초록 ▼

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

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.

대표청구항 ▼

We 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

We 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. 2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the validating step further comprises the steps of: referencing, in the electronic contract, one or more terms for distribution of the content; comparing the candidate retail offer to the one or more distribution terms; and validating the candidate retail offer when the candidate retail offer is consistent with the one or more distribution terms. 3. The method as in claim 2, wherein the one or more distribution terms comprise contractual terms of agreement for distribution of the content by the retailer. 4. The method as in claim 1, wherein the allocating step further comprises allocating to at least one of the retailer and the distributor a predetermined portion of the compensation according to one or more financial terms in the electronic contract. 5. The method as in claim 1, further comprising: providing the electronic contract at a central location; receiving the request from the consumer at the central location; and receiving the payment information at the central location. 6. The method as in claim 1, wherein the content is at least one of electronic content and physical content. 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: 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. 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of: a. receiving one or more electronic financial contracts from a distributor, each representing one or more terms for setting a transaction, wherein the one or more electronic financial contracts are between the distributor and the retailer; b. providing a candidate retail offer for the electronic content to the consumer; c. receiving a request from the consumer to exercise the candidate retail offer for the electronic content; d. distributing the electronic content to the consumer; e. receiving payment information from the consumer indicating at least the compensation paid for the electronic content; and f. referencing the one or more electronic financial contracts to determine the portion of compensation to be allocated to the distributor. 9. The method as in claim 7, wherein the predetermined order indicates a hierarchical relationship between the one or more electronic contracts. 10. The method of claim 7, further comprising: receiving the electronic distribution contracts at a central location; and receiving the candidate offer at the central location. 11. A method for distributing content over a computer network, comprising the steps of: 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. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps: providing a second electronic contract for distributing the content between the first value chain participant and the second value chain participant; comparing the request to the second electronic contract; validating the request if the request is consistent with the second electronic contract; and upon successful validation, delivering the content to the second value chain participant. 13. The method of claim 11 wherein the first electronic contract is stored at one of a same network location and a different network location as the second electronic contract. 14. A method for distributing content over a computer network, comprising the steps of: 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. 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of: upon successful transaction, compensating at least one of the first value chain participant and the second value chain participant according to the electronic contract. 16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of: transmitting a handle identifying the content from the second value chain participant to a third value chain participant; and accessing, by the third value chain participant, the handle to request the content from the first value chain participant. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first electronic contract includes contractual terms of agreement including at least one of how many times the content was distributed between value chain participants, a date since an original release of the content and a date since a certain transaction; further comprising the steps of: transmitting a handle identifying the content from the third value chain participant to a fourth value chain participant, wherein the handle identifies at least one of how many times the content was distributed between value chain participants, a date since the original release of the content, a date since the transaction by the third value chain participant; accessing the handle, by the fourth value chain participant, to make a second request the content from the first value chain participant; comparing the second request to the first electronic contract; validating the second request if the second request is consistent with the first electronic contract; and upon successful validation, delivering the content to the fourth value chain participant. 18. A method for delivering electronic content using a computer network comprising the steps of: 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. 19. The method as in claim 18, further comprising the step of providing the electronic content identified by the handle to the second consumer. 20. The method as in claim 18, further comprising the steps of: a. providing the second consumer with one or more offers for the electronic content; and b. receiving from the second consumer a selection of one of the offers for the electronic content. 21. A method for distributing electronic content using a computer network comprising the steps of: 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.