Software activation and revalidation

A method for software activation and revalidation, the method comprising:

• collecting original machine configuration information from a local machine on which a software application has been at least partially installed;
• sending the original machine configuration information and a product key to a remote activation server;
• applying, at the remote activation server, activation rules stored at the remote activation server to determine that the product key is valid for the original machine configuration information, the activation rules having been updated since the release of the software application to account for new or updated software or hardware with which the software application is configured to be employed;
• activating the software application by sending, from the remote activation server to the local machine, a signed license file that authorizes access to the software application and that contains the updated activation rules, the signing of the signed license file configured to prevent a user of the local machine from undetectably altering the updated activation rules contained in the signed license file;
• collecting new machine configuration information from the local machine, the new machine information being different from the original machine configuration information;
• applying, at the local machine, the updated activation rules contained in the signed license file to the new machine configuration information to determine that the product key remains valid for the new machine configuration information;
• and
• revalidating, at the local machine, the signed license file to authorize continued access to the software application.