Software distribution method and apparatus

A method of enabling fully functional use of a software application, the software application being resident on a computer system at the time of purchase of the computer system, the method comprising:

• initiating access to a third party authorization entity, the third party authorization entity being resident over a network remote from the computer system;
• providing identifying information for the computer system to the third party authorization entity in the form of a query;
• receiving a response to the query from the third party authorization entity, the response configured to enable fully functional use of the software application;
• recording at least a portion of the response on the computer system, the recording enabling fully functional use of the software application;
• accessing the software application subsequent to the recording, the accessing comprising verifying the at least a portion of the response that has been recorded on the computer system;
• and
• enabling fully functional use of the software application in response to the verifying, the enabling occurring without requiring subsequent access to the third party authorization entity.

A method of enabling fully functional use of a software application, the software application being resident on a computer system at the time of purchase of the computer system, the method comprising:

• receiving a request to initiate access of a third party authorization entity, the third party authorization entity being resident over a network remote from the computer system;
• receiving identifying information for the computer system at the third party authorization entity in the form of a query;
• transmitting a response to the query from the third party authorization entity, the transmission configured to enable fully functional use of the software application;
• causing the recordation of at least a portion of the response on the computer system, the recordation enabling fully functional use of the software application;
• wherein the causing of the recordation permits subsequent access to the software application via a verification procedure that verifies the recorded at least a portion of the response, the subsequent access occurring without requiring subsequent access to the third party authorization entity.

A computer system that is configured to enable fully functional use of a software application resident on the computer system, the computer system comprising:

• a processing apparatus coupled to a memory apparatus, the memory apparatus comprising a plurality of computer-executable instructions, the plurality of computer-executable instructions, which when executed by the processing apparatus, is configured to:
• initiate access to a third party authorization entity, the third party authorization entity being resident over a network remote from the computer system;
• provide identifying information for the computer system to the third party authorization entity in the form of a query;
• receive a response to the query from the third party authorization entity, the response configured to enable fully functional use of the software application;
• record at least a portion of the response on the computer system, the recordation enabling fully functional use of the software application;
• access the software application subsequent to the recordation, the access comprising a verification of the at least a portion of the response that has been recorded on the computer system;
• and
• enable fully functional use of the software application in response to the verification, the enablement occurring without requiring subsequent access to the third party authorization entity.