Software copying system

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to software copying systems, and more specifically, to a software copying system which enables copyrighted software to be duplicated in a user's storage medium in a legitimate manner.

2. Description of the Related Art

A wide variety of software distribution methods have become available in recent years, and the consumers can purchase software products which are stored in some storage media such as floppy disks, compact disc read-only memories (CD-ROMs), and semiconductor memories. They can also buy some software products sold at on-line shops by downloading via networks. Most of such commercial software products, however, can be copied into other storage media easily. This means that they are exposed to the potential risk of illegal duplication, or software piracy, which has become a serious problem for copyrighted software.

As to the software distribution methods for computer applications, dictionaries, audio and video data, etc., one of the conventional methods is to distribute them in a CD-ROM that is electronically locked by a protection key. When a user is interested in a certain software product, he/she makes contact with a central site that is dealing that product. The user then takes a necessary procedure to purchase it, and in turn receives a key pertaining to the product. By opening the protected software archive with that key, the user can finally install it into his/her system.

Another method of software distribution uses a writable storage medium that contains some license-specific identification information burned in advance, which information is managed at the central site for licensing the right to copy their software products. When trying to duplicate a software product recorded in a CD-ROM, a user or a retailer selling the storage media will send their request to the central site. After following some necessary procedures for purchasing that subject software product, the requesting user or retailer receives identification information issued by the central site. The subject software product can be duplicated from the CD-ROM to the storage medium, only when the received identification information coincides with the license-specific identification information recorded in the storage medium.

But anyone can execute or make access to the software, once it is installed into his/her local storage device such as a hard drive. This simply means that the installed software still is a subject of illegal duplication due to the lack of key protection.

Further, in the aforementioned second method, the license-related identification information should be controlled at the central site in close liaison with a factory where the storage media are manufactured. Another problem with the storage media is that it is required to handle two types of storage media in different ways for two distinct purposes: software copying and general use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Taking the above into consideration, an object of the present invention is to provide a software copying system which enables copyrighted data recorded in a master storage medium to be copied in a legitimate manner to a target storage medium that a user can read and write to.

To accomplish the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a software copying system for duplicating software recorded in a master storage medium to a target storage medium in a legitimate manner. An authorized copying process is achieved through communications between an end user's site that is requesting a license of copying the software product and a central site that manages the license.

The software copying system comprises the following structural elements. Contents identifier reading means reads out a first identifier the master storage medium. This first identifier is uniquely assigned to the software product recorded in the master storage medium. Storage medium identifier reading means reads out a second identifier from the target storage medium. This second identifier is uniquely assigned to and recorded in the target storage medium. Signature generating means, which is disposed at the central site, generates a first signature from the first identifier read out by the contents identifier reading means and the second identifier read by the storage medium identifier reading means. This first signature serves as a certificate of a license to copy the software product. Signature writing means writes the first signature generated by the signature generating means into the target storage medium. For a verification purpose, signature generating/comparing means generates a second signature from the first identifier read out by the contents identifier reading means and the second identifier read out by the storage medium identifier reading means. The signature generating/comparing means then compares the first signature stored in the target storage medium with the second signature. Data copying means retrieves the software product out of the master storage medium and writes the software product into the target storage medium, when the first and second identifiers turned out to be identical as a result of the comparison performed by the signature generating/comparing means.

To accomplish the above object, there is also provided a software copying method for duplicating software recorded in a master storage medium to a target storage medium in a legitimate manner. This software copying method comprises the following steps.

