Abstract
An online licensing platform connecting a fan with an amateur athlete and providing for a conveyance of money to an amateur athlete contemporaneous to conveyance of licensing rights to a fan, said platform further comprises platform links configured to provide access for a plurality of platform-registered fans to social media accounts of a plurality of platform-registered athletes. In a preferred embodiment, platform further comprising platform-linked fans invited to view live-streamed events on platform. Platform further comprises amateur-status-protective pre-authorization sign-up block to steps of registration, said steps continuation requiring that registering user first confirm by click having read notice. Said block/notice at least tends to reduce potential of loss of amateur status eligibility for registrant.
Claims
1. An online licensing platform comprising: a local computer system configured to enable a fan to access said online licensing platform via the Internet, wherein said local computer system having computational hardware; at least one notice viewable on said online licensing platform by at least one athlete having an amateur status, and wherein said computational hardware comprising a pre-authorization block configured to provide at least a temporary blocking of said athlete's online licensing platform use, and wherein said at least one notice comprising a warning to said at least one athlete to verify that said amateur status will not be disadvantaged by the use of said online licensing platform; and, said online licensing platform configured to connect said fan with said at least one athlete such that a conveyance of money to said at least one athlete is configured to be transferred from said fan contemporaneous to conveyance of licensing rights to said fan.
2-3. (canceled)
4. The online platform of claim 1, further comprising use of in computational-hardware-enabled search to find registration data of said at least one athlete of a list comprising at least one of states, cities, and counties.
5. The online platform of claim 1, further comprising at least one recommendation by a first platform-registered athlete of at least one license of a second platform-registered athlete.
6. (canceled)
7. The online platform of claim 1, further comprising at least one image reference to athlete lack of funds.
8.-20. (canceled)
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0043] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0044] FIG. 1 is illustration of preferred embodiment web page.
[0045] FIG. 2 is illustration of preferred embodiment web page.
[0046] FIG. 3 is illustration of preferred embodiment web page.
[0047] FIG. 4 is illustration of preferred embodiment web page.
[0048] FIG. 5 is illustration of preferred embodiment web page.
[0049] FIG. 6 is schematic of preferred embodiment.
[0050] FIG. 7 is schematic of preferred embodiment.
[0051] FIG. 8 is schematic of preferred embodiment.
[0052] FIG. 9 is illustration of preferred embodiment web page.
[0053] FIG. 10 is illustration of preferred embodiment web page.
[0054] FIG. 11 is illustration of preferred embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0055] FIG. 1 is illustration of preferred embodiment web page illustrating a home page. On the home page at top left are URLs for videos explaining details of function of the online licensing platform, such as located on the linked YouTube channel of the site. Click on touch screen at location of URL causes video represented by said URL to play. At the top right are instructions for putting the icon of the progressive web app of the online licensing channel onto the cell phone home page of user. Following such instructions will allow at least many cell phone users to successfully place icon of website onto their home page of cell phone, thus allowing subsequent access to web site to be one button push on cell phone. In the middle part of the illustrated website home page are words ‘I am a’ and the associated two choices below that are ‘Athlete’ and ‘Fan’. In the circumstance where the person is visiting the home page to register as athlete on website, person clicks on the touch screen in the selection ‘Athlete’. Based on that click, the programming of the site displays the ‘BEFORE Registering’ pre-authorization block/Notice of information. Such block prevents user from proceeding to registration before responding to notice. Programming provides user opportunity to read the details of notice and then click to confirm he or she has read the notice. In a preferred embodiment, the words of the notice are: ‘Notice: No student-athlete should register herein until after the student-athlete first verifies he or she will not be disadvantaged by registration herein, such as by school or conference or other authorities ruling against student-athlete's amateur status or eligibility to participate in school sports.’ To continue in steps of registration, aspiring registrant must click on button signifying ‘I've read the notice,’ and then must click ‘Continue.’ Such response to block sequence allows aspiring registrant to see next registration sequence step, a field for selection, which is FIG. 2.
