1. Method comprising: at least one licensable hardware component (e.g., 58 et al.) for which a license has not been obtained prior to vending the TV, the licensable component providing a licensable feature; determining (202) whether an audio video device (12) is in a retail demonstration mode; responsive to a determination that the device is not in the retail demonstration mode, enabling (204) licensing fee triggering of a licensable component (58) such that activation of the licensable component triggers a license fee associated with the licensable component; responsive to a determination that the device is in the retail demonstration mode, enabling (206) activation of the licensable component for demonstration purposes without enabling licensing fee triggering of the licensable component such that activation of the licensable component does not trigger the license fee associated with the licensable component.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a processor (16) associated with the audio video device activates the licensable component without contacting an activation server.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the processor (16) presents an encryption element to unlock a license code stored in a protected region of a local storage (20) of the audio video device and that is inaccessible without the encryption element, the license code being used to activate the licensable component.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a processor (16) associated with the audio video device requests a server (98) to provide a license code needed to activate the licensable component in the retail demonstration mode at least in part by sending to the server a unique product ID along with the identity of the licensable component sought to be activated. 22

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the unique product ID is a combination of a serial number of the audio video device and a model number of the audio video device.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the unique product ID is a unique encryption key in the audio video device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a processor ( 16) associated with the audio video device presents on a display (28) of the audio video device a user interface (UI) (208) configured for enabling a viewer to establish whether the audio video device is in the retail demonstration mode, the UI presenting an option to select the retail demonstration mode.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a retail key must be entered by a viewer into a UI presented on the display to enter the retail demonstration mode, the retail key being provided only to retail outlets such that only by entering the retail key is the audio video device placed in the retail demonstration mode, failure to enter the retail key preventing the audio video device from being placed in the retail demonstration mode such that if the audio video device is never placed on display in a retail outlet but instead is vended directly out of the box, an end user cannot enter the retail demonstration mode and thereby avoid license fee triggering.

9. TV comprising: at least one licensable component (e.g., 58 et al.) for which a license has not been obtained prior to vending the TV, the licensable component providing a licensable feature; a TV display (28) ; and a processor (16) in the TV controlling the display, the processor executing software code associated with the TV to actuate the licensable component to provide a presentation on the display in accordance with the licensable feature without implementing a license fee payment therefor at least in part responsive to the TV being in a retail demonstration mode, 23 the processor (16) executing software code associated with the TV to actuate the licensable component to provide a presentation on the display in accordance with the licensable feature and implementing a license fee payment therefor at least in part responsive to the TV being in a post-vending mode.

10. The TV of claim 9, wherein the licensable component is a terrestrial broadcast advanced television systems committee (ATSC) demodulator assembly (58).

11. The TV of claim 9, wherein the licensable component is a video decoder (62).

12. The TV of claim 9, wherein the licensable component is an audio decoder (64).

13. The TV of claim 9, wherein the licensable component is a digital rights management component.

14. The TV of claim 9, wherein the licensable component is a web browser (26).

15. The TV of claim 9, wherein the licensable component is an electronic program guide (EPG) component.

16. Audio video display device (AVDD) (12) comprising: a licensable component (e.g., 58 et al.) providing a licensable function, the licensable function being available to present data on the AVDD without paying a license fee to exploit the licensable function when the AVDD is in a retail demonstration mode, whereas post-vending of the AVDD, the licensable function is available to present data on the AVDD only pursuant to a license fee transaction therefor being arranged.

17. The AVDD of Claim 16, wherein a processor (16) associated with the AVDD activates the licensable component without contacting an activation server. 24

18. The AVDD of Claim 16, wherein a processor (16) associated with the AVDD requests a server (98) to provide a license code needed to activate the licensable component in the retail demonstration mode at least in part by sending to the server a unique product ID along with the identity of the licensable component sought to be activated.

19. The AVDD of Claim 18, wherein the unique product ID is a combination of a serial number of the AVDD and a model number of the AVDD and/or a unique encryption key in the AVDD.

20. The AVDD of Claim 16, wherein a processor (16) associated with the audio video device presents on a display (28) of the audio video device a user interface (UI) (208) configured for enabling a viewer to establish whether the audio video device is in the retail demonstration mode, the UI presenting an option to select the retail demonstration mode.

