Methods and apparatuses for financing and marketing a creative work

• US 20040015427A1
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fan Funded LLC
• Original Assignee: Artistshare Incorporated
• Inventors: Camelio, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 7,885,887 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system and method for raising financing and/or revenue by artist for a project, where the project may be a creative work of the artist. The method including registering, by at least one artist, with a centralized database, at least one or more projects, offering, by the at least one artist, an entitlement related to the artist in exchange for capital for the project of the artist. The method and system may also include searching, by an interested party, the centralized database, for the least one artist, registering, by the interested party, with the centralized database and accepting the offer by the interested party for the entitlement related to the project. The capital may then be forwarded to the artist and the entitlement provided to the interested party.

Claims

1. A method for generating capital for a project of an artist comprising:

transmitting data from a server to a client via a network for presenting an offer to an interested party, the offer for an entitlement in exchange for capital for a project, the project comprising at least one or more creative works;

receiving at the client such data and presenting the offer to the interested party;

accepting the offer by the interested party;

receiving data at the server from the client accepting the offer; and

processing of the acceptance data by the server.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the capital is used to finance the project.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the project is an incomplete project or a completed project.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing the capital from the interested party to an escrow account for the author.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing the capital to the artist.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising providing the entitlement to the interested party.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the capital is provided to the artist at a predetermined time.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the entitlement is provided to the interested party at a predetermined time.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the entitlement comprises at least one of:

an original of the creative work, a copy of the creative work, a visit with the artist, ownership rights to the creative work, a share of the proceeds of sales of the creative work and services.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the creative work is selected from the group consisting of:

sound creations, written creations, picture creations, motion-picture creations, a multi-media creation and/or a syndicated content creation.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the creative work upon completion is forwarded to the interested party via at least one of streaming media, at least one downloadable file, mail order, in person and/or by telephone.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein an interested party is selected from the group consisting of:

a fan, a patron, an investor, an associated industry professional, and a business entity.

13. The method according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined time is a time in which the creative work is completed.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the offer is presented in at least one of the following:

an auction, a point of sale, a subscription, a license, a pre-sale of the authored work, and a sponsorship.

15. A method for generating capital for a project of an artist comprising:

communicating an offer to an interested party for an entitlement at a predetermined level of patronage among a plurality of levels of patronage in exchange for a corresponding predetermined amount of capital for the project, wherein the project comprises at least one creative work;

acceptance of the offer by the interested party for patronage in the project at one of the levels of patronage among the plurality of levels; and

providing entitlement in exchange for the capital.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the capital is used to finance the project.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the project is an incomplete project or a completed project.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising providing the capital to the artist.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the capital is provided by the interested party and kept in escrow until substantial completion of the project.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein a level of patronage comprises a particular entitlement for delivery to the interested party.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the entitlement is at least one of:

an original of the creative work, a copy of the creative work upon completion, a visit with the artist, ownership rights to the creative work, a share of the proceeds of sales of the creative work, distribution of the creative work and any combination thereof.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein the capital is provided at a predetermined time.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein the entitlement is provided to the interested party at a predetermined time.

24. The method according to claim 15, wherein the project is selected from the group consisting of:

music/audio projects, film projects, printed/written projects, services project, visual art projects, multimedia projects, syndicated content projects and any creative work or service and any combination of the foregoing.

25. The method according to claim 15, wherein a result of the project is forwarded to the interested party via at least one of streaming media, one or more downloadable files, mail order, in person and/or by telephone.

26. The method according to claim 15, wherein the interested party is selected from the group consisting of:

a fan, a patron, an investor, an associated industry professional, and a business entity.

27. The method according to claim 22, wherein the predetermined time is a time in which the project has been substantially completed.

28. The method according to claim 15, wherein the offer is presented in at least one of the following manners:

an auction, a point of sale, a subscription, a license, a pre-sale of the creative work, and a sponsorship.

29. A system for generating capital for a project of an artist comprising:

transmitting means for transmitting data from a server to a client via a network for presenting an offer to an interested party, the offer for an entitlement in exchange for capital for the project, wherein the project comprises one or more creative works;

receiving means for receiving at the client such data and presenting the offer to the interested party;

transmitting means for transmitting data back to the server from the client accepting the offer; and

processing means for processing the acceptance data by the server.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein the capital is used to finance the project.

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein the project is an incomplete project or a completed project.

32. A computer readable medium having computer instructions provided thereon for enabling a computer system to perform a method for generating capital for a project, wherein the project comprises one or more creative works, the method comprising:

transmitting data from a server to a client via a network for presenting an offer to an interested party, the offer for an entitlement in exchange for capital for a project;

receiving at the client such data and presenting the offer to the interested party;

transmitting data back to the server from the client accepting the offer; and

processing the acceptance data by the server.

33. The computer readable medium according to claim 32, wherein the capital is used to finance the project.

34. The computer readable medium according to claim 33, wherein the project is an incomplete project or a completed project.

53. The method according to claim 32, wherein the capital is used to finance the project.

54. The method according to claim 33, wherein the project is an incomplete project or a completed project.

35. A system for raising capital for a project, the project comprising one or more creative works of an artist, the system comprising:

communicating means for communicating an offer to an interested party for patronage in the project at a predetermined level of patronage among a plurality of levels of patronage in exchange for a corresponding predetermined amount of capital for the project, wherein each level of patronage includes an associated entitlement; and

acceptance means for accepting the offer by a patron for patronage in the project at one of the levels of participation among the plurality of levels.

