INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

A system to control the use of an informational product is disclosed. The informational product is stored on a storage medium and executed by a first processor. The informational product is operatable in a plurality of modes. The system comprises three manufacture modules. The first manufacture module, executed by the first processor, generates a registration code for a user of the informational product, the registration code being a function of the identity of the first processor, the identity of the user and the identity of the informational product. The second manufacture module, executed by the first processor, accepts as input an authorization code, verifies the authorization code and, if the verification is successful, changes the operational mode of the informational product. The second manufacture module also stores a user record in the informational product. The third manufacture module examines the user record each time the informational product is activated. The third module determines the operational mode of the informational product as a function of the operational mode stored in the user record and the identity of the processor on which the third module is executed. The third module returns to the informational product the user record.