First, a storage medium identifier uniquely assigned to the target storage medium and a contents identifier uniquely assigned to a subject data file are sent from an end user's site to a central site, together with a message requesting a software license. Second, a first certificate code is generated at the central site from the storage medium identifier and the contents identifier received from the end user site. This step is accomplished through a signature generating process using a certification key that is managed at the central site. Third, an encrypted certification key is generated at the central site by encrypting the certification key using a user key. Fourth, the first certificate code and the encrypted certification key are sent from the central site to the end user's site. Fifth, the first certificate code and the encrypted certification key arrived at the end user's site from the central site is written into the target storage medium. Sixth, a decrypted certification key is obtained at the end user's site by decrypting, using the user key, the encrypted certification key stored in the target storage medium. Seventh, a second certification code is generated, for the purpose of verification at the end user's site, by applying a signature generating process using the decrypted certification key to the storage medium identifier and the contents identifier. Eighth, the first certificate code stored in the target storage medium is compared with the second certificate code that is generated at the end user's site. Lastly, the subject data file stored in the master storage medium is read out and written into the target storage medium if the first and second certificate codes coincide with each other.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention by way of example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>FIG. 1 is a conceptual view of a software copying system according to the present invention;</li><li>FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a software duplication process executed by a software copying system in a first embodiment of the present invention;</li><li>FIG. 3(A) is a diagram showing the structure of a CD-ROM;</li><li>FIG. 3(B) is a diagram showing the structure of an MO disc;</li><li>FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a procedure of duplicating copyrighted software;</li><li>FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the structure of a typical signature processor;</li><li>FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a procedure of executing a duplicated software program;</li><li>FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a software duplication process executed by a software copying system in a second embodiment of the present invention;</li><li>FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a procedure at the central site;</li><li>FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a procedure at the end user's site; and</li><li>FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a procedure of executing a duplicated software program.</li></ul>

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

At the outset, the present invention will be outlined with reference to FIG. 1, which shows a conceptual view of a software copying system according to the present invention.

As seen in FIG. 1, the software copying system of the present invention comprises several elements described below. Contents identifier reading means 2 is a means for reading out a first identifier stored in a master storage medium 1. This first identifier is uniquely assigned to each software product recorded in the master storage medium 1. Storage medium identifier reading means 4 reads out a second identifier stored in a target storage medium 3. This second identifier is uniquely assigned to the target storage medium 3. Signature generating means 6, disposed at a central site 5 that manages licenses for software copying, generates a first signature from the first and second identifiers read out by the contents identifier reading means 2 and storage medium identifier reading means 4, respectively. The first signature serves as a certificate of a license to copy the software product. Signature writing means 7 writes the first signature, which is generated by the signature generating means 6, into the target storage medium 3. Signature generating/comparing means 8 produces a second signature from the first and second identifiers respectively read out by the contents identifier reading means 2 and storage medium identifier reading means 4. The signature generating/comparing means 8 compares the first signature stored in the target storage medium 3 with the second signature that is produced. Data copying means 9 retrieves the subject software product out of the master storage medium 1 and writes it into the target storage medium 3, when the first and second signatures turned out to be identical as a result of the comparison performed by the signature generating/comparing means 8.

The master storage medium 1 contains several commercial software products, to each of which a contents identifier is written. The target storage medium 3 has an individual storage medium identifier which is written at the factory before shipment. When a user selects a software product from among those in the master storage medium 1, the contents identifier reading means 2 retrieves a contents identifier corresponding to the selected software product, and then the storage medium identifier reading means 4 reads out a storage medium identifier recorded in the target storage medium 3. Those two identifiers are transmitted to the central site 5 together with a purchase order message to request a license to copy the subject software product. At the central site 5, the signature generating means 6 receives the contents identifier and storage medium identifier and sends back to the user a signature that is generated from the received identifiers. This signature authorizes the user as a licensee having the right to copy the software product. Simultaneously with the issue of the signature, the user is registered in a user profile database at the central site 5, and a billing process is also invoked.

At the user side, upon receipt of the signature sent from the signature generating means 6, the signature writing means 7 writes it into the target storage medium 3. The signature generating/comparing means 8 then locally generates a signature from the contents identifier retrieved by the contents identifier reading means 2 and the storage medium identifier retrieved by the storage medium identifier reading means 4. The signature generating/comparing means 8 compares this signature with the first-mentioned signature stored in the target storage medium 3. If the two signatures coincide with each other, the data copying means 9 retrieves the subject software product, which is stored in encrypted form, from the master storage medium 1 and copies it into the target storage medium 3. The software now stored in the target storage medium 3, however, is not ready for execution because it is still encrypted. The user has to load it to the main memory of a special processor which decodes and executes the encrypted software.

Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6. The following explanation assumes such a case that a certain copyrighted software program distributed in a CD-ROM is to be copied into a magneto-optical (MO) disc.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a software duplication process performed by the software copying system. To copy a program in a CD-ROM to an MO disc using the software copying system of the present invention, it is necessary to follow the steps of: <ul id="ul0002" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>[S1] The storage medium identifier <i>IDk</i> recorded in the MO disc and the software identifier <i>SIDi</i> of the subject software program are sent to the central site which manages license for software copying.</li><li>[S2] This request for the software license is processed at the central site, where a certificate code <i>CS</i> is generated from the storage medium identifier <i>IDk</i> and software identifier <i>SIDi</i> received from the end user site. The central site then sends back the certificate code <i>CS</i> to the end user site.</li><li>[S3] The certificate code <i>CS</i> arrived at the end user's site is written into a predetermined storage region in the MO disc.</li><li>[S4] For a verification purpose, another certificate code <i>CS'</i> is generated locally at the end user's site, based on the storage medium identifier <i>IDk</i> and software identifier <i>SIDi</i>, which were sent to the central site.</li><li>[S5] The locally generated certificate code <i>CS'</i> is compared with the other certificate code <i>CS</i> stored in the MO disc.</li><li>[S6] According to the result of the comparison between <i>CS</i> and <i>CS'</i>, the process proceeds in different ways. If the two certificate codes are found identical, the process goes to the next step S7. Otherwise, the process is terminated without copying the software program from the CD-ROM to the MO disc.</li><li>[S7] An encrypted software data file having the software identifier <i>SIDi</i> is copied from the CD-ROM to the prepared MO disc.</li></ul>

FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B) show the structure of records in a CD-ROM and an MO disc, respectively. The structure of a CD-ROM 11 is shown in FIG. 3(A), where a plurality of copyrighted software programs and a manager application program <i>MA</i> are recorded. The copyrighted software programs, stored in encrypted form, have their respective software identifiers <i>SIDi</i> (<i>i</i>=1,2,...,<i>n</i>). The manager application program <i>MA</i> governs the operations to copy the copyrighted software programs from a CD-ROM to an MO disc. Upon request for software copying, this program will be loaded into and executed on a terminal station (e.g., a personal computer) located at the end user's site. That is, the manager application program <i>MA</i> is responsible for the steps executed at the end user's site as part of the procedure shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3(B) is a diagram showing the record structure of the MO disc 12, where a storage medium identifier <i>IDk</i> (<i>k</i>=1,2,...,<i>m</i>) is recorded. Although most part of the MO disc 12 can be freely written and/or read by the end users, the storage medium identifier <i>IDk</i> is written in a special part of the disc that is not rewritable. This storage medium identifier <i>IDk</i> may be a serial number which is assigned uniquely to each medium at the factory before shipment.

The following description will present a more detailed procedure of duplicating copyrighted software from a CD-ROM to an MO disc with reference to FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 shows a software copying procedure, which is roughly divided into two parts: steps at the end user's site (the right half of FIG. 4) and steps at the central site (the left half of FIG. 4). At the end user's site, a terminal station (e.g., a personal computer) performs actual data processing jobs pertaining to the software copying, while several devices located at the central site manages license for the software copying. Those two sites are interconnected by a communication line or a delivery channel.

The terminal station at the end user's site is equipped with a CD-ROM drive and an MO drive (both not shown). The CD-ROM 11, serving as a master storage medium that stores copyrighted software programs, is inserted in the CD-ROM drive. On the other hand, the MO disc 12 serving as a target storage medium is loaded in the MO drive. The subject software program in the CD-ROM 11 has a software identifier <i>SIDi</i>, and the MO disc 12 owns its unique storage medium identifier <i>IDk</i>.

First of all, at the end user's terminal station, the manager application program <i>MA</i> in the CD-ROM 11 starts with accepting a request from the end user for copying a specific software program. Upon this request, the manager application program <i>MA</i> reads out the corresponding software identifier <i>SIDi</i> from the CD-ROM 11 as well as extracting the storage medium identifier <i>IDk</i> from the MO disc 12. Those two identifiers are then sent to the software license center along with a request message containing information necessary for a software license.

The central site receives the above-described request from the user and saves the contents of the request into a user profile database 13. The received software identifier <i>SIDi</i> and storage medium identifier <i>IDk</i> are supplied to a signature processor 14, where the identifiers <i>SIDi</i> and <i>IDk</i> are compressed into a certificate code <i>CS</i>. In this compression process, a certification key <i>KEYc</i> operates as a private key (or secret key). The produced certificate code <i>CS</i> will serve as what is referred to as the "signature" in FIG. 1. The certification key <i>KEYc</i> used by the signature processor 14 is then directed to an encryption unit 15 to be encrypted with a user key <i>KU</i>, thus producing a ciphertext <i>EKU(KEYc)</i>. The certificate code <i>CS</i> generated by the signature processor 14 and the ciphertext <i>EKU(KEYc)</i> generated by the encryption unit 15 are finally transmitted together with the central site identifier IDc to the end user's site as a response to the request from the end user.

