A method and system for preventing piracy of a given software application which makes use of a communications network, such as the Internet. A given software application, when initially installed on a user system, is non-functional until activated by a remote service provider. The user must provide the remote service provider with user data, such as the user's personal identity information and the unique software identification code relating to the specific software. User data is compared to archived data to determine if the user is a pirator of the software. If the user is not a pirator, then the remote service provider transmits service data, such as an activation code, to the user system. Once activated, the software becomes fully operational, and the user is allowed complete access to its functions.