Network Software License Management and Piracy Protection

Computer-readable media embodying instructions executable by a computer to perform a method comprising:

• executing a software product comprising
• an application, and
• a client license management module to receive, from a license management server, a check-in sequence representing a plurality of different check-in times, and to add timestamps to a check-in record at the check-in times;
• and
• sending the check-in record to the license management server;
• wherein the license management server performs a comparison between the check-in record and at least one of
• the check-in sequence, and
• an earlier check-in record previously sent by the client license management module to the license management server;
• and
• wherein the license management server transmits a violation message to the client license management module when the comparison fails;
• and
• wherein the client license management module disables the application based on the violation message.

A first apparatus comprising:

• an output circuit to transmit a check-in sequence to a second apparatus executing a software product comprising an application and a client license management module, wherein the check-in sequence represents a plurality of different check-in times, and wherein the client license management module subsequently adds timestamps to a check-in record at the check-in times;
• an input circuit to receive, from the client license management module, the check-in record;
• and
• a processor to perform a comparison between the check-in record and at least one of the check-in sequence, and
• an earlier check-in record previously received from the client license management module;
• wherein the output circuit transmits a violation message to the client license management module when the comparison fails;
• and
• wherein the client license management module disables the application based on the violation message.

Computer-readable media embodying instructions executable by a first computer to perform a method comprising:

• sending check-in sequence to a second computer executing a software product comprising an application and a client license management module, wherein the check-in sequence represents a plurality of different check-in times, and wherein the client license management module subsequently adds timestamps to a check-in record at the check-in times;
• receiving, from the client license management module, the check-in record;
• and
• performing a comparison between the check-in record and at least one of the check-in sequence, and
• an earlier check-in record previously received from the client license management module;
• sending a violation message to the client license management module when the comparison fails;
• and
• wherein the client license management module disables the application based on the violation message.