Methods and systems for trading permanent seat licenses

• US 7,099,841 B1
• Filed: 08/04/2000
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STR Marketplace, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sports Securities, Inc.
• Inventors: Hall, Brandon Lee, Stonefield, Mark Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Weisberger, Richard C.
• Application Number:
  US09/632,699
• Time in Patent Office: 2,216 Days
• Field of Search: 705/36, 705/37
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A method of trading seat licenses over a computer network is provided whereby a seat license is listed for sale by a seller on a seat license exchange hosted by an intermediary, wherein the seat license exchange is conducted through a central computer over the computer network and the seat license is issued by an issuer and has an asking price determined by the seller. At least one bid for the seat license is received over the computer network from the bidder, wherein the bidder offering a first bid for the seat license, that is at least equal to the asking price thereof, is designated as the buyer of the seat license. A trade is thereafter initiated whereby the seat license listing is removed from the seat license exchange and a trade status is established. A title to the seat license is then directed from the seller and received by the intermediary. Concurrently, a remittance at least equal to the first bid is directed from the buyer and received by the intermediary. Upon receiving a final approval of the trade from the issuer, the trade is completed by directing the title to the seat license to the buyer, directing a first portion of the remittance to the intermediary, directing a second portion of the remittance to the seller, and notifying the issuer of the completion of the trade. Associated methods and systems are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of trading seat licenses over a computer network, comprising:

listing a seat license for sale by a seller on a seat license exchange hosted by an intermediary, the seat license exchange being conducted through a central computer over the computer network, the seat license being issued by an issuer and having an asking price determined by the seller;

receiving at least one bid for the seat license over the computer network from a bidder;

designating the bidder offering a first bid for the seat license that is at least equal to the asking price thereof as a buyer of the seat license;

initiating a trade by removing the seat license listing from the seat license exchange and establishing a trade status;

receiving a title to the seat license from the seller;

receiving a remittance at least equal to the first bid from the buyer;

receiving a final approval of the trade from the issuer; and

completing the trade by directing the title to the seat license to the buyer, directing a first portion of the remittance to the intermediary, directing a second portion of the remittance to the seller, and notifying the issuer of the completion of the trade.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising registering the seller by receiving seller information, seat license information, and associated ticket information prior to listing the seat license for sale.

3. A method according to claim 2 further comprising confirming with the issuer that the seller has a proper title to the seat license prior to listing the seat license for sale.

4. A method according to claim 2 further comprising allowing the seller to post a notice of willingness to list an unlisted seat license for sale upon a solicitation from a bidder, the notice being accessible to the bidder.

5. A method according to claim 1 further comprising registering the bidder by receiving bidder information prior to receiving the at least one bid.

6. A method according to claim 5 further comprising verifying the bidder as being capable of remitting the at least one bid prior to receiving the at least one bid from the bidder.

7. A method according to claim 5 further comprising allowing the bidder to list a solicitation for an unlisted seat license, wherein the solicitation is accessible to the seller.

8. A method according to claim 1 further comprising allowing the seller to revise the seat license listing following listing of the seat license.

9. A method according to claim 1 further comprising requesting a pre-approval of the trade from the issuer prior to initiating the trade.

10. A method according to claim 9 further comprising re-listing the seat license if the issuer denies the pre-approval of the trade.

11. A method according to claim 1 further comprising receiving a season ticket associated the seat license from the seller following initiation of the trade.

12. A method according to claim 11 further comprising receiving a supplemental remittance for the season ticket from the buyer.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein completing the trade further comprises directing the season ticket associated with the seat license to the buyer, directing a first portion of the supplemental remittance to the intermediary, and directing a second portion of the supplemental remittance to the seller.

14. A method according to claim 1 further comprising canceling the trade if the intermediary fails to receive at least one of the title and the remittance within a specified period.

15. A method according to claim 1 further comprising allowing at least one of the buyer, the seller, and the issuer to access the trade status over the computer network.

16. A method according to claim 1 further comprising allowing at least one of the buyer, seller, and intermediary to access the seat license listing, the asking price, and the at least one bid over the computer network.

17. A method according to claim 1 wherein the seat license corresponds to a particular seat at a particular venue and the method further comprises providing a view of the venue from the seat such that the view is accessible over the computer network.

18. A method according to claim 16 wherein the seat license listing, the asking price, and the at least one bid for a completed trade are stored in an archive and the method further comprises allowing access to the archive over the computer network.