We claim:
1. Method comprising:
at least one licensable hardware component (e.g., 58 et al.) for which a license has not been obtained prior to vending the TV, the licensable component providing a licensable feature; determining (202) whether an audio video device (12) is in a retail
demonstration mode;
responsive to a determination that the device is not in the retail
demonstration mode, enabling (204) licensing fee triggering of a licensable component
(58) such that activation of the licensable component triggers a license fee associated
with the licensable component;
responsive to a determination that the device is in the retail demonstration mode, enabling (206) activation of the licensable component for demonstration purposes without enabling licensing fee triggering of the licensable component such that activation of the licensable component does not trigger the license fee associated with the licensable component.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein a processor (16) associated with the audio video device activates the licensable component without contacting an activation server.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the processor (16) presents an encryption element to unlock a license code stored in a protected region of a local storage (20) of the audio video device and that is inaccessible without the encryption element, the license code being used to activate the licensable component.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein a processor (16) associated with the audio video device requests a server (98) to provide a license code needed to activate the licensable component in the retail demonstration mode at least in part by sending to the server a unique product ID along with the identity of the licensable component sought to be activated.
22

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the unique product ID is a combination of a serial number of the audio video device and a model number of the audio video device.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the unique product ID is a unique encryption key in the audio video device.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a processor ( 16) associated with the audio video device presents on a display (28) of the audio video device a user interface (UI) (208) configured for enabling a viewer to establish whether the audio video device is in the retail demonstration mode, the UI presenting an option to select the retail demonstration mode.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein a retail key must be entered by a viewer into a UI presented on the display to enter the retail demonstration mode, the retail key being provided only to retail outlets such that only by entering the retail key is the audio video device placed in the retail demonstration mode, failure to enter the retail key preventing the audio video device from being placed in the retail demonstration mode such that if the audio video device is never placed on display in a retail outlet but instead is vended directly out of the box, an end user cannot enter the retail demonstration mode and thereby avoid license fee triggering.
9. TV comprising:
at least one licensable component (e.g., 58 et al.) for which a license has not been obtained prior to vending the TV, the licensable component providing a licensable feature;
a TV display (28) ; and
a processor (16) in the TV controlling the display, the processor executing software code associated with the TV to actuate the licensable component to provide a presentation on the display in accordance with the licensable feature without implementing a license fee payment therefor at least in part responsive to the TV being in a retail demonstration mode,
23

the processor (16) executing software code associated with the TV to actuate the licensable component to provide a presentation on the display in accordance with the licensable feature and implementing a license fee payment therefor at least in part responsive to the TV being in a post-vending mode.
10. The TV of claim 9, wherein the licensable component is a terrestrial broadcast advanced
television systems committee (ATSC) demodulator assembly (58).
11. The TV of claim 9, wherein the licensable component is a video decoder (62).
12. The TV of claim 9, wherein the licensable component is an audio decoder (64).
13. The TV of claim 9, wherein the licensable component is a digital rights management component.
14. The TV of claim 9, wherein the licensable component is a web browser (26).
15. The TV of claim 9, wherein the licensable component is an electronic program guide (EPG) component.
16. Audio video display device (AVDD) (12) comprising:
a licensable component (e.g., 58 et al.) providing a licensable function, the licensable function being available to present data on the AVDD without paying a license fee to exploit the licensable function when the AVDD is in a retail demonstration mode, whereas post-vending of the AVDD, the licensable function is available to present data on the AVDD only pursuant to a license fee transaction therefor being arranged.
17. The AVDD of Claim 16, wherein a processor (16) associated with the AVDD activates
the licensable component without contacting an activation server.
24

18. The AVDD of Claim 16, wherein a processor (16) associated with the AVDD requests a server (98) to provide a license code needed to activate the licensable component in the retail demonstration mode at least in part by sending to the server a unique product ID along with the identity of the licensable component sought to be activated.
19. The AVDD of Claim 18, wherein the unique product ID is a combination of a serial number of the AVDD and a model number of the AVDD and/or a unique encryption key in the AVDD.
20. The AVDD of Claim 16, wherein a processor (16) associated with the audio video device presents on a display (28) of the audio video device a user interface (UI) (208) configured for enabling a viewer to establish whether the audio video device is in the retail demonstration mode, the UI presenting an option to select the retail demonstration mode.