Method of controlling usage of software components

A method of controlling usage of a selected copy of a software plug-in component with a selected copy of an authorized application program having an identifier on a selected computer system comprising:

• providing the application program identifier;
• receiving the selected copy of the software plug-in component, a component identifier and a first password associated with a combination of the selected copy of the authorized application program and the selected copy of the software plug-in component;
• registering the selected copy of the software plug-in component with the selected copy of the authorized application program by storing the component identifier and the first password in a registry on the selected computer system;
• generating a second password from the application program identifier and the received component identifier;
• comparing the first password from the registry and the second password;
• and
• allowing use of the selected copy of the software plug-in component with the selected copy of the authorized application program on the selected computer system when the first password matches the second password.

A method of controlling usage of a selected copy of a software plug-in component with a selected copy of an authorized application program resident in a computer system comprising:

• generating a first password from an application program identifier of the selected copy of the authorized application program and an identifier of the selected copy of the software plug-in component;
• registering the selected copy of the software plug-in component with the selected copy of the authorized application program by storing the component identifier and the first password in a registry on the computer system;
• generating, by the selected copy of the authorized application program, a second password from the application program identifier and the component identifier from the registry;
• comparing the first password from the registry and the second password;
• and
• allowing use of the selected copy of the software plug-in component with the selected copy of the authorized application program on the computer system when the first password matches the second password.

In a system having an end user computer system coupled to a controller computer system, the end user computer system having an application program identified by an identifier, a method of controlling usage of a software component with the application program comprising:

• obtaining, by the controller computer system, the application program identifier;
• generating a first password from the application program identifier and an identifier of the component;
• communicating the component, the component identifier, and the first password from the controller computer system to the end user computer system;
• storing, by the end user computer system, the component identifier and the first password in a registry of the application program;
• generating, by the application program, a second password from the application program identifier and the component identifier from the registry;
• comparing the first password from the registry and the second password;
• and
• allowing use of the component with the application program by the end user computer system when the first password matches the second password.