[0056] The notice-reading person can logically become more informed user. Such as informed student athlete who upon reading notice is thus alerted to potential risk of registering on the site if in violation of regulations applying specifically to said informed athlete reader. Such risk-awareness offers aspiring registrant an opportunity to wait to register if he or she has a question about which regulations apply to himself or herself. By clicking ‘close’, the user can then exit the site without registering. Such a user after exit can research his or her status to for a better understanding of his specific risk in selling name, image, and/or likeness licenses. Such rules and regulations can be in respect of the athlete's conference, state, and/or school as regards NIL activity of student athletes. By giving an aspiring registrant such block/notice opportunity to exit and research, the sequence of pre-authorization block/notice, and decision point of ‘close’ or ‘continue’, such opportunity can, at least in instance of amateur athlete who then discovers a conflict in regulations applicable to himself or herself, be amateur-status-protective.
[0057] FIG. 2 is illustration of preferred embodiment web page comprising continuation of sign-up process for athlete who has been informed of said potential risk by the FIG. 1 illustrated pre-authorization block/notification. In FIG. 2, located top-left of page is line ‘Athlete Sign-up’. Beneath said line are two choices for selection how registering person wishes to be represented to fans registered on site. The choice on left is: ‘NIL-eligible College Athlete’ and the choice adjacent is: ‘NIL-eligible High School Athlete’. This selection is coordinated to the FIG. 1 pre-authorization block/notification. In other words, for the registering person it amounts to first having knowledge of regulations applicable, then self-identifying to site as student athlete by clicking either of the FIG. 2 selections, i.e., ‘NIL-eligible College Athlete’ or ‘NIL-eligible High School Athlete’. Furthermore, said clicking selection of choice is made after said registering person has had at least opportunity to read the FIG. 1 notification, wherein risk self-assessment is recommended for registrant where said self-proclaimed athlete has any question about regulations applicable to self. Such post-notification option logically places responsibility onto registering person/student athlete to make the choice associated to honest representation of self to others on site and to safekeeping of his or her amateur status. Where registering athlete waits and inquires and discovers conflict in regulations applying to himself or herself, athlete could in good judgment delay or forego registration. Such inquiry could inform potential student athlete registrant as to his or her specific circumstances, such as rules of his or her school as pertaining to himself or herself regards pursuing NIL, and/or regulations of conference as pertaining NIL, and/or laws within state of his or her school's location, as pertaining to NIL. Such informed decision making, assisted by site, can preserve amateur status for such student athletes. Thus, the instant invention's use of pre-authorization block/notification and the associated use and wording of subsequent choices as ‘NIL-eligible’, these are steps which together are configured to be conducive to student athlete's good judgment being used in delaying registration until appropriate inquiry by athlete is made.
[0058] FIG. 3 is illustration of preferred embodiment web page which is configured to assist fans in their online search for registered student athletes, such search as when fan is seeking linked social media of athlete prior to fan deciding on potential purchase of license. In a preferred embodiment, such search page is presented to fans regarding database comprised of platform-registered thus self-proclaimed NIL-eligible student athletes. Such registered athletes are those who have gone through the two-step pre-authorization block/notification and NIL-eligible selection choices of FIGS. 1 and 2 as discussed above. In FIG. 3, under ‘SEARCH for amateur athlete’, the top left input field requires a choice of ‘college athlete’ or ‘H.S. athlete’. The ‘College Athlete’ choice requires the fan searcher to input the state and city of the college athlete's school. The high school athlete choice ‘H. S. Athlete’ requires the fan searcher to input the state and county where H.S. athlete's school is located. The college athlete choice is associated to a ‘State’ field choice from dropdown menu comprising the names of the 50 states of USA. This is because USA national rules (per recent Supreme Court decision in Alston, and acquiescence of NCAA and other regulatory groups) effectively allow college athletes nationwide to participate in NIL. By contrast, the high school athlete NIL eligibility question