Abstract: According to example configurations as described herein, use of software can be contingent upon whether a hierarchical license tree has a valid license for a software resource associated with a respective node in the tree. For example, an installer can be configured to traverse the hierarchical license tree to identify which, if any, of the software resources as represented by nodes in the tree has a valid license and therefore can be installed for execution on a respective computer system. If a valid license exists for a given node in the tree, the software resource associated with the given node as well as software resources associated with child nodes of the given node can be installed for use on the computer. A software resource manager can be configured to prevent installation, execution, etc., of software resources for nodes above the respective parent node that do not have a corresponding valid license.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for provisioning price-differentiated products while deterring piracy comprising creating a plurality of triples, wherein each triple comprises a first component, a second component, and a third component, wherein each triple uniquely identifies a price-differentiated product; providing to a vendor of the product a plurality of pairs, wherein each pair in the plurality of pairs comprises the first component and the second component of the triple for each price-differentiated product provided to the vendor; receiving the pair from the vendor when the product is sold; providing to a purchaser identification verifier the pair for the product that was sold; receiving from the purchaser identification verifier the second component of the triple upon verification of an identity of a purchaser; and providing product activation information to the identity verified purchaser in response to receiving the second component, wherein the activation information enables use of the product.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for redeeming a software subscription while deterring piracy. The method comprises receiving a request to activate a software subscription, wherein the request comprises a redemption code and a userID; validating the redemption code; retrieving a user profile based on the userID; validating a sales region where the software subscription was purchased against a country code in the user profile; and activating the software subscription upon successful validation of the redemption code and sales region.

Abstract: According to example configurations as described herein, use of software can be contingent upon whether a hierarchical license tree has a valid license for a software resource associated with a respective node in the tree. For example, an installer can be configured to traverse the hierarchical license tree to identify which, if any, of the software resources as represented by nodes in the tree has a valid license and therefore can be installed for execution on a respective computer system. If a valid license exists for a given node in the tree, the software resource associated with the given node as well as software resources associated with child nodes of the given node can be installed for use on the computer. A software resource manager can be configured to prevent installation, execution, etc., of software resources for nodes above the respective parent node that do not have a corresponding valid license.