Media item payment system and associated method of use

• US 20070094139A1
• Filed: 06/14/2006
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Oath Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Martinez, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US11/453,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20070094139A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A system and method of calculating payment associated with the use of a media item when a media item (whether it is a composite media item and/or media item portion) is purchased and/or used. In one embodiment, the system receives data indicating the use or purchase of a media item, references a media item database for a record associated with the media item, determines, from the record, whether the media item comprises one or more media item portions. Then, for each media item portion, the system determines the rights associated with the media item portion, the identity of a rights holder associated with said media item portion, and a price associated with said media item portion so as to calculate an appropriate payment to each identified rights holder.

Claims

1. A method of calculating payment associated with the use of a media item comprising:

receiving data indicating the use or purchase of a media item;

referencing a media item database for a record associated with said media item, said record comprising information associated with said media item;

determining, from said associated media item information in said record, whether said media item comprises one or more media item portions; and

determining, for each media item portion, rights associated with said media item portion, the identity of a rights holder associated with said media item portion, and a price associated with said media item portion so as to calculate an appropriate payment to each identified rights holder.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said use comprises combining said media item with another media item so as to create a composite media item.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said retailer comprises a web-based online store.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said record associated with said media item comprises a media item record.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said record associated with said media item comprises a rights holder record.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said information associated with said media item comprises a name associated with said media item.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said information associated with said media item comprises a universal resource locator associated with said media item.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said information associated with said media item comprises text indicating a set of rights associated with said media item.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said information associated with said media item comprises a pointer associated with a media item portion that makes up said media item.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said information associated with said media item comprises bank account information associated with said identified rights holder and said media item.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said media item comprises a data container format.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining whether said media item comprises one or more media item portions comprises examining said record for a pointer associated with each media item portion.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining whether said media item comprises one or more media item portions comprises examining said record for a universal resource locator associated with each media item portion.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said rights associated with said media item portion indicates whether said media item portion requires payment for said use or purchase.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said rights associated with said media item portion indicates whether said media item portion is available for non-commercial uses.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said rights associated with said media item portion indicates whether said media item portion is available for use in derivative works.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said rights holder comprises a record label.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said rights holder comprises a media company.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising collecting said calculated payment from an entity using or purchasing said media item.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising transferring said calculated payment to said rights holder.

21. A system of calculating payment associated with the use of a media item comprising:

a portion payment calculator component comprising code operable upon execution to;

receive data indicating the use or purchase of a media item;

reference a media item database for a record associated with said media item, said record comprising information associated with said media item;

determine from said associated media item information in said record, whether said media item comprises one or more media item portions; and

determine for each media item portion, rights associated with said media item portion, the identity of a rights holder associated with said media item portion, and a price associated with said media item portion so as to calculate an appropriate payment to each identified rights holder.