Method, apparatus and article-of-manufacture for the creation, issuance, valuation/pricing, trading and exercise of options for attendance rights, and derivative instruments thereon

• US 7,206,755 B1
• Filed: 11/05/1999
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shoowin, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sanjay P Muralidhar
• Inventors: Muralidhar, Sanjay P.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZEENDER, FLORIAN M
• Application Number:
  US09/435,168
• Time in Patent Office: 2,720 Days
• Field of Search: 705/5, 705/37, 705/14, 705/26, 235/382, 235/382.5
• US Class Current: 705/26.43
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0617 Representative agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0619 Neutral agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation

Abstract

Computer-related methods, apparatus, and/or articles of manufacture to permit/facilitate the creation, marketing, and/or distribution of options to purchase tickets to a particular future event, particularly an elimination format competition, when the chosen competitor'"'"'s qualification for such a game is currently uncertain, but where the uncertainty will be resolved prior to the commencement of the particular future event.

Claims

1. A method for distributing rights to attend a future event,

said method implemented on a computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

storing on a first computer, information on one or more future events, said future events are events at which spectators pay to view activities and that have restricted attendance for a fee, said stored information includes details regarding said future event and comprises details regarding an offer to sell contingent rights, said contingent rights provide a right to purchase access at a specified price to said future event upon the occurrence of a future outcome that is uncertain at the time of said offer;

providing a communication link to said first computer to allow potential contingent rights purchasers to access said information associated with said contingent rights offer; and

selling, either as a principal or on behalf of a third party, said contingent rights to one or more third parties that accept said offer.

2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising distributing said right to purchase access to said future event upon the occurrence of said future outcome.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein said future outcome comprises qualification of one or more participants for said future event.

4. A computer based method for distributing transferable rights to purchase tickets, the method comprising the steps of:

storing, in a computer linked to a computer network, information identifying a transferable right to purchase one or more tickets to a sporting event, wherein said right to purchase becomes executable only if one or more specified potential participants qualify for said sporting event;

transmitting, over said computer network to a plurality of computers, an offer to sell said transferable right to purchase; and

receiving, over said computer network, an acceptance of said offer;

whereby said transferable right to purchase is sold pursuant to said acceptance of said offer.

5. A method as in claim 4, wherein said transferable right to purchase comprises a contract.

6. A method as in claim 4, wherein said offer to sell is for a price below a face value of each ticket that a purchaser of said transferable right to purchase has a right to purchase under said right.