A client-side software registration component is leveraged to automatically obtain software registration information from a software distributor's server. The software registration information is then decoded to obtain a registration code for a software application. The registration code is then stored so that the software application can access it. Other instances include a server-side software registration component that interacts with an independent software vendor (ISV) to obtain software registration mechanisms for a software distributor. The software registration mechanisms are then utilized to encode software registration information. The software registration information is then made available to client-side registration components to facilitate in automatic software application registration.