Information processing apparatus for prohibiting current user of printing device from accessing user information for former user of the same printing device

An information processing apparatus comprising:

• a communication interface communicable with a printing device via a network, the printing device being configured to perform image formation on a printing medium;
• and
• a controller comprising a processor configured to manage the printing device on the basis of user information of a corresponding user,
• the controller being configured to perform:
• (a) acquiring individual information identifying the printing device;
• (b) acquiring initialization identification information used for determining whether an information initialization, which returns a specific printing device from a current state for a first user to a default state prior to being first associated with the first user, has been performed on the specific printing device identified by the individual information acquired in the (a) acquiring;
• (c) determining, on the basis of the individual information acquired in the (a) acquiring and the initialization identification information acquired in the (b) acquiring, whether the information initialization has been performed on the specific printing device along with transfer of ownership of the specific printing device from the first user to a second user;
• and
• (d) prohibiting, in response to determining in the (c) determining that the information initialization has been performed on the specific printing device, the second user from accessing the user information of the first user,
• wherein the controller is configured to manage the printing device by conceptually viewing the printing device as being divided into:
• a physical device based on the individual information of the printing device;
• and
• a logical device associated with both the physical device and service information about provision of a service related to the printing device,
• wherein the controller is configured to further perform:
• (e) registering at least one user in association with the logical device,
• wherein the individual information identifying the printing device is associated with the physical device related to the printing device, and
• wherein the (d) prohibiting comprises:
• (f) in response to determining in the (c) determining that the information initialization has been performed on the specific printing device,
• discarding an association established in advance between a first logical device and a specific physical device, the first logical device being the logical device related to the first user,
• wherein the service information for the first logical device includes at least one of:
• device printing authorization information indicative of a printing authorization granted to the specific printing device;
• printing quantity information indicative of a quantity already printed on the specific printing device;
• or
• consumable order information for consumables for the specific printing device, and
• the specific physical device being the physical device related to the specific printing device, and
• establishing an association between a second logical device and the specific physical device, the second logical device being the logical device related to the second user;
• (g) correcting the service information associated with the first logical device such that at least content related to the user information of the first user is made invisible in the service information associated with the first logical device;
• and
• (h) registering the service information corrected in the (g) correcting in association with the second logical device.