19. A method according to claim 1 wherein completing the trade further comprises directing a third portion of the remittance to the issuer as a payment of a transaction fee.

20. A method according to claim 1 further comprising linking other information associated with the seat license to the seat license listing such that the other associated information is accessible over the computer network.

21. A system capable of allowing seat licenses to be traded over a computer network, comprising:

a computer device in communication with the computer network for establishing a seat license exchange, comprising;

a first processing portion configured to list a seat license for sale by a seller on the seat license exchange, the seat license exchange being hosted by an intermediary, the seat license being issued by an issuer and having an asking price determined by the seller;

a second processing portion configured to receive at least one bid for the seat license over the computer network from a bidder;

a third processing portion configured to designate the bidder offering a first bid for the seat license that is at least equal to the asking price thereof as a buyer of the seat license;

a fourth processing portion configured to initiate a trade by removing the seat license listing from the seat license exchange and establishing a trade status;

a fifth processing portion configured to direct a title to the seat license from the seller to the intermediary;

a sixth processing portion configured to direct a remittance at least equal to the first bid from the buyer to the intermediary;

a seventh processing portion configured to receive a final approval of the trade from the issuer; and

an eighth processing portion configured to complete the trade by directing the title to the seat license to the buyer, directing a first portion of the remittance to the intermediary, directing a second portion of the remittance to the seller, and notifying the issuer of the completion of the trade.

22. A system according to claim 21 further comprising a ninth processing portion configured to register the seller by receiving seller information, seat license information, and associated ticket information prior to listing the seat license for sale.

23. A system according to claim 22 further comprising a tenth processing portion configured to confirm with the issuer that the seller has a proper title to the seat license prior to listing the seat license for sale.

24. A system according to claim 22 further comprising an eleventh processing portion configured to allow the seller to post a notice of willingness to list an unlisted seat license for sale upon a solicitation from a bidder such that the notice is accessible to the bidder.

25. A system according to claim 21 further comprising a twelfth processing portion configured to register the bidder by receiving bidder information prior to receiving the at least one bid.

26. A system according to claim 25 further comprising a thirteenth processing portion configured to verify the bidder as being capable of remitting the at least one bid prior to the second processing portion receiving the at least one bid from the bidder.

27. A system according to claim 25 further comprising a fourteenth processing portion configured to allow the bidder to list a solicitation for an unlisted seat license such that the solicitation is accessible to the seller.

28. A system according to claim 21 further comprising a fifteenth processing portion configured to allow the seller to revise the seat license listing following listing of the seat license.

29. A system according to claim 21 further comprising a sixteenth processing portion configured to request a pre-approval of the trade from the issuer prior to initiating the trade.

30. A system according to claim 29 further comprising a seventeenth processing portion configured to re-list the seat license if the issuer denies the pre-approval of the trade.

31. A system according to claim 21 further comprising an eighteenth processing portion configured to direct a season ticket associated the seat license from the seller to the intermediary following initiation of the trade.

32. A system according to claim 31 further comprising a nineteenth processing portion configured to direct a supplemental remittance for the season ticket from the buyer to the intermediary.

33. A system according to claim 32 wherein eighth processing portion is further configured to direct the season ticket associated with the seat license to the buyer, direct a first portion of the supplemental remittance to the intermediary, and direct a second portion of the supplemental remittance to the seller.

34. A system according to claim 21 further comprising a twentieth processing portion configured to cancel the trade if the intermediary fails to receive at least one of the title and the remittance within a specified period.

35. A system according to claim 21 further comprising a twenty-first processing portion configured to allow at least one of the buyer, the seller, and the issuer to access the trade status over the computer network.

36. A system according to claim 21 further comprising a twenty-second processing portion configured to allow at least one of the buyer, seller, and intermediary to access the seat license listing, the asking price, and the at least one bid over the computer network.

37. A system according to claim 21 wherein the seat license corresponds to a particular seat at a particular venue and the system further comprises a twenty-third processing portion configured to provide a view of the venue from the seat such that the view is accessible over the computer network.

38. A system according to claim 36 wherein the seat license listing, the asking price, and the at least one bid for a completed trade are stored in an archive and the system further comprises a twenty-fourth processing portion configured to allow access to the archive over the computer network.

39. A system according to claim 21 wherein the eighth processing portion is further configured to direct a third portion of the remittance to the issuer as a payment of a transaction fee.

