1. A method for automatically tracking and enabling the operation of a product, comprising: (a) causing the product to be manufactured and obtaining a fingerprint that identifies the product; (b) receiving, from a customer, an order for the product, wherein at or after the time of the order, a key is given to the customer that enables the customer to register the product electronically, wherein sales information regarding the customer, the product, and the order is collected; (c) storing the fingerprint and the sales information in a database accessible by a vendor of the product; (d) receiving, from the customer, a request to register the product, the request including the key; (e) obtaining a candidate fingerprint purportedly associated with the product and comparing the candidate fingerprint with the fingerprint that identifies the product; (f) if the candidate fingerprint matches the fingerprint, storing information associating the customer with the product and automatically sending the product data that enables the product to operate until a license associated with the product expires.