Software deactivation based on a deactivation time period

A non-transitory machine-readable medium that provides instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause said machine to perform operations comprising:

• receiving a communication from a first apparatus to deactivate a license of a software product that is activated on the first apparatus, wherein the communication comprises an identification of the first apparatus;
• determining a deactivation time period that includes a predetermined time period in the past up to and including a current time within which at least one activation is allowed for the software product and beyond the predetermined time period the at least one activation being again allowed;
• and
• performing a deactivation responsive to a determination that the identification of the first apparatus has been activated within the deactivation time period, the performance of the deactivation performed automatically through execution of instructions on at least one processor;
• and
• in response to an activation request from a second apparatus, executing instructions on the at least one processor to automatically:
• fulfill the activation request with an activation when the second apparatus has not already been activated and either the deactivation time period has expired or an activation of the at least one allowed activation is available;
• and
• deny the activation when the deactivation time period has not expired and there is not an activation of the at least one allowed activation available.