Abstract: Methods and computer readable media for distributing a software license based on asymmetric cryptography via a network. An application publisher generates an asymmetric key-pair having an encryption key and a decryption key. The publisher assembles a software application embedded with the decryption key and releases the software application on an application storefront while keeping the encryption key as secret. A user of a device downloads the software application via a public network. To activate the software application in the device, the user sends a request for a license key to the publisher (or a distribution service provider) via the network. Upon validation of the request, the license key encrypted using the encryption key is sent to the device to thereby activate the software application in the device. Based on the cryptographic technique, the user may surrender the license key to get back the credit for the surrendered license key.

Abstract: Methods and computer readable media for providing a rental service for a software application via a network. The user of a device downloads a rental agent application via the network and installs a rental agent application in the device. The user also downloads a software application via the network and installs the software application in the device, where the software application includes a decryption key embedded therein. The user causes the rental agent application to send to a rental system a request for a key to activate the software application via the network. The rental system sends the key to the rental agent via the network, where the key is encrypted with an encryption key that forms an asymmetric key pair with the decryption key. Then, the rental agent relays the key to the software application to thereby activate the software application for a rental period.