The license can be activated without setting up an account (or sign in) but you provide the serial number for the printer – the software verifies the printer matches the serial number and it “phones home” to make sure the serial number is not already in use.
There is a revised (12/2018) EULA that attempts to clarify the license issue. I quote:
- Until You register a Scan Snap account, You may install and use the Software on any one (1) computer, tablet or other mobile device at a time. Installing, copying or sharing (or permitting the installation, copying or sharing) of the Software on more than one computer or other device is strictly prohibited and a material breach of this EULA. Once You register a Scan Snap account, You may install and use the Software on up to five (5) computers or devices in total. Details for Scan Snap account registration will be shown after You installed the Software.
- If the Product which You purchased is “ScanSnap iX1500” model, You may share and use the Product with up to four (4) users including You. If the Product which You purchased is any model other than “ScanSnap iX1500”, You may use the Product by yourself only, and shall not share the Product with any other person.
However the mention of 5 computers seems to be in error, I think that only applies to the iX1500. The documentation has plenty of confusing statements about the license, mostly a matter of being in fractured English.
Here’s the Account page in ScanSnap Home Preferences:
It shows that I’m licensed without an account. But the note at the bottom says that if I log in I can use it on multiple computers, which I’ve found (and a call to Fujitsu confirmed) is not the case.