Hardware simulation with access restrictions

Access is restricted to software objects that simulate the operation of electronic devices from register transfer level descriptions thereof. Objects are initially provided in an inaccessible state, typically as object code. A "player" module mediates user access to the simulation object, allowing the user to link to it and otherwise perform the simulation it encodes, but only in response to satisfaction of one or more authorization criteria. The nature of these criteria depend on the reason for the restriction and the party benefited.