invokes each state's applicable law, and specific athlete's conference and school regulations. The dropdown menu of states for the ‘H.S. athlete’ choice is currently, at time of this writing, a list of 9 states, not 50. These 9 states are those which have enacted statutes, and in some cases amendments, specifically supporting high school athlete NIL participation. The 9 states are Alaska, California, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, and Utah. At left side of FIG. 3 are listed the page designations available for fan to visit on site. Of note is the second on the list, ‘My licenses. This is listing of fan license purchases, as this fan has purchased from athletes registered on site. Further of note is fill in for locations are all filled from dropdown menus. The sport selection is clicked from dropdown list of sports. The gender selection is clicked from list of male and female. The first letter of last name is clicked from dropdown list of the 26 letters of the alphabet. Also, the City for college athlete, or county for high school athlete are respectively selected by search-designating fan from dropdown menus. The choice of college athlete or H.S. athlete is from dropdown menu. By avoiding any need for typing by search-designating fan, in fan's entering search specifications, and only requiring clicking fan to click from dropdown menus throughout, the likelihood of fan misspelling is reduced. Hence likelihood of correct inputs to search and find intended registered athlete is increased. The search results typically comprise all athletes of database who have matching data to entered specs, including matching first letter of last name. The search results are listed in alphabetical order. Searching fan can scroll down to find athlete they seek, again without need for fan to type in spelling of athlete name, only choices from dropdown menus including for first letter of athlete last name.
[0059] FIG. 4 is illustration of preferred embodiment web page illustrating page viewable by registered student athlete. This page comprises a list of fans requesting video conference call with athlete. The illustration FIG. 4 lists one fan whose name is listed as ‘John Cena’. This indicates John Cena is the name given at registration of fan who now is requesting video conference call at convenience of athlete. This list is a reference resource for the registered student athlete. Athlete can use this resource, such as for comparison to list of fans who have purchased license from said student athlete, as further discussed herein.
[0060] FIG. 5 is illustration of preferred embodiment web page viewable by platform-registered student athlete. On this page are registered fans on platform who have purchased license via platform in past from said page-viewing athlete. In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, indication is that no licenses have been purchased. Where FIG. 4 request for video conference with athlete by ‘John Cena’ is a simultaneous resource to the list of FIG. 5, then said athlete can conclude that none of his licenses have been purchased thus far by fan ‘John Cena’. Where said student athlete has a policy of not calling a videoconference-requesting fan unless said requesting fan is a previous buyer of said athlete's license on instant invention platform, then the fan John Cena would not receive a call from said page-viewing athlete at this time.
[0061] FIG. 6 is schematic of preferred embodiment wherein at bottom is illustrated a group of student athletes, each on their respective cell phone, each posting data on their respective social media regarding their sports experience at school sports. In FIG. 6, the schematic illustrates at top several icons of various well-known social media providers, such as Facebook, twitter, Instagram, and others. Such illustrated icons here represent the total universe of possible social media sites where platform-registered student athletes can post regarding their school sports goals and dreams and thinking. The words below the student athletes indicate recommendation by site to athletes that they post frequently, such as daily. Such frequent postings, viewable by fans, are considered likely to increase interest of fans, when fans access said posts (see FIG. 8), and likely to be associated to increase in license sales for said athlete.
[0062] FIG. 7 is schematic of preferred embodiment in which the accounts comprising social media postings of student athletes of FIG. 6 are linked, by electronic link. to instant invention online licensing platform herein designated ‘FansHelpPlayers.com’. Such electronic link is configured within programming of instant invention as well known in the art. Thus, the online licensing platform allows plurality of fans visiting the said platform to each contemporaneously click-access a choice of social media postings of a plurality of student athletes.
