Patent ID: 6598027
Filing Date: 2003-07-22
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
A method of buying and selling regulated goods over a computer network, wherein the computer network comprises a Web site of an intermediary and a plurality of Web clients in communication with the Web site, and wherein buyers and sellers communicate with each other through the Web site via respective Web clients, the method comprising the following steps:receiving a request at the Web site from a seller, via a respective Web client, to list information about regulated goods offered for sale by the seller over the computer network, wherein the information comprises an identification of the regulated goods and a sales price for the regulated goods; verifying that the seller is authorized to sell the regulated goods using information about the seller maintained by the intermediary by verifying that the seller has a valid license issued by a regulatory agency for the regulated goods; responsive to verifying that the seller is authorized to sell the regulated goods, listing the information about the regulated goods offered for sale by the seller over the computer network; receiving an offer at the Web site from a buyer, via a respective Web client, to purchase the regulated goods from the seller at the listed sales price; verifying that the buyer is authorized to purchase the regulated goods using information about the buyer maintained by the intermediary by verifying that the buyer has a valid license issued by a regulatory agency for the regulated goods; and verifying that the regulated goods offered for sale are legal for use within a buyer location responsive to verifying that the buyer is authorized to purchase the regulated goods, initiating delivery of the regulated goods from the seller to the buyer.