Method and apparatus for securing software to reduce unauthorized use
CA 2332962 A1 · Owner: Colvin, David S. · Inventors: Colvin, David S.
Overview
Its claims, description and drawings are in the Canadian Patents Database.
Open the CIPO recordAbstract From the Canadian patent
A method and apparatus for securing software to reduce unauthorized use include associating a password (16) or series of passwords (18) with each copy or group of authorized software and requiring entry of a first password obtained from the developer or authorized representative (24) of the software after exchanging registration information (38). The method and apparatus may also require entry of a second password from the series associated with the software to continue using the software. A password (16) or authorization code series may be associated with each authorized copy or with a group of copies such as those distributed to a particular organization or site (32). Preferably, …
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Listed from its CIPO record in Patent Yard's archive of Canadian patents past their term. Its claims, description and drawings are in the CIPO record and on Google Patents, and the Claude kit works from them.
Why it's free to use
- Filed May 27, 1999. No grant is recorded for it in Canada; had it been granted, its 20-year term would have ended May 27, 2019.
- A certificate of supplementary protection adds at most two years for a drug, so even that would have ended by May 27, 2021.
- We check Canadian rights only. A patent in its family in another country could still be in force: check its family on Google Patents.
Timeline
Timeline From CIPO dates
Sources & verification
Official CIPO records
Everything on this page comes from the CIPO record linked above. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.