Patent ID: 7555126

Claim:
A license managing system including a game apparatus to be licensed and a managing apparatus, said managing apparatus comprising: inputting means; encrypting means for encrypting information inputted from said inputting means to produce encrypted information; and outputting means for outputting said encrypted information, wherein said encrypting means encrypts at least identification information of the game apparatus to be licensed and license condition information thereof to produce said encrypted information, said game apparatus comprising: inputting means for inputting said outputted encrypted information; encryption decoding means for decoding said inputted encrypted information; controlling means for controlling execution of a game program; storing means for storing identification information of said game apparatus; storing means for storing internal information; and real time clock means for counting time in accordance with preset date and time information and outputting date and time information, wherein said encryption decoding means decodes said encrypted identification information of the game apparatus, said encrypted license condition information, and said controlling means permits execution of the game program when said decoded identification information of the game apparatus and said stored identification information of the game apparatus are in a predetermined relationship, and said decoded license condition information and said stored internal information are in a predetermined relationship, and wherein said controlling means request an input of date and time information when the game apparatus is started, compare the inputted time and date information with said date and time information of the real time clock means, and execute subsequent process if the inputted time and date information is included within a given time difference range with respect to said date and time information of the real time clock means, wherein said license condition information includes operation limiting information of the game apparatus, and wherein said operation limiting information represents an upper limit of sales of the game apparatus or an upper limit of number of game playing times.