The use of software is licensed on a particular central processing unit (CPU) residing on a computing device. A code is generated at a central service and provided to a third party publisher, such as a third party website, a vending machine, a retailer, or a phone service provider, for example. The third party publisher then provides the code to a user, who provides it to the computing device, which in turn, unlocks the appropriate software (or features of software) residing on, or being used in conjunction with, the computing device. The unlocking code may be provided to a storage device such as a memory unit that is plugged into or otherwise attached to the computing device running the software, or may be provided to the user who enters the code manually. The unlocking code may unlock the entire software application, or just particular features of the software, such as a higher level of a game or a working version of an application that was otherwise provided as a demo version.