Systems and methods for selling content over a network

#The present invention relates to a method for selling content items, such as entertainment or information, in audio, text, and/or audiovisual format. The content items, generally referred to as “content,” are provided by one or more content providers to at least one consumer via a network.

#Documents cited in this text are incorporated herein by reference. Documents incorporated by reference into this text are not admitted to be prior art. Furthermore, authors or inventors on documents incorporated by reference into this text are not to be considered to be “another” or “others” as to the present inventive entity and vice versa, especially where one or more authors or inventors on documents incorporated by reference into this text are an inventor or inventors named in the present inventive entity.

#Networks are ubiquitous in modern society. For example, telephone networks, computer networks and cellular networks are integral aspects of day-to-day living. Although these networks were once separate entities, they now interact with each other to allow for the transport of data to any connected device.

#In this specification and the accompanying drawings, some preferred embodiments of the invention are shown and described, and various alternatives and modifications thereof are suggested. It is to be understood that these are not intended to be exhaustive and that many other changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the invention.

#The suggestions herein are selected and included for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art will more fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and will thus be able to modify it in a variety of forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

#In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

#A clearing of the selectable content according to the present invention includes preferably providing the content so that the consumer can retrieve the content legally, e.g., so that the user need not perform any other action besides the retrieval to be able to legally use the content.

#A direct supply of any content selected by the consumer to the consumer via the operator includes preferably supplying the content without the operator having to perform any processing steps other than the provision of a channel for the communication between consumer and content service provider. In other words, the operator exploits the content supply of the party that offers the content, e.g., a content provider or a content service provider. Supplied content in the sense of the invention is preferably content that is retrieved by the consumer.

#Further, in addition to charging the operator for the supplied content, preferably the operator is also charged for the content service itself, e.g., the possibility to offer content and to supply the content in a way convenient for the user, which content service is exploited by the operator. This content service charge might be included in the charge for the content, e.g., a particular share thereof, or might be charged extra.