36. The system according to claim 35, wherein the capital is used to finance the project.

37. The system according to claim 36, wherein the project is an incomplete project or a completed project.

38. A computer readable medium for enabling a computer system to perform a method for raising capital for a project, the project comprising one or more creative works, the method comprising:

communicating an offer to an interested party for patronage in the project at a predetermined level of patronage among a plurality of levels of patronage in exchange for a corresponding predetermined amount of capital;

acceptance of the offer by the interested party for participation in the project at one of the predetermined levels of patronage among the plurality of levels; and

providing an entitlement to the interested party in exchange for the capital.

39. The computer readable medium according to claim 38, wherein the capital is used to finance the project.

40. The computer readable medium according to claim 39, wherein the project is an incomplete project or a completed project.

41. A method of managing a right in a creative work comprising:

collecting information on a plurality of creative works, each creative work having one or more corresponding rights for sale or license;

storing the information in a searchable database;

offering individuals an opportunity to purchase at least one of the one or more right in at least one of the creative works of the plurality of creative works; and

purchasing the one or more rights.

42. The method according to claim 41, wherein the right comprises at least one of:

copyright, trademark, patent, manufacturing, distribution, publishing, printing, and/or any right requiring permission of the owner of the right.

43. The method according to claim 41, wherein the information comprises at least a category of a respective creative work and the current owner of the respective creative work.

44. The method according to claim 41, wherein purchasing the right comprises buying or licensing the right.

45. The method according to claim 44, wherein a purchase price is determined through an auction.

46. A system for generating capital for a project of an artist, the project comprising one or more creative works, the system comprising:

a database for storing information related to a plurality of creative works, each creative work having a respective owner; and

a server hosting an application for presenting an offer related to a respective creative work to an interested party, the offer for an entitlement related to the creative work in exchange for capital for the project, wherein the server communicates with a client for presenting the offer to the interested party.

47. The system according to claim 46, wherein the capital is used to finance the project.

48. The system according to claim 47, wherein the project is an incomplete project or a completed project.

49. The system according to claim 46, wherein the client is in communication with the server over a computer network.

50. The system according to claim 46, wherein the entitlement comprises at least one of an original of the creative work, a copy of the creative work, a visit with the author, ownership rights to the creative work and a share of the proceeds of sales of the creative work.

51. The system according to claim 46, wherein the client comprises a kiosk for presenting the offer to the interested party.

52. A method of creating capital for an artist comprising:

registering, by at least one artist, with a centralized database, at least one or more of a completed creative work and/or one or more of an uncompleted creative work;

offering, by the at least one artist, an entitlement related to the at least one of the completed creative work and/or the at least one of the uncompleted creative work in exchange for capital for a project of the artist, the project comprising at least one or more second creative works;

searching, by an interested party, the centralized database, for the least one artist;

registering, by the interested party, with the centralized database;

accepting the offer, by the interested party, for the entitlement related to the at least one of a completed creative work and/or the at least one of an uncompleted creative work;

forwarding of the capital to the artist; and

receiving the entitlement by the interested party.

55. The method according to claim 52, wherein the entitlement comprises at least one of the following:

an original of the creative work, a copy of the creative work, merchandise, visit with the artist, participation in the project, and a subscription service related to the artist.

56. A system for creating capital for an artist comprising:

a server having one or more application programs operable from a remote client for;

registering, by at least one artist, with a centralized database, at least one or more of a completed creative work and/or one or more of an uncompleted creative work;

presenting an offer, by the at least one artist, to an interested party for an entitlement in exchange for capital for a project of the artist, the project comprising one or more second creative works;

presenting a query interface for allowing a search, by an interested party, of the centralized database, for the least one artist;

registering, by the interested party, with the at least one artist found in a query of the centralized database and/or a second database of interested parties; and

accepting of the offer by the remote client, by the interested party, for the entitlement.

57. The system according to claim 56, wherein the capital is used to finance the project.

58. The system according to claim 57, wherein the project is an incomplete project or a completed project.

59. The system according to claim 56, wherein the at least one or more application programs allows capital to be collected from the remote client and transferred to the artist.

60. The system according to claim 56, wherein the at least one or more application programs allows an entitlement to be conveyed to the interested party in exchange for the collected capital.

61. The method according to claim 56, wherein the entitlement comprises at least one of an original of the creative work, a copy of the creative work, merchandise, visit with the artist, participation in the project, an ownership or license right to the project, a royalty to the creative work.

62. The method according to claim 61, wherein the right comprises at least one of an intellectual property right to the creative work, a manufacturing right to manufacturer a product embodying the creative work, and a distribution right to distribute the creative work.

63. The method according to claim 56, wherein an interested party comprises at least one of:

an individual, a business entity, a recording company, a distribution company, and a holding company.

64. A web page for generating capital for a project of a first artist comprising:

an advertisement for the project of the first artist, the project comprising at least one creative work of the first artist;

a link regarding an offer for an entitlement related to the first artist in exchange for capital for the project, wherein the link allows the interested individual to accept the offer and provide the capital.

65. The web page according to claim 64, wherein the web page of the first artist further includes a second advertisement for a second artist and a link to a second web page, wherein the second web page includes one or more offers for sale of products related to the second artist.

66. The web page according to claim 65, wherein a percentage of each sale of a product related to the second artist is collected by the first artist.

67. The web page according to claim 64, wherein the capital is used to finance the project.

68. The web page according to claim 67, wherein the project is an incomplete project or a completed project.