Software for operating a digital camera is installed in a personal
computer. The software takes out a serial number of the digital camera,
which is connected to the personal computer, when firstly booted. The
serial number is sent to a server via the internet. The server checks the
received serial number against ledger data. When the received serial
number is not registered, this serial number is recorded in the ledger
data. The server charges a dealer a royalty of the software in accordance
with a user number counted every predetermined period. The dealer
requests a monetary facility to transfer the royalty of the software to
an account of a right holder of the software.