At the end user's site, the terminal station extracts the certificate code <i>CS</i> and ciphertext <i>EKU(KEYc)</i> from among the information received from the central site and writes them into the target MO disc 12. The certificate code <i>CS</i> and ciphertext <i>EKU(KEYc)</i> recorded in the MO disc 12 are retrieved and sent to the manager application program.

Then, in the terminal station, a signature verification process starts. First, a decryption unit 16 decodes the ciphertext <i>EKU(KEYc)</i> using the user key <i>KU</i> and extracts the certification key <i>KEYc</i>, which was once encrypted at the central site. Out of the software identifier <i>SIDi</i> retrieved from the CD-ROM 11 and the storage medium identifier <i>IDk</i> retrieved from the MO disc 12, a signature processor 17 generates a certificate code <i>CS'</i> for verification at the end user's site. The certification key <i>KEYc</i> decrypted by the decryption unit 16 is used in this <i>CS'</i> generation process. Then, a comparator 18 compares the certificate code <i>CS</i> written in the MO disc 12 and the certificate code <i>CS'</i> generated by the signature processor 17. If the comparison result indicates coincidence of the two codes <i>CS</i> and <i>CS'</i>, a switch 19 will enable the software program having the software identifier <i>SIDi</i> to be written into the target MO disc 12 in the form of encrypted data.

The following description will present a typical function achieved by the signature processor 14 at the central site and the signature processor 17 at the end user's site.

FIG. 5 illustrates the structure of the signature processor, which consists of an exclusive OR logic 21 and an encryption unit 22. The exclusive OR logic 21 performs an exclusive OR operation on a software identifier <i>SIDi</i>, storage medium identifier <i>IDk</i> and certificate code <i>CS</i>. The encryption unit 22 encrypts the output of the exclusive OR logic 21 with the certification key <i>KEYc</i> to produce the certificate code <i>CS</i>. Those two elements 21 and 22 thus constitutes a hash function operator.

In a block-by-block manner, the encryption unit 22 encrypts the software identifier <i>SIDi</i> and storage medium identifier <i>IDk</i> with the certification key <i>KEYc</i>. The encrypted output data is fed back to the input of the exclusive OR logic 21 and directed to the exclusive OR operation with the next block data. The output of the exclusive OR logic 21 is then encrypted by the encryption unit 22 again. The above operations are repeated until the final block is entered, and the result of this cyclic computation will come out of the encryption unit 22 as a certificate code <i>CS</i> when the encryption of the final block is finished.

The licensed software program is copied to the MO disc 12 in the way described above, but the end user cannot run it as is, because the program is still encrypted. The following description will explain how it will be executed.

FIG. 6 shows a procedure of executing a duplicated software program. The MO disc 12 contains the certificate code <i>CS</i>, ciphertext <i>EKU(KEYc)</i>, storage medium identifier <i>IDk</i>, and software identifier <i>SIDi</i>, as well as storing the duplicated software in the form of encrypted data <i>EKd(DATA)</i>. This encrypted data <i>EKd(DATA)</i> was encrypted with a key <i>Kd</i> before the software was stamped to the CD-ROM, and the encryption key <i>Kd</i> is under the management of the manager application program.

