Method for blocking unauthorized use of a software application

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method for preventing unauthorized use of a software application which is protected by a key device, the method comprising the steps of: testing the application for unauthorized use; if the testing finds the unauthorized use of the application: indicating the unauthorized use of the application and blocking the key device. According to one embodiment of the invention, indicating unauthorized use of the application may be carried out by: upon invoking an operation of the software application (e.g. executing a software application, executing the software application, executing a process, performing a task, performing a function, and so forth), setting a flag; upon terminating the operation, clearing the flag; upon re-invoking the operation, if the flag is set, indicating that the software application has been debugged; thereby indicating unauthorized use of the software application.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.