JOINTLY AUCTIONING EXPIRING DOMAIN NAMES
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising the steps of:
- A) determining, by at least one server, whether an expiration date of at least one domain name is within a predetermined timeframe;
B) upon a determination that said expiration date is not within said predetermined timeframe, ending said method; and
C) upon a determination that said expiration date is within said predetermined timeframe;
i) transmitting an electronic request, prior to said expiration date and via a network, to a registrant of said at least one domain name, said electronic request requesting an agreement to jointly sell said at least one domain name for a fee and to share said fee;
ii) receiving an electronic communication, prior to said expiration date and via said network, from said registrant, said electronic communication comprising said agreement to jointly sell said at least one domain name to a third party for said fee and to share said fee;
iii) selling, via said at least one server, said at least one domain name to said third party; and
iv) sharing said fee with said registrant.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods of the present inventions allow for jointly auctioning expiring domain names. An exemplary method may comprise determining (perhaps by a server) whether a domain name'"'"'s registration may expire within a predetermined timeframe. If it is determined that the registration will expire within the timeframe, the domain name registrant may be contacted (prior to the domain name'"'"'s expiration) to request an agreement to jointly sell the domain name and to share the resultant sales fee. If the parties agree, the domain name may then be sold (perhaps via a server) to a third party and the resultant fee may be shared with the registrant.
32 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method, comprising the steps of:
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A) determining, by at least one server, whether an expiration date of at least one domain name is within a predetermined timeframe; B) upon a determination that said expiration date is not within said predetermined timeframe, ending said method; and C) upon a determination that said expiration date is within said predetermined timeframe; i) transmitting an electronic request, prior to said expiration date and via a network, to a registrant of said at least one domain name, said electronic request requesting an agreement to jointly sell said at least one domain name for a fee and to share said fee; ii) receiving an electronic communication, prior to said expiration date and via said network, from said registrant, said electronic communication comprising said agreement to jointly sell said at least one domain name to a third party for said fee and to share said fee; iii) selling, via said at least one server, said at least one domain name to said third party; and iv) sharing said fee with said registrant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method performed by at least one microprocessor executing a plurality of instructions stored on at least one computer-readable media, said method comprising the step of:
- contacting, prior to an expiration date of at least one domain name and via an electronic communication transmitted via a network, at least one registrant of said least one domain name to request an agreement to jointly sell said domain name for a fee and to share said fee, wherein said expiration date falls within a predetermined timeframe.
- View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method, comprising the steps of:
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A) monitoring, once per day by at least one server, an expiration date of at least one domain name by searching a WHOIS records database; B) determining, by said at least one server, whether said expiration date is within a predetermined timeframe; C) upon a determination that said expiration date is not within said predetermined timeframe, ending said method; D) upon a determination that said expiration date is within said predetermined timeframe; i) generating, by said at least one server, an expiring domain name database accessible via the Internet comprising each of said at least one domain name whose expiration date is within said predetermined timeframe; ii) sending, by said server via the Internet, an email to a registrant of said at least one domain name, said email requesting an agreement to jointly sell said at least one domain name for a fee and to share said fee and comprising a link to an agreement form comprising a plurality of terms and conditions of said agreement; E) receiving said agreement from said registrant via an electronic communication transmitted over the Internet; F) selling, via said at least one server, said domain name to a third party by; i) placing a transfer hold on said at least one domain name; ii) offering said at least one domain name for sale by listing said at least one domain name for sale on a domain name sales website; iii) receiving a request to purchase said at least one domain name from said third party; iv) receiving said fee from said third party; v) registering said at least one domain name to said third party; and vi) releasing said transfer hold on said at least one domain name; and G) sharing said fee with said registrant.
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Specification