Electronic music/media distribution system

• US 20050192871A1
• Filed: 02/15/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Music Group Incorporated (Universal Music Group NV)
• Original Assignee: Universal Music Group Incorporated (Universal Music Group NV)
• Inventors: Williams, Peter, Radbel, Dmitry, Galuten, Albhy
• Granted Patent: US 7,624,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

A method for distributing content over a network by providing a predetermined electronic contract for distributing the content between a retailer and a distributor, wherein terms of the contract are independent of the content and the retailer distributes the content to a consumer and the distributor has rights in the content. A step of presenting a candidate retail offer for the distribution of the content to the consumer and receiving a request from the consumer to exercise the candidate retail offer. Finally, validating the candidate retail offer for the distribution of the content by accessing the electronic contract and determining if the candidate retail offer is consistent with the electronic contract. Upon successful validation, providing the content to the consumer, receiving compensation information from the consumer indicating at least the amount of compensation for the content provided and allocating the compensation according to the electronic contract.

Claims

1. A method for distributing content over a network, comprising the steps of:

providing a predetermined electronic contract for distributing the content between a retailer and a distributor, wherein terms of the contract are independent of the content and the retailer distributes the content to a consumer and the distributor has rights in the content;

presenting a candidate retail offer for the distribution of the content to the consumer;

receiving a request from the consumer to exercise the candidate retail offer;

validating the candidate retail offer for the distribution of the content by accessing the electronic contract and determining if the candidate retail offer is consistent with the electronic contract;

upon successful validation, providing the content to the consumer;

receiving compensation information from the consumer indicating at least the amount of compensation for the content provided; and

allocating the compensation according to the electronic contract.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the validating step further comprises the steps of:

referencing, in the electronic contract, one or more terms for distribution of the content;

comparing the candidate retail offer to the one or more distribution terms; and

validating the candidate retail offer when the candidate retail offer is consistent with the one or more distribution terms.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein the allocating step further comprises allocating to at least one of the retailer and the distributor a predetermined portion of the compensation according to one or more financial terms in the electronic contract.

4. The method as in claim 2, wherein the one or more distribution terms comprise contractual terms of agreement for distribution of the content by the retailer.

5. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

providing the electronic contract at a central location;

receiving the request from the consumer at the central location; and

receiving the payment information at the central location.

6. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

dynamically updating the electronic contract; and

applying the electronic contract to the distribution of the content only after receiving the request from the consumer.

7. The method as in claim 2, further comprising:

dynamically updating the distribution terms; and

referencing the one or more distribution terms only after receiving the request from the consumer.

8. The method as in claim 1, wherein the content is at least one of electronic content and physical content.

9. A method for validating an offer for the distribution of electronic content by a distributor and retailer over a network, comprising the steps of:

a. receiving one or more electronic distribution contracts, between the distributor and the retailer, governing the distribution of the electronic content;

b. receiving a candidate offer from the retailer;

c. checking the candidate offer against the one or more electronic distribution contracts upon receiving the candidate offer, wherein the checking step comprises the step of referencing terms of the one or more electronic distribution contracts in a predetermined order; and

d. sending an indication of validation to the retailer when the candidate offer is determined to be consistent with the one or more electronic contracts.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

a. receiving one or more electronic financial contracts from a distributor, each representing one or more terms for settling a transaction, wherein the one or more electronic financial contracts are between the distributor and the retailer;

b. providing a candidate retail offer for the electronic content to the consumer;

c. receiving a request from the consumer to exercise the candidate retail offer for the electronic content;

d. distributing the electronic content to the consumer;

e. receiving payment information from the consumer indicating at least the compensation paid for the electronic content; and

f. referencing the one or more electronic financial contracts to determine the portion of compensation to be allocated to the distributor.

11. The method as in claim 9, wherein the predetermined order indicates a hierarchical relationship between the one or more electronic contracts.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving the electronic distribution contracts at a central location; and

receiving the candidate offer at the central location.

13. The method as in claim 9, further comprising:

dynamically updating the one or more electronic distribution contracts; and

referencing the terms of the one or more electronic distribution contracts only after receiving a request from a consumer.

14. A method for distributing content over a network, comprising the steps of:

providing a first electronic contract for distributing the content between a first value chain participant and a second value chain participant;

receiving a request from the second value chain participant for the delivery of the content from the first value chain participant;

comparing the request to the first electronic contract, upon receiving the request;

validating the request if the request is consistent with the first electronic contract; and

upon successful validation, delivering the content to the second value chain participant.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps:

providing a second electronic contract for distributing the content between the first value chain participant and the second value chain participant;

comparing the request to the second electronic contract;

validating the request if the request is consistent with the second electronic contract; and

upon successful validation, delivering the content to the second value chain participant.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the first electronic contract is stored at one of a same network location and a different network location as the second electronic contract.

17. A method for distributing content over a network, comprising the steps of:

providing a first electronic contract for distributing the content between a first value chain participant and a second value chain participant;

receiving a request from the second value chain participant to distribute the content to a third value chain participant;

comparing the request to the first electronic contract;

validating the request if the request is consistent with the first electronic contract; and

upon successful validation, permitting the delivery the content to the third value chain participant.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

upon successful transaction, compensating at least one of the first value chain participant and the second value chain participant according to the electronic contract.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting a handle identifying the content from the second value chain participant to a third value chain participant; and

accessing, by the third value chain participant, the handle to request the content from the first value chain participant.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first electronic contract includes contractual terms of agreement including at least one of how many times the content was distributed between value chain participants, a date since an original release of the content and a date since a certain transaction;

further comprising the steps of;

transmitting a handle identifying the content from the third value chain participant to a fourth value chain participant, wherein the handle identifies at least one of how many times the content was distributed between value chain participants, a date since the original release of the content, a date since the transaction by the third value chain participant;

accessing the handle, by the fourth value chain participant, to make a second request the content from the first value chain participant;

comparing the second request to the first electronic contract;

validating the second request if the second request is consistent with the first electronic contract; and

upon successful validation, delivering the content to the fourth value chain participant.

21. A method for delivering electronic content using a computer network comprising the steps of:

a. sending a handle from a first consumer to a second consumer;

b. at a central location, receiving from said second consumer a request to render the electronic content identified by the handle;

c. determining whether the second consumer is authorized to render the electronic content; and

d. at the second consumer, rendering the electronic content when the second consumer is authorized to use the electronic content.

22. The method as in claim 21, further comprising the step of providing the electronic content identified by the handle to the second consumer.

23. The method as in claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

a. providing the second consumer with one or more offers for the electronic content; and

b. receiving from the second consumer a selection of one of the offers for the electronic content.

24. The method as in claim 21, wherein the determining step further comprises the steps of:

a. referencing an offer associated with the handle received from the second consumer;

b. verifying the validity of the associated offer; and

c. determining whether the request to render is consistent with the associated offer.

25. A method for distributing electronic content using a computer network comprising the steps of:

a. creating a handle relating to the electronic content, wherein the handle only refers to the electronic content;

b. selecting, by a user, the handle;

c. determining an offer for the selected handle at a reference service; and

d. returning the offer to the user.