DOWNLOADABLE MULTIMEDIA WITH ACCESS CODES

• US 20100325182A1
• Filed: 06/17/2009
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ganz
• Original Assignee: GANZ An Ontario Partnership Consisting of 2121200 Ontario Incorporated and 2121812 Ontario Incorporated
• Inventors: Ganz, Howard
• Application Number:
  US12/486,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20100325182A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/957
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Multimedia items are legally downloaded with a code usable on another website. The codes can be used once or a set number of times in order to encourage legal downloading of multimedia through positive incentives such as bonus content (e.g., codes); however the multimedia items themselves can be viewed or accessed multiple times.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

using a computer for downloading an item of multimedia which includes a code associated therewith, said code being separate from said item of multimedia, and said code being usable by a user separate from a playing of the multimedia; and

using the computer for entering said code on a website to obtain content on the website.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the code used on the website can only be used a single time on the website.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the code used on the website can only be used a set number of times on the website.

4. A method as in claim 1, further comprising using the computer for playing the multimedia.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein said content on the website comprises content associated with said multimedia.

6. A method as in claim 1, where said content on the website is a virtual item which can be interacted with on the website, and further comprising interacting with the content on the website separate from playing the multimedia.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein said multimedia is music.

8. A method as in claim 5, wherein said multimedia is music, and said content on the website comprises content associated with a subject of the music.

9. A method as in claim 5, wherein said multimedia is music, and said content on the website comprises content associated with an artist of the music.

10. A method as in claim 1, wherein said multimedia is a video.

11. A method as in claim 5, wherein said multimedia is a video, and said content on the website comprises content associated with a subject of the video.

12. A method as in claim 1, wherein said multimedia is a ring tone.

13. A method as in claim 5, wherein said multimedia is a ring tone, and said content on the website comprises content associated with an object that could be associated with the ring tone.

14. A method as in claim 1, wherein said content obtained from the website is a ring tone.

15. A method comprising:

using a computer for hosting a website that controls obtaining items of multimedia and allows selling said items of multimedia;

using the computer for obtaining plural codes which are usable on the website, each code being usable on the website to automatically obtain content on the website detecting a request for download of a first multimedia item;

first controlling a download by a first user of the first multimedia item along with a first code from said plural codes, said first code associated with said first multimedia item;

preventing said first code from being downloaded again after said first controlling;

second controlling a download by a second user of the first multimedia item along with a second code from said plural codes, said second code associated with said first multimedia item; and

preventing said second code from being downloaded again after said first controlling.

16. A method as in claim 15, wherein said content on said website is content which cannot be obtained without said code.

17. A method as in claim 15, wherein said first and second controlling comprises providing an option to a user of multiple different options of what the code will represent on the website.

18. A method as in claim 15, wherein said first and second codes represent content on another website that is associated with said first multimedia item.

19. A method as in claim 18, where said content on the website is a virtual item which can be interacted with on the another website, and further comprising interacting with the content on the another website separate from playing the first multimedia item.

20. A method as in claim 15, wherein said multimedia is music.

21. A method as in claim 16, wherein said multimedia is music, and said content on the another website comprises content associated with a subject of the music.

22. A method as in claim 16, wherein said multimedia is music, and said content on the another website comprises content associated with an artist of the music.

23. A method as in claim 15, wherein said multimedia is a video.

24. A method as in claim 15, wherein one of said codes represents a ring tone.

25. A method as in claim 15, wherein said multimedia is a ring tone.

26. A method as in claim 18, wherein said multimedia is a ring tone, and said content on the website comprises content associated with an object that could be associated with the ring tone.

27. A method comprising:

using a computer for downloading an item of multimedia which includes a bonus item associated therewith, said bonus item being separate from said item of multimedia, and said bonus item being usable by a user separate from a playing of the multimedia; and

obtaining said bonus item separately from obtaining said item of multimedia.

28. A method as in claim 27, wherein said bonus item is a ring tone.