the user account; (d) allowing the user to log into the user account and review the account and associated licenses, including allowing the user to manage each of the licenses individually according to business rules, wherein managing each of the licenses includes at least one of: (i) modifying license information, (ii) transferring the licenses to another account; and (iii) renting or selling the licenses; (e) allowing the user to retrieve and download the licenses to the user computer, and (f) searching an external security device connected to the user's computer for the licenses, and replacing the licenses accessed on the user's computer or the external security device with time-limited licenses, requiring the user to connect with the server on a regular basis to receive updated licenses to maintain licensed use of the software products.