Patent ID: 7143357
Filing Date: 2006-11-28
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method of developing digital media content, comprising: (a) providing a user interface to a digital device network, said interface configured to enable a user to contribute collaboratively online with other users in a collaborative community to modify a digital media artifact, wherein the digital media artifact comprises a story and wherein a plurality of competing derivative digital media artifacts are created by integrating one or more user contributions with the digital media artifact; (b) creating a visual indicator to identify the user to other users in the collaborative community wherein the visual indicator protects the privacy of the user; (c) establishing a deadline for user contributions to the online digital media artifact; (d) determining a plurality of popularities of the plurality of derivative digital media artifacts derived from the digital media artifact; (e) submitting a selected popular derivative digital media artifact received prior to the deadline for production by a third party into a final media product; and (f) tracking a genealogy of the digital media artifact including a history of the digital media artifact and collaborative user contributions, wherein a percentage contribution by each users is calculated based at least in part on the number of story elements of the digital media artifact contributed by each user.