SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING ROYALTY PAYMENTS

• US 20110153473A1
• Filed: 12/17/2009
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Thomas, Tracey R.
• Application Number:
  US12/640,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20110153473A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/31
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0185 Product, service or business identity fraud
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/123 Tax preparation or submission

Abstract

A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and valuated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

obtaining, by a computer and from a buyer via a standardized template, transaction data defining an IP licensing transaction;

analyzing, by the computer, the transaction data to determine royalty payment terms; and

facilitating collection of royalty payments based upon the royalty payment terms.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the loyalty payment terms comprise at least one of a payment schedule, a royalty base, a royalty calculation and a royalty report description.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending at least one of a royalty report reminder and a royalty payment reminder, wherein the sending is based upon a schedule defined at least partially by the royalty payment terms.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising analyzing a licensee report and calculating, based upon the royalty payment terms, at least one of a royalty due amount and a royalty base, wherein the licensee report is associated with the IP licensing transaction.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising sending a royalty invoice to the licensee.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving a royalty payment associated with the royalty invoice.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

verifying the royalty payment based upon the royalty invoice; and

at least one of crediting an account of a licensor, sending the payment to a licensor and rejecting the payment.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of i) the royalty payment is paid using a transaction account and ii) the crediting an account comprises crediting a transaction account.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising performing an automated audit of the licensee report, wherein the automated audit is based upon the transaction data.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising sending an audit report based upon the automated audit.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

analyzing the transaction data to determine audit requirements; and

creating an audit checklist to facilitate an audit of licensee data associated with the licensed IP, wherein the licensed IP is associated with the IP licensing transaction.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the audit checklist includes licensing restrictions, wherein the licensing restrictions comprise at least one of a field of use, a geographic restriction, a sublicensing restriction and a customer restriction.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a contract associated with the IP licensing transaction, wherein the obtaining the transaction data comprises parsing the contract.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an inquiry comprising requested IP asset attributes;

searching an intellectual property (IP) asset database based upon the inquiry, wherein the IP asset database includes IP for sale;

determining a match of an IP asset and the requested IP asset attributes;

identifying the IP asset to the buyer; and

facilitating the IP licensing transaction based upon the IP asset.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the facilitating comprises receiving input associated with the IP licensing transaction, wherein the transaction data is defined at least partially by the input.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising creating a report based upon the IP licensing transaction and sending the report to a license recording authority.

11. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining a penalty based upon the automated audit and the transaction data.

18. A system comprising:

a network interface;

a processor configured to execute a computer program;

a memory; and

the computer program configured to;

obtain, from a buyer via a standardized template, transaction data defining an IP licensing transaction;

analyze the transaction data to determine royalty payment terms; and

facilitate collection of royalty payments based upon the royalty payment terms.

19. A tangible computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:

obtaining, by a computer and from a buyer via a standardized template, transaction data defining an IP licensing transaction;

analyzing, by the computer, the transaction data to determine royalty payment terms; and

facilitating collection of royalty payments based upon the royalty payment terms.

20. A method, comprising:

obtaining, by a computer and from a buyer via a standardized template, transaction data defining a patent assignment transaction associated with a patent;

analyzing, by the computer, the transaction data to determine a management fee payment schedule;

facilitating payment of management fees for the patent based upon the management fee payment schedule, wherein the facilitating comprises at least one of sending a reminder to an assignee to make a payment and sending a payment to a government authority.