Method and apparatus for managing ownership of virtual property
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for managing virtual properties that exist solely in a virtual form within a computer network and that have no physical counterparts, comprising:
- providing virtual properties configured for use in a computer game operable in a memory of a game server, said virtual properties existing solely in virtual form within a computer network;
assigning ownership of the virtual properties to a plurality of property owners participating in the computer game, said ownership configured through said computer game such that said property owners are permitted to use said virtual properties in said computer game but are not permitted to possess a digital copy of any of said virtual properties;
maintaining an inventory of said virtual properties in a centralized database accessible by said property owners via a network connection;
allowing said property owners to transfer ownership of their respective virtual properties via said network connection; and
maintaining updated records regarding ownership of said virtual properties in said centralized database wherein said step of allowing said property owners to transfer ownership comprises allowing at least one of said property owners to win one of said virtual properties from another property owner in the course of a game.
7 Assignments
Litigations
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for managing ownership of virtual property accessible to users is provided by a computer-implemented system connected to a network. This method and apparatus further comprises maintaining an inventory of virtual properties, managing ownership of virtual properties, and allowing use of virtual properties by corresponding property owners within corresponding network spaces. In particular, virtual properties are purchased from a system by user computers, wherein virtual properties may be accessed by a user and/or sold or traded to other users which may include auction websites.
63 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for managing virtual properties that exist solely in a virtual form within a computer network and that have no physical counterparts, comprising:
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providing virtual properties configured for use in a computer game operable in a memory of a game server, said virtual properties existing solely in virtual form within a computer network; assigning ownership of the virtual properties to a plurality of property owners participating in the computer game, said ownership configured through said computer game such that said property owners are permitted to use said virtual properties in said computer game but are not permitted to possess a digital copy of any of said virtual properties; maintaining an inventory of said virtual properties in a centralized database accessible by said property owners via a network connection; allowing said property owners to transfer ownership of their respective virtual properties via said network connection; and maintaining updated records regarding ownership of said virtual properties in said centralized database wherein said step of allowing said property owners to transfer ownership comprises allowing at least one of said property owners to win one of said virtual properties from another property owner in the course of a game. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer-implemented system for managing virtual properties that exist solely in a virtual form within a computer network and that have no physical counterparts, comprising:
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a server connected to a network accessible by plural property owner computers; and an application program operable with said server to provide the functions of; providing virtual properties configured for use in a computer game operable in a memory of said server, said virtual properties existing solely in virtual form within a computer network; assigning ownership of the virtual properties to a plurality of property owners participating in the computer game, said ownership configured through said computer game such that said property owners are permitted to use said virtual properties in said computer game but are not permitted to possess a digital copy of any of said virtual properties; maintaining an inventory of said virtual properties in a centralized database via said network; allowing said property owners to transfer ownership of their respective virtual properties via said network connection; maintaining updated records regarding ownership of said virtual properties in said centralized database; and allowing said property owners to use but not possess digital copies of said respective virtual properties within corresponding network spaces wherein said allowing property owners to transfer ownership function comprises allowing at least one of said property owners to win one of said virtual properties from another property owner. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification