Abstract:
A centralized marketplace for efficient and streamlined third party listings, including advertisements, to be placed within marketplaces. An automated backend coordinates the listing transactions, including the collection of fees, timings of display of listings, etc. Additionally, each marketplace may facilitate the placement of listings in affiliated marketplaces and similarly receive listings from affiliates for a fee or free.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The patterns by which people receive information has transformed since the widespread use of the internet and during its life. Where people once consulted larger, general information sources, the trend today is often consultation of smaller, specialized information sources. Thus, the traffic to larger, general information sources is reduce today in favor of the smaller, specialized information sources. Naturally, the owners of the smaller, specialized marketplaces seek to capitalize on listings revenues, but often lack the personnel and other resources to efficiently display listings in their marketplaces. 
         [0002]    During 1990&#39;s, the internet was dominated by large marketplaces. A marketplace is an online or offline venue that facilitates commerce and may range from large websites to small websites to offline print sources to individuals. Over the history of the internet, gradual shift from large, varied content marketplaces to smaller, more specialized marketplaces has occurred. This shift, naturally, has led to a revitalization of ways in which content owners, such as advertisers, generate revenue. Many larger marketplaces are loosing traffic to the more specialized marketplaces, which has caused content owners to reevaluate how and where advertising money is spent. 
         [0003]    At the same time, however, the more specialized marketplaces tend to be smaller operations. Often, these marketplaces are created, maintained, and run by individuals or small groups of individuals. Although today the marketplaces generate increasing levels of traffic, by comparison to the traffic of the larger marketplaces the overall traffic is relatively small. Small marketplaces often struggle to attract larger advertising revenues that reflect their increased traffic because these smaller marketplaces do not have the personnel and resources to create and implement extensive advertising schemes. Thus, small marketplaces, although attracting traffic that has traditionally gone to larger marketplaces, are often unable to capture advertising revenues that should follow the increased traffic to their marketplaces. 
         [0004]    Moreover, small marketplaces tend to be specialized and exist with other small marketplaces specializing in the same or similar subject matter. The competing marketplaces often exist in niches that appeal to various groups of traffic, and often include subsets of the same users. These small marketplaces form niche communities, and the owners of the marketplaces tend to be aware of, and in some cases collaborate with, the other similar marketplaces in the niche communities. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    One embodiment, as described herein, provides a centralized marketplace for efficient and streamlined third party listings, including advertisements, to be placed within marketplaces. An automated backend coordinates the listing transactions, including the collection of fees, timings of display of listings, etc. Additionally, each marketplace may facilitate the placement of listings in affiliated marketplaces and similarly receive listings from affiliates for a fee or free. 
         [0006]    According to a feature of the present disclosure, a method and system are disclosed comprising a first entity offering, via a site of a second entity, to generate a listing, the first entity generating and providing the listing to be displayed at the site of the second entity, the first entity distributing the listing to be displayed at a site of at least a third entity, in response to a user selecting the listing displayed at a site of a third entity, directing the user to the second entity for the listing. 
         [0007]    Also according to a feature of the present disclosure is a machine-readable medium having stored thereon a set of instructions which when executed perform a method comprising: a first entity offering, via a site of a second entity, to generate a listing, the first entity generating and providing the listing to be displayed at the site of the second entity, the first entity distributing the listing to be displayed at a site of at least a third entity; and in response to a user selecting the listing displayed at a site of a third entity, directing the user to the second entity for the listing. 
         [0008]    Finally, according to a feature of the present disclosure, a system is disclosed comprising a means for a first entity offering, via a site of a second entity, to generate a listing, a means for the first entity generating and providing the listing to be displayed at the site of the second entity, a means for the first entity distributing the listing to be displayed at a site of at least a third entity; and a means for directing the user to the second entity for the listing, in response to a user selecting the listing displayed at a site of a third entity. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The above-mentioned features and objects of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is block diagram of an embodiment of a method of use of a centralized listing backend. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an embodiment of an affiliate system that may be used in conjunction with the centralized listing backend of the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method of submitting and viewing listings. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    In the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, electrical, functional, and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
         [0014]    In accordance with one embodiment, a centralized backend can utilize economics of scale to provide the resources for small marketplaces to earn revenue from listings, defined as content generated by parties independent of a particular marketplace with less expense and investment of energy. A marketplace is an online or offline venue that facilitates commerce and may range from large websites to small websites to offline print sources to individuals. Moreover, by using a centralized backend for listings, content owners, or people, groups of people, or organizations that submits content to a marketplace, may place listings at a single small marketplace and propagate the ad to other marketplaces. In addition, in one embodiment, smaller unique communities can be used as a platform to disseminate certain listings to a larger audience, which helps content providers more effectively place listings based on trends in the marketplace traffic. 
         [0015]    Although one embodiment of the present disclosure is suited for smaller marketplaces, it is equally suited to be used with larger marketplaces to increase the visibility of their listings, in both online and traditional marketplaces, such as magazine and newspaper classifieds. Thus, the present disclosure provides a novel system and methods to centralize placement of listings. Content owners may therefore follow changes in marketplace traffic patterns, even where the traffic is diverted to small marketplaces where alone the level of traffic may not justify placement of marketplace content, which are listings submitted by the content owner. 
