Method and system for requesting prior art from the public in exchange for a reward

A method for providing a monetized value of information, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. displaying on one or more displays coupled to a computer network for access by a plurality of information providers,
• i. an information request regarding at least one patent or at least one patent application, and
• ii. a description of compensation for at least one of said information providers who provides information responsive to said information request, wherein said compensation comprises a variable component that allows for compensation to vary;
• b. receiving, at one or more processors, at least one response from at least one of said information providers;
• c. receiving, at the one or more processors, a conclusion, said conclusion comprising whether said at least one response will affect the value of a financial instrument associated with the at least one patent or the at least one patent application;
• d. executing, via the one or more processors, based on the conclusion, a financial transaction, wherein said financial transaction comprises trading said financial instrument;
• e. displaying, via a display, said conclusion or information describing said conclusion on said computer network;
• f. receiving, at the one or more processors, an indication of profit or loss from said financial transaction;
• and
• g. determining and providing, via the one or more processors, said compensation for said at least one of said information providers, wherein said variable component is determined based on said profit from said financial transaction, wherein the amount of profit from the financial transaction provides said monetized value of said information.