The terminal station at the end user's site first retrieves from the MO disc 12 the certificate code <i>CS</i>, ciphertext <i>EKU(KEYc)</i>, storage medium identifier <i>IDk</i>, and software identifier <i>SIDi</i>. The decryption unit 16 decrypts the ciphertext <i>EKU(KEYc)</i> with the user key <i>Ku</i>, thereby extracting the certification key <i>KEYc</i>. Then the signature processor 17 generates another certificate code <i>CS'</i> from the software identifier <i>SIDi</i> and storage medium identifier <i>IDk</i> retrieved from the MO disc 12, using the certification key <i>KEYc</i> decrypted by the decryption unit 16. Subsequently, the comparator 18 compares the certificate codes <i>CS</i> and <i>CS'</i>. If the comparison indicates coincidence of the two codes <i>CS</i> and <i>CS'</i>, the switch 19 will allow an encrypted data file <i>EKd(DATA)</i> containing the encrypted software program to pass through to a decryption unit 25. The decryption unit 25 decrypts the encrypted data file <i>EKd(DATA)</i> using the key <i>Kd</i> that is owned by the manager application program, thus restoring the original plaintext data file <i>DATA</i>. The contents of this decrypted data file <i>DATA</i> can be executed by the central processing unit (CPU) after being loaded to the memory, both of which are part of a CPU/memory unit 26 in the terminal station.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10. In the second embodiment, each software program recorded in a CD-ROM has a software identifier <i>DID</i> uniquely assigned thereto, and its corresponding data file <i>Data</i> is stored as an encrypted data file <i>EKd(Data)</i>. This encrypted data file <i>EKd(DATA)</i> has been created with a master medium conversion key <i>Ka</i> generated from the software identifier <i>DID</i> and a master key <i>KM</i>, which is managed at a software license center. The software license center is in charge of licensing of the right to copy their commercial software products. Regarding the target storage media, the user's MO disc has a serial number serving as a storage medium identifier <i>Mid</i>.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a software duplication process performed under the above assumption by the software copying system of the second embodiment.

To obtain a copy of a software program distributed in a CD-ROM, it is necessary to go through the following seven steps: <ul id="ul0003" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>[S11] The storage medium identifier <i>Mid</i> recorded in the target MO disc and the software identifier <i>DID</i> of the subject software program in the CD-ROM are sent from the end user's site to the software license center, which controls the license to copy the software products.</li><li>[S12] At the software license center, it is tested whether the software identifier <i>DID</i> is registered therein or not.</li><li>[S13] The storage medium identifier <i>Mid</i> and software identifier <i>DID</i> are encrypted with the master key <i>KM</i> managed in the software license center, thus generating a storage medium conversion key <i>Ku</i> and master medium conversion key <i>Ka</i>, respectively.</li><li>[S14] A ciphertext <i>EMid(Ku,Ka)</i> is generated by encrypting those storage medium and master medium conversion keys <i>Ku</i> and <i>Ka</i> using the storage medium identifier <i>Mid</i>. The ciphertext <i>EMid(Ku,Ka)</i> is sent to the end user's site as a response message to the request.</li><li>[S15] The end user's site obtains the storage medium conversion key <i>Ku</i> and master medium conversion key <i>Ka</i> by decrypting the received ciphertext <i>EMid(Ku,Ka)</i> with the storage medium identifier <i>Mid</i>, while storing a ciphertext <i>EMid(Ku),</i> i.e., MO disc-related part of the ciphertext <i>EMid(Ku,Ka),</i> without attempting decryption.</li><li>[S16] With the master medium conversion key <i>Ka</i> obtained in step S15, the encrypted data file <i>EKd(Data)</i> in the CD-ROM which corresponds to the software identifier <i>DID</i> is decrypted to restore the original plaintext data file <i>Data</i>.</li><li>[S17] The plaintext data file <i>Data</i> is encrypted again with the storage medium conversion key <i>Ku</i> obtained in step S15, and the encrypted data file is stored into the MO disc, thus finalizing the software duplication process.</li></ul>

The above-described software duplication procedure will be discussed in more detail below. In the second embodiment of the present invention, the procedure starts at the end user's site with sending a request to the software license center, which part of the procedure consists of only two things as follows. One is to read out the storage medium identifier <i>Mid</i> of the target MO disc and the software identifier <i>DID</i> of the subject software stored in the CD-ROM, and the other is to send these identifiers <i>Mid</i> and <i>DID</i> to the software license center. The following description skips those two steps and will begin with the steps executed by the software license center which has received the above request from the end user's site.

FIG. 8 explains the procedure executed at the software license center. Upon receipt of the two identifiers, <i>Mid</i> and <i>DID</i>, from the end user's site through a communications line, the software license center forwards the storage medium identifier <i>Mid</i> to an encryption unit 31 having the master key <i>KM</i> under the control of the center, as well as supplying the software identifier <i>DID</i> to a comparator 32. The encryption unit 31 encrypts the storage medium identifier <i>Mid</i> using the master key <i>KM</i> to produce a storage medium conversion key <i>Ku</i>. The comparator 32, on the other hand, searches a contents identifier file 33, comparing each entry with the received software identifier <i>DID</i> to verify its validity. If the received software identifier <i>DID</i> coincides with the one registered in the contents identifier file 33, the comparator 32 closes a switch 34, thus allowing the software identifier <i>DID</i> to enter to an encryption unit 35 having the master key <i>KM</i>. The encryption unit 35 encrypts the software identifier <i>DID</i> with the master key <i>KM</i> to create a master medium conversion key <i>Ka</i>. The storage medium conversion key <i>Ku</i> produced by the encryption unit 31 and the master medium conversion key <i>Ka</i> produced by the encryption unit 35 are then entered to an encryption unit 36 for further encryption using the storage medium identifier <i>Mid</i>. A ciphertext <i>EMid(Ku,Ka)</i> produced by the encryption unit 36 is transferred to the requesting end user through the communications line. Upon completion of the above processing steps, a request for billing is issued to the user profile database 37 and the cost is charged to the requesting end user.

