Systems and methods for managing, maximizing and clearing contractually based media assets

• US 20070265980A1
• Filed: 05/15/2006
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mukesh Sehgal
• Original Assignee: Mukesh Sehgal
• Inventors: Sehgal, Mukesh
• Application Number:
  US11/434,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20070265980A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]

Abstract

A method for managing, maximizing and clearing media assets, the method comprising the steps of: inputting at least one asset into a title maintenance module; assigning at least one client value relevant to a client; assigning rights information to each asset; searching for at least one asset for a specific time period according to the rights information to provide programming; searching and ensuring rights clearance according to the rights information; and tracking actual usage of the asset.

Claims

1. A method for managing, maximizing and clearing digital assets, said method comprising the steps of:

inputting at least one asset into a title maintenance module;

assigning at least one client value relevant to a client;

assigning rights information to each said at least one asset;

searching for at least one asset for a specific time period according to said rights information to provide programming;

searching and ensuring rights clearance according to said rights information; and

tracking actual usage of said at least one asset.

2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

scheduling said programming.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein said rights information is selected from the group consisting of rights, restrictions, promotional, editing, exhibition, elemental, talent, territory, license period, language, networks, exclusivity and hold backs.

4. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

inputting business terms.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein said business terms are selected from the group consisting of warranty clause, text clause, payment terms, rights granted, license period, license territory, special provisions, residuals, distribution, barter window, editing rights, legal disclaimer.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein said deal values are selected from the group consisting of title details, versions, title attributes, notifications, contributors, options, tracking events and rights

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein said deliverables are selected from the group consisting of marketing materials, master, master complete full screen, music cue sheet, trailer, title art, synopsis, black and white stills, promo clips, cast/crew, promotion stills, ad booklets and press book.

8. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

inputting at least one finance asset;

inputting at least one finance liability; and

inputting at least one payment detail.

9. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

searching for at least one asset or deal according to selected parameters to provide search results; and

exporting said search results.

10. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

inputting at least one deal according to deal values; and

tracking the stage of each said at least one deal;

11. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

tracking at least one deliverable.

13. A method as in claim 11, wherein said deliverable is selected from the group consisting of deliverables are selected from the group consisting of marketing materials, master, master complete full screen, music cue sheet, trailer, title art, synopsis, black and white stills, promo clips, cast/crew, promotion stills, ad booklets and press book.

14. A method as in claim 4, further comprising the step of:

expensing elements according to said business terms.

15. A method as in claim 4, further comprising the step of:

amortizing assets according to said business terms.

16. A method as in claim 4, further comprising the step of:

making a payment according to said business terms.

17. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

searching for underutilized assets;

providing a list of said underutilized assets; and

determining a list of potential licensees for said underutilized assets.

18. A system for managing, maximizing and clearing digital assets, said system comprising:

an acquisitions module containing asset information associated with at least one digital asset;

a development module, wherein said development module tracks and manages said at least one digital asset;

a finance module;

a distribution module, wherein said distribution module manage content rights associated with said at least one digital asset; and

a program planning module.

19. A system as in claim 18, further comprising an enterprise performance management module, wherein said enterprise performance management modules provides operations and performance information.

20. A system as in claim 18, wherein said acquisitions module tracks and manages holdbacks, exclusives, and all other title right details.

21. A system as in claim 18, wherein said asset information includes rights information, business terms and deal values.

22. A method as in claim 21, wherein said business terms are selected from the group consisting of warranty clause, text clause, payment terms, delivery information, rights granted, license period, license territory, special provisions, residuals, distribution, barter window editing rights, legal disclaimer.

23. A method as in claim 21, wherein said deal values are selected from the group consisting of title details, versions, title attributes, approval requests, notifications, contributors, options, tracking events and rights.

24. A system as in claim 18, wherein said rights information is selected from the group consisting of rights, restrictions, promotional, editing, exhibition, elemental, talent, territory, license period, language, networks, exclusivity and hold backs, wherein said development module ensures compliance and payment obligations.

25. A system as in claim 18, wherein said development module automatically generates contracts using standard business terms and templates.

26. A system as in claim 18, wherein said development module generates a rights bible.

27. A system as in claim 18, wherein said development module schedules milestones by calendar or event.

28. A system as in claim 18, wherein said distribution module generates contracts.

29. A system as in claim 18, wherein said distribution module tracks and manages distribution deals for said at least one digital asset.

30. A system as in claim 18, wherein said distribution module tracks and manages title rights for said at least one digital asset.

31. A system as in claim 18, wherein said distribution module generates a list of at least one underutilized asset.

32. A system as in claim 18, wherein said finance module tracks and manages at least one payment associated with said at least one digital asset.

33. A system as in claim 18, wherein said finance module configures amortization rules-based schedules.

34. A system as in claim 18, wherein said finance module integrates with at least one third party financial system to permit financial forecasting.

35. A system as in claim 18, wherein said program planning module creates at least one program schedule containing at least two digital assets according to said asset information.

36. A system as in claim 35, wherein said at least one program schedule is according to maximized ratings and lower cost.

37. A system as in claim 18, wherein said program planning module validates exhibition and territorial rights in real time.

38. A system as in claim 18, wherein said program planning module manages ancillary content.

39. A system as in claim 38, wherein said ancillary content is selected from the group consisting of MPAA ratings, script synopsis and cast.

40. A system as in claim 38, further consisting of a title maintenance module containing at least one title with title information.

41. A system as in claim 39, wherein said title information is selected from the group consisting of title ID, also known as, short name, number of episodes, network source, title source, title status, title group, title type, title format, MPAA ratings, release year, cast, genre, awards, content, holidays, standards, classes, regulations details