Integrated media management and rights distribution apparatus

• US 20070073626A1
• Filed: 08/28/2006
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ramond Haynes, Russell Reeder
• Original Assignee: Ramond Haynes, Russell Reeder
• Inventors: Haynes, Ramond, Reeder, Russell
• Application Number:
  US11/511,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20070073626A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce

Abstract

The present invention advantageously provides an integrated rights management and licensing system for storing, researching, buying, and selling intellectual property rights. In one embodiment, the present invention utilizes a rights owner application, a central repository, and a licensing application to integrate the management, researching and licensing of intellectual property. Accordingly, the present invention optionally allows intellectual property owners and consumers to conduct real-time licensing transactions over a network. Furthermore, the data repository optionally determines availability of intellectual property rights through bi-directional hierarchical navigation and implied data relations.

Claims

1. A media rights licensing apparatus, comprising:

a repository database stored in computer readable memory configured to store pricing rules and an indication as to which rights associated with a first media property are available and which rights associated with the first media property are unavailable as a result of existing licenses; and

a rights exchange application stored in computer readable memory and coupled to the repository database, the rights exchange application configured to;

receive over a network a licensing request provided by a potential human licensee related to a first media property;

determine which rights are available for the first media property via a search of the repository database, wherein the repository database indicates which rights are unavailable as a result of existing licenses;

conduct a licensing transaction with respect to a first right associated with the first media property; and

provide a license for the first right at least partly in response to a determination that the first right is available.