FIG. 9 explains the procedure at the end user's site after the above-described process is finished at the software license center. The ciphertext <i>EMid(Ku,Ka)</i> received from the software license center is applied to a decryption unit 51, while a ciphertext <i>EMid(Ku)</i> as part of the received ciphertext <i>EMid(Ku,Ka)</i> is written into a predetermined region 41 in the target MO disc 40. The decryption unit 51 decrypts the ciphertext <i>EMid(Ku,Ka)</i> using the storage medium identifier <i>Mid</i> extracted from the MO disc 40, thus restoring the original storage medium conversion key <i>Ku</i> and master medium conversion key <i>Ka</i>. This restored master medium conversion key <i>Ka</i> is then entered to a decryption unit 52 as its decryption key, while the restored storage medium conversion key <i>Ku</i> is entered to an encryption unit 53 as its encryption key. The decryption unit 52 retrieves the encrypted data file <i>EKa(Data)</i> that corresponds to the software identifier <i>DID</i> in the CD-ROM 60 and decrypts it with the master medium conversion key <i>Ka</i>, thus restoring the original plaintext data file <i>Data</i>. This data file <i>Data</i> is encrypted again by the encryption unit 53 with the storage medium conversion key <i>Ku</i>, and the resultant ciphertext <i>EKu(Data)</i> is written into the target MO disc 40.

In the way described above, the ciphertext <i>EKu(Data)</i> is written into the MO disc 40 through the process using two conversion keys derived from a unique identifier recorded in the MO disc 40 and a master key under the control of the software license center. Next, a procedure to execute this encrypted data file <i>EKu(Data)</i> will be described below.

FIG. 10 illustrates a procedure of executing the software program that is duplicated as a data file in the MO disc 40. The ciphertext <i>EMid(Ku)</i> is stored in a section 41 as part of the rewritable region in the MO disc 40, while the storage medium identifier <i>Mid</i> is recorded in a non-rewritable region 42. The encrypted data file <i>EKu(Data)</i> is stored in a section in the remaining rewritable region. When the program in the encrypted data file <i>EKu(Data)</i> is called up for execution, the storage medium identifier <i>Mid</i> and ciphertext <i>EMid(Ku)</i> are retrieved from the MO disc 40 and entered to a decryption unit 54. Using the storage medium identifier <i>Mid</i> as the decryption key, the decryption unit 54 decrypts the ciphertext <i>EMid(Ku)</i> to restore the storage medium conversion key <i>Ku</i>. Another decryption unit 55 then decrypts the encrypted data file <i>EKu(Data)</i> retrieved from the MO disc 40, using the storage medium conversion key <i>Ku</i> as the decryption key. The resultant plaintext data file <i>Data</i> will be executed after being loaded to the main memory of a personal computer that is working as the end user's terminal station.

The above discussion will be summarized as follows. According to the present invention, the software copying system comprises signature generating means, disposed at the central site, for generating a signature from information that identifies the target storage medium and subject data stored in the master medium. The system also comprises, at the end user's site, signature writing means for writing the signature generated by the signature generating means into the target storage medium, signature generating/comparing means for comparing a signature that is locally generated at the end user's site with the signature written in the target storage medium, and data copying means for copying the subject program to the target storage medium according to the result of comparison. Therefore, the central site only has to issue a signature associated with the identifier of the target storage medium, and there is no need to manage any license-specific information in close liaison with factories of the storage medium manufacturers. This also eliminates the stock control in the manufacturers and retailers for the storage media to be used in software copying.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the present invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and applications shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be regarded as falling within the scope of the invention in the appended claims and their equivalents.