[0063] FIG. 8 is schematic of preferred embodiment regarding FIG. 7 links of student athletes social media accounts comprising the platform-registered NIL-eligible student-athletes' sports-related posts. The link is shown by arrow in up direction by comparison to FIG. 7 down arrow direction, such up direction of arrow here taken to indicate visiting fans on online licensing platform are accessing data from said social media accounts of athletes. In FIG. 8, the visiting fans are each able to select on the platform among the registered student athletes' social media links. The visiting fan can thus make frequent, perhaps daily visits to platform. Fan can follow a selection of specific athletes as to their sports activities as reflected in athletes' daily postings. The visiting fan can decide he or she likes the attitude towards sports of one or more specific athletes, such as based on fan reading athlete's postings. Fan can use that decision, or liking attitude, to decide to buy a license from a specific athlete. In a preferred embodiment, said fan in viewing buy page (not shown) for purchase of a first athlete's name-license, can view on said buy page said first athlete's recommendations of ID #s of three other athletes (not shown). Said recommendations are a suggestion to the purchasing fan (not shown in FIG. 8), to review the social media posts of said recommended friend-athletes and consider purchase of license from each of said recommended friend-athletes.
[0064] FIG. 9 is illustration of preferred embodiment web page wherein site programming assists registered athlete by block to athlete preparing to post link to his social media. This block operates to stop such link posting by athlete until athlete reads warning about personal data and trust. The block is activated when user clicks on the touch screen over word ‘instructions.’ The pop-up thus activated displays notice to user-athlete's view, providing a warning regarding inadvisability of online posting of sensitive personal data. The warning is typically displayed prior to registered student athlete posting link for his or her social media. Using the advice in the pre-authorization/pop-up notification, the student athlete will be more likely to avoid disclosing sensitive personal data in his or her online posts to online licensing platform fans. Thus athlete, assisted by site, potentially increases his or her personal safety. In a preferred embodiment, the notification is coordinated with a block requiring click to unblock, such click indicating user has read notice. Such notice further warns the student athlete, who as high school athlete might be as young as 14 years of age, against being too trusting regards persons athlete meets online.
[0065] FIG. 10 is illustration of preferred embodiment web page wherein, after the reading of instructions of FIG. 9, student athlete clicked ‘continue’ and is allowed to provide link to his or her social media account at ‘enter link’ illustrated at middle of page. Such account is social media where athlete posts regarding his or her school sports activity. In FIG. 10, by following the said FIG. 9 advice, the link selected by student athlete to post said link will more likely comprise only postings which avoid sensitive personal data disclosure and avoid too trusting an attitude with persons encountered online.
[0066] FIG. 11 is illustration of a preferred embodiment wherein a game show scene is live streamed for online licensing platform-registered fans and athletes. Technology allowing said live streaming typically comprises use of embed code, as is well known in the art. Such embed code is typically inserted into website code to allow for linking live streaming to site. Such technology is provided by several commercial providers, such as Dacast™. In the illustrated scenario of FIG. 11, the fan at the left podium represents a contestant playing contest for the athletes and fans of a first team. The fan at the right podium represents the opposing contestant playing contest for the athletes and fans of a second team. The emcee asks questions in categories as determined by wheel spin by contestant. The prize money in a preferred embodiment can comprise the combined entry fees of each first and second teams. Typically, the prize money is awarded to and spent by the fans of the contest-winning team. Winnings are typically used to purchase name-licenses of amateur athletes of that winning contestant's school sports team. The contest is optionally held for each sport during respective season, such as a series of football fan contests during football season, and a series of basketball fan contests during basketball season. In a preferred embodiment, a celebrity alumni contest is held at end of each season, such as at time of the final two sports teams of the conference playing on the field for the conference sports final. Typically, the above-described contests are live streamed via links of the instant invention platform to platform-registered fans and athletes. The alumni fan contests are typically held at the end of the school year with prize money contributed by corporate sponsors and winnings distributed to amateur athletes of winning school to buy name-licenses of platform-registered student-athletes of winning contestant's school from which winning-alumnus graduated.
[0067] Although the invention has been described in considerable detail in language specific to structural features, and or method acts, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as exemplary preferred forms of implementing the claimed invention. Stated otherwise, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Therefore, while exemplary illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described, numerous variations and alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Such variations and alternate embodiments are contemplated and can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
[0068] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
