The invention suggests providing in a processing system a licence controller (1), for controlling use of a resource by processes (3, 5, 7); for each process to be controlled, there is provided an inter-process communication (9, 11) between the process and the licence controller. A process and the licence controller exchange through the inter-process communication of the process information regarding actual and allowed use of the resource by the process. According to this information, the process may be controlled, be it on a self-control basis or through control of the licence controller.Use of the resource to be dynamically adapted; high availability is guaranteed since processes may operate even when the licence controller fails.