Pre-Grant Publication Number: 20070136608
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Prior Art Detail
Summary / Description
| Summary / Description | This is a FAQ file taken from the May 8, 2004 version of the www.weedshare.com web site. I've linked to the version stored on Archive.org. Note that Archive.org places date information in the URL (so /20040508 = May 8, 2004). The FAQ is a prior publication under Section 102(b). |
Basic Information
| Type of Prior Art | Online Publication |
| URL | http://web.archive.org/web/2004... |
| Author/Creator | Weedshare |
| Title | Weed -- Frequently Asked Questions |
| Publication Date | May 8, 2004 |
| Publisher | Weedshare |
| Directions to Document Location | |
| Additional Information | I've linked to a cached version of the web site stored on archive.org. |
Notes / To Do
| Notes | |
Excerpt
Excerpt 1. Basic Questions About Weed
Q: OK, what's the deal exactly?
A: The concept is pretty basic: Weed rewards people who share files and respect artists' rights.
You can play a Weed file three times for free on any PC. After three free plays, you're asked to pay for the file. You can use any current Windows Media-compatible player software to play the file. The Weed software, which keeps track of your account information, is used to purchase files.
Once you purchase a Weed file, you're free to play it all you want on up to three PCs. You also can burn the file to CD and play it on your stereo system, or transfer it to a portable device like the Creative Labs Nomad, the Rio S10, or any current Windows CE PDA.
Best of all, you can share Weed files with anyone you like, as long as the files remain in their original form as Windows Media files. And if someone you share a file with purchases that file, you'll earn a payment for helping to distribute it.
Specifically, the artist always receives 50% of each sale, and the rest goes to those who helped distribute the file. You get 20%, the person who shared the file with you gets 10%, and the person who shared the file with that person gets 5% of the sale price. Weed receives the final 15% for service and software maintenance costs.
...
Q: So I can distribute Weed files on a CD? What happens when people play them?
A: The best way to distribute Weed files on a CD is to purchase them first, then burn them to a CD as data files. Tell your friends to pop that CD into their computer and copy the files to the hard drive. This way they can play them 3 times for free, then purchase them. Best of all, since you bought them first your information will be stamped on the file and you'll get 20% of subsequent sales. |
Relevance
Claims
1
A method, comprising:
performing a secure off-line transfer of a digital media content from a first media playback device of a first user to a second media playback device of a second user for a price via an off-line transaction;
securely storing a proof of the off-line transaction;
providing a first percentage of the price to an owner of a copyright of the digital media content based on the stored proof; and
providing a second percentage of the price to the first user based on the stored proof.
Relevance
The Weedshare FAQ discloses performing a secure off-line transfer of digital media content from a first media playback device to a second media playback device. Specifically, the FAQ discloses downloading a song from Weedshare's web site to a first PC (first media playback device). Section 3 of the FAQ teaches that the first user can burn a CD with the song and give it to a friend to insert in a second computer (the second media playback device). This CD exchange is an off-line transaction.
The Weedshare FAQ discloses storing proof of the off-line transaction. Specifically, Section 3 of the FAQ states that when the first user burns a CD "your information will be stamped on the file and you'll get 20% of subsequent sales." Thus, the second user can plays the song, there is a stamp in the song indicating that it was transferred from the first user.
When the second user purchases a song, the Weedshare system provides a percentage of the price to the copyright owner and a percentage to the first user. Section 1 of the FAQ states: "Specifically, the artist always receives 50% of each sale, and the rest goes to those who helped distribute the file. You get 20%, the person who shared the file with you gets 10%, and the person who shared the file with that person gets 5% of the sale price. Weed receives the final 15% for service and software maintenance costs."
Claim 1 is ambiguous regarding whether the second user must purchase the song "off-line" or may purchase it online. In the Weedshare system, purchases are online through PayPal. It would have been obvious to use this system with offline purchases. By 2004, offline purchasing of music was well-known in the art (e.g., buying music at Wal-mart or a record store).
The Weedshare FAQ discloses performing a secure off-line transfer of digital media content from a first media playback device to a second media playback device. Specifically, the FAQ discloses downloading a song from Weedshare's web site to a first PC (first media playback device). Section 3 of the FAQ teaches that the first user can burn a CD with the song and give it to a friend to insert in a second computer (the second media playback device). This CD exchange is an off-line transaction.
The Weedshare FAQ discloses storing proof of the off-line transaction. Specifically, Section 3 of the FAQ states that when the first user burns a CD "your information will be stamped on the file and you'll get 20% of subsequent sales." Thus, the second user can plays the song, there is a stamp in the song indicating that it was transferred from the first user.
When the second user purchases a song, the Weedshare system provides a percentage of the price to the copyright owner and a percentage to the first user. Section 1 of the FAQ states: "Specifically, the artist always receives 50% of each sale, and the rest goes to those who helped distribute the file. You get 20%, the person who shared the file with you gets 10%, and the person who shared the file with that person gets 5% of the sale price. Weed receives the final 15% for service and software maintenance costs."
Claim 1 is ambiguous regarding whether the second user must purchase the song "off-line" or may purchase it online. In the Weedshare system, purchases are online through PayPal. It would have been obvious to use this system with offline purchases. By 2004, offline purchasing of music was well-known in the art (e.g., buying music at Wal-mart or a record store).
Claim Chart
All
2
The method as recited in Claim 1, wherein the off-line transaction comprises a cryptographically secure sales transaction protocol.
Relevance
The Weedshare FAQ discloses that all songs include Digital Rights Management (DRM), which is a cryptographic method for securing songs to prevent unauthorized copying. As part of the DRM-scheme, Weedshare stamps the first user's identity into the song, so that when it is purchased by the second user, the first user gets credit.
The Weedshare FAQ discloses that all songs include Digital Rights Management (DRM), which is a cryptographic method for securing songs to prevent unauthorized copying. As part of the DRM-scheme, Weedshare stamps the first user's identity into the song, so that when it is purchased by the second user, the first user gets credit.
Claim Chart
All
11
The method as recited in Claim 1, further comprising sending a preview of the digital media content prior to the off-line transaction from the first media playback device to the second media playback device, wherein the preview verifies an identity and a quality of the digital media content.
Relevance
Weedshare allows the user to listen to the song three times before purchasing it.
Weedshare allows the user to listen to the song three times before purchasing it.
Claim Chart
All
18
A media player, comprising:
a storage medium for storing digital media content;
a communication engine for communicating off-line with a second media player; and
an off-line media distribution engine for negotiating prices and securely buying and selling a media content off-line, wherein a first percentage of each sale price is applied to a copyright holder associated with the media content being sold and a second percentage of each sale price is applied to the seller of the media content.
Relevance
See claim 1.
See claim 1.
Claim Chart
All
21
A system, comprising:
off-line means for securely transferring a digital media content from a seller's media player to a buyer's media player for a price via an off-line transaction;
means for securely storing the off-line transaction;
means for providing, from the stored off-line transaction, a first percentage of the price to an owner of a copyright of the digital media content; and
means for providing, from the stored off-line transaction, a second percentage of the price to the seller.
Relevance
See claim 1
See claim 1
Claim Chart
All
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