Electronic music/media distribution system
First Claim
1. A method for distributing content over a computer network, comprising the steps of:
- providing a predetermined electronic contract for distributing the content between a retailer and a distributor, wherein terms of the contract are independent of the content and the retailer distributes the content to a consumer and the distributor has rights in the content;
presenting a candidate retail offer for the distribution of the content to the consumer on a consumer computer;
receiving a request from the consumer, from the consumer computer over the computer network, to exercise the candidate retail offer;
validating, at a reference service, the candidate retail offer for the distribution of the content by accessing the electronic contract and determining if the candidate retail offer is consistent with the electronic contract;
upon successful validation, providing the content to the consumer;
receiving compensation information from the consumer indicating at least the amount of compensation for the content provided;
allocating, at a financial clearinghouse, the compensation according to the electronic contract;
dynamically updating the electronic contract; and
applying the electronic contract to the distribution of the content only after receiving the request from the consumer.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for distributing content over a network by providing a predetermined electronic contract for distributing the content between a retailer and a distributor, wherein terms of the contract are independent of the content and the retailer distributes the content to a consumer and the distributor has rights in the content. A step of presenting a candidate retail offer for the distribution of the content to the consumer and receiving a request from the consumer to exercise the candidate retail offer. Finally, validating the candidate retail offer for the distribution of the content by accessing the electronic contract and determining if the candidate retail offer is consistent with the electronic contract. Upon successful validation, providing the content to the consumer, receiving compensation information from the consumer indicating at least the amount of compensation for the content provided and allocating the compensation according to the electronic contract.
70 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for distributing content over a computer network, comprising the steps of:
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providing a predetermined electronic contract for distributing the content between a retailer and a distributor, wherein terms of the contract are independent of the content and the retailer distributes the content to a consumer and the distributor has rights in the content; presenting a candidate retail offer for the distribution of the content to the consumer on a consumer computer; receiving a request from the consumer, from the consumer computer over the computer network, to exercise the candidate retail offer; validating, at a reference service, the candidate retail offer for the distribution of the content by accessing the electronic contract and determining if the candidate retail offer is consistent with the electronic contract; upon successful validation, providing the content to the consumer; receiving compensation information from the consumer indicating at least the amount of compensation for the content provided; allocating, at a financial clearinghouse, the compensation according to the electronic contract; dynamically updating the electronic contract; and applying the electronic contract to the distribution of the content only after receiving the request from the consumer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for validating an offer for the distribution of electronic content by a distributor and retailer over a computer network, wherein the method includes computing apparatus, comprising the steps of:
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a. receiving one or more electronic distribution contracts, between the distributor and the retailer, governing the distribution of the electronic content at the reference service; b. receiving a candidate offer from the retailer; c. checking, at the reference service, the candidate offer against the one or more electronic distribution contracts upon receiving the candidate offer, wherein the checking step comprises the step of referencing terms of the one or more electronic distribution contracts in a predetermined order; d. sending an indication of validation to the retailer when the candidate offer is determined to be consistent with the one or more electronic contracts; e. dynamically updating the one or more electronic distribution contracts; and f. referencing the terms of the one or more electronic distribution contracts only after receiving a request from a consumer. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for distributing content over a computer network, comprising the steps of:
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providing a first electronic contract for distributing the content between a first value chain participant and a second value chain participant; dynamically updating the first electronic contract; receiving a request from the second value chain participant, from the computer of the second value chain participant, for the delivery of the content from the first value chain participant; comparing the request to the first electronic contract, upon receiving the request; validating, at a reference service, the request if the request is consistent with the first electronic contract; upon successful validation, delivering the content to the second value chain participant; and applying the first electronic contract to the distribution of the content only after receiving the request from the second value chain participant. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method for distributing content over a computer network, comprising the steps of:
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providing a first electronic contract for distributing the content between a first value chain participant and a second value chain participant; dynamically updating the first electronic contract; receiving a request from the second value chain participant, from the computer of the second value chain participant, to distribute the content to a third value chain participant; comparing the request to the first electronic contract; validating, at the reference service, the request if the request is consistent with the first electronic contract; upon successful validation, permitting the delivery the content to the third value chain participant; and applying the first electronic contract to the distribution of the content only after receiving the request from the second value chain participant. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for delivering electronic content using a computer network comprising the steps of:
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sending a handle that is at least one of generated by a processor, stored on a computer of a first consumer, and stored on a server, from a first consumer to a second consumer; at a central location, receiving from said second consumer a request to render the electronic content identified by the handle; determining whether the second consumer is authorized to render the electronic content, further comprising the steps of; referencing an offer associated with the handle received from the second consumer; dynamically updating an electronic contract between a distributor and a retailer, governing the distribution of the electronic content, and that is the basis for the offer; verifying, at a reference service, the validity of the associated offer; and determining whether the request to render is consistent with the associated offer; at the second consumer, rendering the electronic content when the second consumer is authorized to use the electronic content; and applying the electronic contract to the distribution of the content only after receiving the request from the second consumer. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method for distributing electronic content using a computer network comprising the steps of:
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creating, with a processor, a handle relating to the electronic content, wherein the handle only refers to the electronic content; selecting, by a user at a user computer, the handle; determining an offer for the selected handle at a reference service, comprising the steps of; referencing the offer associated with the handle; dynamically updating an electronic contract between a distributor and a retailer, governing the distribution of the electronic content, and that is the basis for the offer; and verifying the validity of the associated offer; returning the offer to the user; waiting for a request from the user for the electronic content associated with the offer; and applying the electronic contract to a distribution of the electronic content only after receiving the request from the user.
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Specification