License managing method, semiconductor device suitable for license management and license managing system

A license managing method including an execution device that executes software and a software storage device coupled to the execution device further includes a license storage device that stores license information indicating the number of licenses for permitting a license of the software, and the license managing method includes the step of license-managing of controlling storage of the software to be downloaded into the software storage device or execution of the software by the execution device based on the license information stored in the license storage device when the software whose license permission is required is downloaded.