Secure licensing system

Abstract

A secure licensing system and method where a licensed product is purchased by a first party from a second party and then conveyed by the second party to a recipient with an indication that the first party is an intended licensee of the licensed product. Identity of the recipient of the licensed product is verified using a biometric verification device and a biometric database, and the license associated with the licensed product is activated when the biometric verification device and the biometric database verify that the recipient of the licensed product is the intended licensee of this product.

1 . A license activation method comprising the steps of:
 a) purchasing a licensed product by a first party from a second party;   b) conveying said licensed product by said second party to a recipient indicating that said first party is an intended licensee of said licensed product;   c) verifying an identity of the recipient of said licensed product using a biometric verification device and a biometric database; and   d) activating a license associated with said licensed product when said biometric verification device and said biometric database verify that the recipient of said licensed product is the intended licensee of said licensed product.   
   
   
       2 . The license activation method according to  claim 1 , wherein said step of purchasing the licensed product further comprises acquiring a biometric information of the first party and storing the acquired biometric information of the first party in the biometric database. 
   
   
       3 . The license activation method according to  claim 2 , wherein said step of verifying the identity of the recipient of the licensed product further comprises acquiring a biometric information of the recipient using the biometric verification device and comparing the acquired biometric information of the recipient to the acquired biometric information of the first party stored in the biometric database. 
   
   
       4 . The license activation method according to  claim 1 , wherein said step of conveying the licensed product to the recipient further comprises encrypting the licensed product. 
   
   
       5 . The license activation method according to  claim 4 , wherein said step of activating the license associated with the licensed product further comprises decrypting the licensed product. 
   
   
       6 . The license activation method according to  claim 1  further comprising creating a log recording said activation of the license associated with the licensed product. 
   
   
       7 . The license activation method according to  claim 1 , wherein said conveying of the licensed product further comprises sending the licensed product by electronic mail. 
   
   
       8 . The license activation method according to  claim 1 , wherein said conveying of the licensed product further comprises downloading the licensed product from a network. 
   
   
       9 . The license activation method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first party includes a plurality people. 
   
   
       10 . A secure licensing system comprising:
 a first party system storing a licensed product, the licensed product including a license activation component;   a second party system including a second biometric identification and verification device; and   a biometric identification and verification system located outside the first party system and the second party system and further comprising a biometric database and a license activation system, the biometric database storing biometric information of an intended licensee of the licensed product,   wherein the first party system is configured to selectively convey the licensed product to the second party system, wherein when the licensed product is received at the second party system the license activation component connects the second party system to the license activation system of the biometric identification and verification system, wherein the second biometric identification and verification device of the second party system acquires a biometric information of a recipient of the licensed product, and wherein the license activation system activates a license associated with the licensed product when the biometric identification and verification system verifies that the biometric information of the recipient matches the biometric information of the intended licensee.   
   
   
       11 . The secure licensing system according to  claim 10  further comprising a secure communication link between the first party system and the second party system. 
   
   
       12 . The secure licensing system according to  claim 10 , wherein the first party system further comprises an encryption means encrypting the licensed product prior to conveying the licensed product to the second party system. 
   
   
       13 . The secure licensing system according to  claim 12 , wherein the license activation system of the biometric identification and verification system further comprises a decryption means decrypting the licensed product when the biometric identification and verification system verifies that the biometric information of the recipient matches the biometric information of the intended licensee. 
   
   
       14 . The secure licensing system according to  claim 10  further comprising a secure communication link between the first party system and the biometric identification and verification system. 
   
   
       15 . The secure licensing system according to  claim 10  further comprising a secure communication link between the second party system and the biometric identification and verification system. 
   
   
       16 . The secure licensing system according to  claim 10 , wherein the first party system further comprises a first biometric identification and verification device, the first biometric identification and verification device acquiring the biometric information of the intended licensee and conveying the biometric information of the intended licensee to the biometric database. 
   
   
       17 . The secure licensing system according to  claim 10 , wherein said second party includes a plurality people. 
   
   
       18 . A system protecting a licensed product comprising:
 a licensed product owned by a first party and having an intended licensee, the licensed product including a biometric database storing a biometric information of the intended licensee; and   a second party system including a first biometric identification and verification device;   
     wherein the licensed product is configured to be selectively conveyed to the second party system, wherein when the licensed product is received at the second party system the second party system is connected to the biometric database, wherein the biometric identification and verification device of the second party system acquires a biometric information of a recipient of the licensed product, and wherein the second party system allows the recipient to use the licensed product when the biometric identification and verification device verifies that the biometric information of the recipient matches the biometric information of the intended licensee. 
   
   
       19 . The secure licensing system according to  claim 18  further comprising a second biometric identification and verification device, the second biometric identification and verification device acquiring the biometric information of the intended licensee and storing the biometric information of the intended licensee in the biometric database. 
   
   
       20 . The secure licensing system according to  claim 19 , wherein said second party includes a plurality people.