Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for providing access to electronic works over a network. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention offers a user access to electronic copies of works, such as songs, albums, movies, or music videos, over a network. The user responds to the offer by requesting to access to a particular work. Before such a request is granted, the present invention may verify that the user is authorized to access to the work. In one embodiment, the user verifies that they are authorized to access an electronic copy of the work by demonstrating that they possess a physical copy of the work. In another embodiment, the user verifies that they are authorized to access an electronic copy of the work by demonstrating that they ordered or purchased a copy of the work. If a user's authorization is verified, the user may then be provided with access to an electronic copy of the work by such techniques as downloading or streaming.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 12, 2001
Date of Patent:
August 19, 2003
Assignee:
MP3.com, Inc.
Inventors:
Alexander T. Van Zoest, Matthew John Dimeo, Brian Mason Degenhardt, Charles Lawerence Sismondo, Brian Callahan, John William DeRose, George Matthew Costello, Tristan Anne Barnum, James Park, Joshua Stephens, Michael Oliphant, David M. Story, John P. Knott, James Martin Moore
Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for providing access to electronic works over a network. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention offers a user access to electronic copies of works, such as songs, albums, movies, or music videos, over a network. The user responds to the offer by requesting to access to a particular work. Before such a request is granted, the present invention may verify that the user is authorized to access to the work. In one embodiment, the user verifies that they are authorized to access an electronic copy of the work by demonstrating that they possess a physical copy of the work. In another embodiment, the user verifies that they are authorized to access an electronic copy of the work by demonstrating that they ordered or purchased a copy of the work. If a user's authorization is verified, the user may then be provided with access to an electronic copy of the work by such techniques as downloading or streaming.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 13, 2000
Date of Patent:
December 17, 2002
Assignee:
MP3.com, Inc.
Inventors:
Alexander T. van Zoest, Matthew John DiMeo, Brian Mason Degenhardt, Charles Lawrence Sismondo, Brian Callahan, John William DeRose, George Matthew Costello, Tristan Anne Barnum, James Park, Joshua Stephens, Michael Oliphant, David M Story, John P. Knott, James Martin Moore