Patent ID: 8260715

Claim:
A method implemented by a license handling information handling system, the method comprising: receiving, over a computer network, a request at the license handling information handling system from a first computer system utilized by a first user of an organization, wherein the first user requests a license to a licensed product that has previously been purchased by the organization; identifying one or more current users in the organization that currently have licenses to the licensed product, the identifying including searching a nonvolatile data store accessible from the license handling information handling system; calculating a first user product need score corresponding to a needs analysis of the first user pertaining to the licensed product; calculating current user product need scores corresponding to needs analyses of one or more of the current users pertaining to the licensed product; comparing the calculated first user product need score to the one or more current user product need scores; selecting a second user, based on the comparison, wherein the first user product need score is better than the current user product need score corresponding to the second user; in response to the selecting, sending a first electronic message from the license handling information handling system to the second user, wherein the first electronic message requests that the second user relinquish the second user's license; receiving, at the license handling information handling system, a second electronic message from the second user, wherein the second electronic message indicates that the second user will relinquish the second user's license, and wherein the second electronic message includes temporary terms; sending, from the license handling information handling system, a third electronic message to the first user, wherein the third electronic message includes the temporary terms; receiving, at the license handling information handling system, a response from the first user, the response indicating whether the first user accepts the temporary terms; in response to the first user accepting the temporary terms, revoking the license of the second user to the licensed product from the license handling information handling system; and in response to the revoking, granting the first user the license to the licensed product from the license handling information handling system.