Method and system for entertainment production financing

• US 7,062,457 B1
• Filed: 09/22/2000
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IAC/InterActiveCorp (Match Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IAC/InterActiveCorp (Match Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kaufman, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, Vincent
• Assistant Examiner(s): FELTEN, DANIEL S
• Application Number:
  US09/668,721
• Time in Patent Office: 2,090 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35, 705/36, 705/37
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A system for purchasing from an intermediary a right to a payment related to the performance of an entertainment production. The system comprises a transaction server for generating web page data for a web page that displays information concerning one or more entertainment productions, and an offer to purchase one or more related participation units. The transaction server is adapted to transmit and receive such web page data via the Internet. A plurality of client information appliances, each adapted to receive via the Internet such web page data, and generate and display a web page based on such data, and further adapted to transmit information to the transaction server via the Internet, including acceptance of an offer to purchase a participation unit.

Claims

1. A method implemented by a programmed computer system for entertainment production financing comprising:

a) arranging a first contractual relationship between a first entertainment company and a financing entity, wherein at least a first entertainment production is associated with the first entertainment company and wherein the entertainment company provides a contractual interest to the financing entity in the first entertainment production;

b) identifying a first fixed cash payment and a first contingent amount;

c) calculating the first fixed cash payment;

d) calculating on a computer the first contingent amount;

e) settling the first fixed cash payment from the financing entity to the first entertainment company;

f) settling the first contingent amount from the first entertainment company to the financing entity;

g) arranging a second contractual relationship between a second entertainment company and the financing entity, wherein at least a second entertainment production is associated with the second entertainment company and wherein the entertainment company provides a contractual interest to the financing entity in the second entertainment production;

h) identifying a second fixed cash payment and a second contingent amount;

i) calculating the second fixed cash payment;

j) calculating on a computer the second contingent amount;

k) settling the second fixed cash payment from the financing entity to the second entertainment company;

l) settling the second contingent amount from the second entertainment company to the financing entity;

m) establishing an operating entity that is associated with the financing entity to securitize the contractual interest of the financing entity;

n) issuing a first registered fixed-price interest by the operating entity, wherein the first registered fixed-price interest is associated with the contractual interest in the first entertainment production;

o) issuing a second registered fixed-price interest by the operating entity, wherein the second registered fixed-price interest is associated with the contractual interest in the second entertainment production;

p) transmitting from at least a first computer for a display of an offer to purchase a first registered fixed-price interest to a holder;

q) receiving on at least the first computer the display of the offer to purchase the first registered fixed-price interest;

r) selecting on at least the first computer the offer to purchase the first registered fixed-price interest;

s) indicating on at least the first computer an acceptance of the offer to purchase the first registered fixed-price interest;

t) transmitting from at least a second computer for a display of an offer to purchase a second registered fixed-price interest to a holder;

u) receiving on at least the second computer the display of the offer to purchase the second registered fixed-price interest;

v) selecting on at least the second computer the offer to purchase the second registered fixed-price interest;

w) indicating on at least the second computer an acceptance of the offer to purchase the second registered fixed-price interest.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first contingent amount is based on a payout schedule of at least a portion of the first entertainment production and the second contingent amount is based on a payout schedule of at least a portion of the second entertainment production.

2. A method implemented by a programmed computer system for entertainment production financing comprising:

a) arranging a contractual relationship between at least two entertainment companies and a financing entity, wherein at least two entertainment productions are associated with each entertainment company;

wherein each entertainment company provides a contractual interest to the financing entity in the at least two entertainment productions that are associated with each entertainment company;

wherein the contractual interest is based at least in part on a performance of the corresponding entertainment productions; and

wherein the financing entity securitizes at least a portion of the contractual interest;

b) identifying a fixed cash payment and a contingent amount;

c) calculating the fixed cash payment;

d) calculating on a computer the contingent amount based on a payout schedule of the at least two entertainment productions;

e) settling the fixed cash payment from the financing entity to the entertainment company;

f) settling the contingent amount from the entertainment company to the financing entity;

g) issuing a registered fixed-price interest by the operating entity, wherein the registered fixed-price interest is associated with the contractual interest in the entertainment production;

i) transmitting from a computer for a display of an offer to purchase a registered fixed-price interest to a holder;

j) receiving on the computer the display of the offer to purchase the registered fixed-price interest;

k) selecting on the computer the offer to purchase the registered fixed-price interest; and

l) indicating on the computer an acceptance of the offer to purchase the registered fixed-price interest.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the payout schedule is determined by a reference to a relationship between a production cost of a motion picture and box office gross receipts generated by the motion picture.