Social Sharing of Software Products

A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a device to cause the device to:

• select a hardware device within a network of multiple hardware devices, each containing a particular licensed software product, in response to a user request for usage of the particular licensed software product;
• transmit a request to the selected hardware device, wherein the request comprises a request to permit the user usage of the particular licensed software product via the selected hardware device;
• establish a communication link between a hardware device of the user and the selected hardware device upon receiving an acceptance of the request from the selected hardware device;
• and
• implement, based on the usage of the particular licensed software product by the user on the selected hardware device during the established communication link, a payment mechanism among (i) the user, (ii) an entity associated with the selected hardware device, and (iii) a licensor of the particular licensed software product.

A system comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured for:
• selecting a hardware device within a network of multiple hardware devices, each containing a particular licensed software product, in response to a user request for usage of the particular licensed software product;
• transmitting a request to the selected hardware device, wherein the request comprises a request to permit the user usage of the particular licensed software product via the selected hardware device;
• establishing a communication link between a hardware device of the user and the selected hardware device upon receiving an acceptance of the request from the selected hardware device;
• and
• implementing, based on the usage of the particular licensed software product by the user on the selected hardware device during the established communication link, a payment mechanism among (i) the user, (ii) an entity associated with the selected hardware device, and (iii) a licensor of the particular licensed software product.