40. A system according to claim 21 further comprising a twenty-fifth processing portion configured to link other information associated with the seat license to the seat license listing such that the other associated information is accessible over the computer network.

41. A method of selling a seat license owned by a seller on a seat license exchange, comprising:

listing the seat license for sale on the seat license exchange, the seat license exchange being hosted by an intermediary and being conducted through a central computer over a computer network, the seat license being issued by an issuer and having an asking price determined by the seller;

receiving at least one bid for the seat license over the computer network from a bidder, wherein the at least one bid includes a first bid for the seat license that is at least equal to the asking price thereof, the bidder thereafter being designated as the buyer of the seat license;

sending a title to the seat license to the intermediary;

receiving a final approval of the trade from the issuer; and

receiving at least a portion of a buyer'"'"'s remittance from the intermediary.

42. A method according to claim 41 further comprising sending seller information, seat license information, and associated ticket information to the intermediary prior to listing the seat license for sale.

43. A method according to claim 42 further comprising posting a notice of willingness to list an unlisted seat license for sale upon a solicitation from a bidder, the notice being accessible to the bidder.

44. A method according to claim 41 further comprising revising the seat license listing following listing of the seat license.

45. A method according to claim 41 further comprising sending the title to the intermediary within a specified period.

46. A system capable of allowing seat licenses to be traded over a computer network, comprising:

a bidder'"'"'s computer in communication with the computer network;

a seller'"'"'s computer in communication with the computer network; and

a central computer device in communication with the computer network for establishing a seat license exchange, the central computer device being communicable with the bidder'"'"'s computer and the seller'"'"'s computer, the central computer device comprising;

a first processing portion configured to receive a listing for a seat license for sale by a seller through the seller'"'"'s computer and to list the seat license on the seat license exchange, the seat license exchange being hosted by an intermediary, the seat license being issued by an issuer and having an asking price determined by the seller;

a second processing portion configured to receive at least one bid for the seat license over the computer network from a bidder through the bidder'"'"'s computer;

a third processing portion configured to designate the bidder offering a first bid for the seat license that is at least equal to the asking price thereof as a buyer of the seat license;

a fourth processing portion configured to initiate a trade by removing the seat license listing from the seat license exchange and establishing a trade status;

a fifth processing portion configured to direct a title to the seat license from the seller to the intermediary;

a sixth processing portion configured to direct a remittance at least equal to the first bid from the buyer to the intermediary;

a seventh processing portion configured to receive a final approval of the trade from the issuer; and

an eighth processing portion configured to complete the trade by directing the title to the seat license to the buyer, directing a first portion of the remittance to the intermediary, directing a second portion of the remittance to the seller, and notifying the issuer of the completion of the trade.

47. A system according to claim 46 wherein the central computer device further comprises a ninth processing portion configured to register the seller by receiving seller information, seat license information, and associated ticket information prior to listing the seat license for sale.

48. A system according to claim 47 wherein the central computer device further comprises a tenth processing portion configured to confirm with the issuer that the seller has a proper title to the seat license prior to listing the seat license for sale.

49. A system according to claim 46 wherein the central computer device further comprises an eleventh processing portion configured to register the bidder by receiving bidder information prior to receiving the at least one bid.

50. A system according to claim 49 wherein the central computer device further comprises a twelfth processing portion configured to verify the bidder as being capable of remitting the at least one bid prior to the second processing portion receiving the at least one bid from the bidder.

51. A system according to claim 46 wherein the central computer device further comprises a thirteenth processing portion configured to allow the seller to revise the seat license listing following listing of the seat license.

52. A system according to claim 46 wherein the central computer device further comprises a fourteenth processing portion configured to request a pre-approval of the trade from the issuer prior to initiating the trade.

53. A system according to claim 52 wherein the central computer device further comprises a fifteenth processing portion configured to re-list the seat license if the issuer denies the pre-approval of the trade.

54. A system according to claim 46 wherein the central computer device further comprises a sixteenth processing portion configured to cancel the trade if the intermediary fails to receive at least one of the title and the remittance within a specified period.

55. A system according to claim 46 wherein the central computer device further comprises a seventeenth processing portion configured to allow at least one of the buyer, the seller, and the issuer to access the trade status over the computer network.

56. A system according to claim 46 wherein the eighth processing portion is further configured to direct a third portion of the remittance to the issuer as a payment of a transaction fee.