Method and device for managing licenses in an industrial automation system

A method for managing functionality licenses in a closed network in which at least one subscriber device is connected to the closed network, the method comprising:

• operating a server including a license database, wherein the license database includes a plurality of the functionality licenses, wherein each functionality license of the plurality of the functionality licenses includes a functionality identifier;
• receiving a license request at the server from the at least one subscriber device, wherein the license request includes a further functionality identifier;
• comparing the further functionality identifier to the functionality identifiers in the license database;
• and
• assigning a functionality license of the database which comprises a functionality identifier that matches to the further functionality identifier to the subscriber device from which the license request was received at the server,
• wherein the assigning includes storing of the at least one subscriber device from which the license request was received at the server as a licensed subscriber device in the license database.