To provide a technology for much more easily preventing the unauthorized use of software.
An encrypted license information generation unit 5 reads a hardware unique key 3 from a hardware key 2, and encrypts license information 4 by using the hardware unique key 3 so that it is possible to generate encrypted license information 6 different from the license information 4. Then, the encrypted license information generation unit 5 stores encrypted license information 6 in a hardware key 2. A license information application part 8 restricts the use of software by using the license information 4. When detecting that the hardware key 2 has been removed from the information processing apparatus 1, the encrypted license information generation unit 5 deletes the license information 4 from an HDD 34. Alternatively, the license information 4 is replaced with invalidated license information.
Shiro Takayanagi
Yasuhiro Otsuka
Shuji Kimura
Osamu Shimoyama
Nagakawa Yukimitsu
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