Method and apparatus for changing and adding activation keys for functions of digital content without having to change and recompile the digital content

A program storage device readable by a processing device, comprising:

• program instructions executable by the processing device to perform operations for changing and adding activation keys for functions of digital content without having to change and recompile the digital content, the operations comprising:
• determining parameters and attributes for activation keys;
• identifying algorithms for validating activation keys;
• creating a non-encrypted activation key validation template file;
• providing code for converting the non-encrypted activation key validation template file to a binary encrypted version and for validating the activation keys;
• creating a non-encrypted known rule template file and converting the non-encrypted known rule template file to a binary encrypted known rule template file;
• creating a non-encrypted customized rule template file and converting the non-encrypted customized rule template file to a binary encrypted customized rule template file;
• providing a non-encrypted activation method file and converting the non-encrypted activation method file to a binary encrypted activation method file;
• modifying the non-encrypted activation key validation template file when a new activation key type is needed and converting the modified non-encrypted activation key validation template file to a binary encrypted activation key validation template file;
• and
• modifying the non-encrypted customized rule template file when a new customized validation rule is needed and converting the modified non-encrypted customized rule template file to a binary encrypted customized rule template file.

A system for providing activation keys for functions of digital content, comprising:

• an encrypted file for identifying activation keys for implementing functions associated with digital content and for identifying rules applicable for validating each of the activation keys;
• an encrypted file for defining the rules for validating each of the activation keys;
• and
• a file of instructions for code used in executing the rules applicable for validating each of the activation keys.

A method for providing activation keys for functions of digital content, comprising:

• providing a non-encrypted file for identifying activation keys for implementing functions associated with digital content and for identifying rules applicable for validating each of the activation keys;
• providing a non-encrypted file for defining the rules for validating each of the activation keys;
• providing a file of instructions for code used in executing the rules applicable for validating each of the activation keys;
• and
• encrypting at least the non-encrypted file for identifying activation keys for implementing functions associated with digital content and for identifying rules applicable for validating each of the activation keys.