A method for protecting publicly distributed software from unauthorised use, comprising the steps of:</claim-text> determining if identity information, is existing in a processing apparatus; using a positive result of said determination as a ondition for causing said processing apparatus to provide user access to said software desired to be protected; wherein: said identity information, if so existing, being capable of being used in enabling electronic commerce operation(s) for which rightful user(s) of said software desired to be protected has to be responsible; access to said software desired to be protected is being provided without causing a said operation being performed and said identity information being specific to said rightful user(s). view more

A method for protecting software from unauthorised use, as claimed in claim 1, wherein further comprising the steps of:</claim-text> authenticating said identity information; determining said identity information as existing, if said identity mation being authentic and as not existing if otherwise. view more

A method for protecting software from unauthorised use, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said operation being operation related to making payment from an account of said rightful user(s), for obtaining a service/product.

A method for protecting software from unauthorised use, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said software desired to be protected comprises a plurality of protected programs; each of said protected programs having validity information in a first predetermined location therein for indicating a valid identity of its rightful user exists in a second predetermined location therein, and an encrypted identity of its rightful user therein; and each of said protected programs, when being executed, will fail to operate if said validity information therein being altered, or said identity therein and the decryption result of said encrypted identity therein being inconsistent. view more

A method for protecting software from unauthorised use, as claimed in claim 4, wherein further comprising the steps of:</claim-text> storing an encrypted identity of a user in said processing apparatus; and if all of said protected programs stored in processing apparatus has a valid user identity which being consistent with the decryption result of said stored encrypted identity, permitting use of said protected programs and not permitting if otherwise. view more

A method for protecting software from unauthorised use, as claimed in claim 11, wherein said software desired to be protected being first software used on said processing apparatus for determining third information related to hardware and/or software of said processing apparatus; wherein further comprising second software for, when being executed, authenticating the identity of the computer on which said second software runs as being said processing apparatus, basing on at least a part of said third information; and for providing user access to third software if said computer has an authentic identity. view more

A method for protecting software from unauthorised use, comprising the steps of:</claim-text> (a) obtaining by protection software running on a processing apparatus, say, first processing apparatus, first information from the user thereof; (b) mining by said protection software, from said processing apparatus second information related to the hardware or/and software thereof for future reference in step (c) below, in response to said first information obtained being consistent with third information contained in said protection software, thereafter (c) authenticating a processing apparatus, say, second processing apparatus, basing on at least a part of said second information; (d) using a positive result of said authentication as a pre-condition for permitting use of said software desired to be protected on said second processing apparatus; wherein said third information being confidential information of a rightful user of said software desire to be protected and being necessary for enabling electronic commerce transaction(s) for which said rightful user has to be responsible; and said method is being performed without causing a said transaction take place. view more

A method for protecting software from unauthorised use, as claimed by claim 12, wherein said software desired to be protected being purchased commercial software.

A method for protecting software, for use by a user, from unauthorised use; comprising a sub-method;</claim-text> wherein said sub-method a protection software being used and “the presence of identity information in a processing apparatus” is being in the creation of said protection software as an “installation” pre-condition for said protection software to perform in said processing apparatus step (a) below; and said identity information being specific to said user and capable of being used in enabling electronic commerce operation(s) for which said user has to be responsible; said sub-method comprising the steps of: (a) determining by said protection software running on a processing apparatus, say, first processing apparatus with said “installation” precondition being met, first information related to the hardware or/and software of said first processing apparatus, for future reference in step (c) below; thereafter (b) determining from a processing apparatus, say, second processing apparatus, second information related to the hardware or/and software thereof; (c) determining if said second information is consistent with said first information; (d) using a positive result of said determination of consistence as a pre-condition for permitting use of said software desired to be protected on said second processing apparatus, with said “installation” pre-condition not being met; thereafter, said sub-method being capable of being used on a processing apparatus, say, third processing apparatus, without causing any user responsible operation(s) being performed therefor and with no step relating to a new user payment therefor. view more