a method for software distribution and compensation with replenishable advertisements is provided the software may be audio , a game , an application program , a database , or any other digital content . the method couples at least one advertisement to the software and provides the software / advertisement to a computer . the software / advertisement can then be installed on the computer and the computer can use both . while using the software , usage data is recorded on the computer and later posted to an external medium . the external medium may be a server associated with an advertiser or a financial institution . after a predetermine event but before the posting , at least one aspect of the software is prevented from being used . the predetermined event may be a number of times that the software is used , a lapse of time , or an attempt to use a certain portion of the software . after posting , the software can continue to be used .