         [0016]    Turning to embodiments of  FIG. 1 , marketplaces  130  may be both online or offline, as would be known to artisans. Online marketplaces may be online classified systems of varying sizes, general or specific content websites, weblogs, commercial websites, and any other online resource where content owners are permitted to submit listings. Offline marketplaces, according to embodiments, may be traditional print media, such as classified advertisements, newspapers, and magazines. Marketplaces may also comprise radio and television advertising, according to embodiments, as well as individuals, such as a person&#39;s cell phone or computer system. 
         [0017]    According to an embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , a marketplace owner, comprising a person, a group of people, or an organization that sets the marketplace business terms or conducts the business of the marketplace. creates marketplace  130 . The marketplace business terms are those terms and policies defining the display of listings on the marketplace. According to embodiments, marketplace  130  may be a website dedicated to publishing listings  132 , or it may be a website dedicated to another purpose where advertising serves a role in conjunction with the other functions and features of given marketplace  130 . For example, marketplace  130  may solely comprise a collection of classified listings  132  of boats. Similarly, marketplace  130  may comprise content related to boats including articles, discussion forums, and boating getaways, where advertising of boats is provided to the traffic visiting for the other features of marketplace  130 . 
         [0018]    Marketplace owners define their marketplace  130 . According to embodiments, marketplace owners determine the type or classification of content permitted on their marketplace  130 . The content and other materials found on marketplace  130 , including the subject matter are therefore defined solely by the marketplace owner and the contributors to marketplace  130 . Centralized listing backend  140  provides the engine for submission and display of listings  132  and may be used to coordinate the subject matter of listings  132  with the subject matter of marketplace  130  to provide consistency of subject matter. 
         [0019]    According to embodiments, marketplace owner defines the behavior of centralized listing backend  140  as it applies to their marketplace  130 . According to embodiments, marketplace owners may define the types or categories of goods or services that may be offered on marketplace  130  via listings  132 . Thus, the marketplace owner can restrict the goods and services advertised to match the subject matter of marketplace  130 , thereby increasing the value of advertising “real estate” on marketplace  130  by providing more productive marketplace content, which makes marketplace  130  more desirable to content owners  110  wishing to place listings  132  offering goods and services related to the subject matter of each marketplace  130 . 
         [0020]    Moreover, marketplace owners may define the layout and scheme of listings  132  posted to their marketplace  130 . According to embodiments, marketplace owners may supply cascading stylesheets (CSS) or customized HTML, images, and colors to define to look and feel of listings  132 , as known to artisans. Listings  132  are hosted by centralized listing backend  140 , which applies a marketplace owner&#39;s look and feel of listing  132  according to embodiments. Thus, marketplace owners may duplicate the look and feel of marketplace  130  irrespective of where listing  132  is hosted. Marketplace owners may define fonts, colors, layouts, background images, and so forth of the listing. 
         [0021]    According to embodiments, marketplace owners may define portions of each marketplace  130  webpage for display of listings  132  instead or in addition to a dedicated page (see  FIG. 1 ). Using a JavaScript or Flash widget, for example, listings  132  may be displayed in predefined areas of marketplace  130 , e.g., a banner or box of predetermined size, by retrieving from centralized listing backend  140  listings  132 . Listings  132  retrieved will be defined by CSS or other similar methods of formatting the look and feel of the smaller listing real estate on marketplace  130 . 
         [0022]    According to similar embodiments, marketplace owners may host listings  132  by receiving syndication feeds of relevant listings  132 . For example, listings  132  may be published and syndicated using an XML feed, such as a really simple syndication (RSS) feed, atom feed, or equivalents, and display listing  132  in marketplaces hosted by the marketplace owner. According to these embodiments, marketplace owners control all aspects of the look and feel of the marketplace. In one embodiment, these principles extend to offline marketplaces. 
         [0023]    Marketplace owners may also define in centralized listing backend  140  administrative features of marketplace  130 , according to embodiments. Marketplace owners may define fees to be paid by content owners  110  submitting listings  132 . These fees may be flat fees, cost per click fees, or cost per action fees, according to embodiments. Artisans will recognize the various fee collection fees that may be used in conjunction with internet advertising and that may be implemented in conjunction with the present disclosure. Similarly, marketplace owners define the type of content, such as text, graphical marketplace content, classifieds, and so forth to be submitted, the length of time each listing  132  will persist in marketplace  130 , the number of listings  132  that are permitted on marketplace  130  at any given time, the ways in which listings  132  expire from marketplace  130 , and so forth. According to embodiments, the marketplace owner may also define whether marketplace  130  hosts an affiliate program and accepts listings  132  for other marketplaces  130 . Additionally, according to embodiments, marketplace owner may select additional features such as textual decorations, that are permitted for listings  132 , as well as premium content and placement of listings  132 . The feature set available to marketplace owners vary with the implementation of centralized listing backend  140   
         [0024]    Marketplace  130  is administered by centralized listing backend  140 . A content owner  110  visits marketplace  130  to post listing  132 . Using a javascript widget or flash widget, provided by centralized listing backend  140 , for example, content owner  110  submits listing  132 . The widget allows content owner  110  to submit listing  132  to centralized listing backend  140  directly from marketplace  130 . According to embodiments, however, content owners  110  may visit centralized listing front-end  156  to submit listings  132 , as well. From centralized listing front-end  156 , content owner  110  may select one or more marketplaces  130  to submit listing  132 . 
         [0025]    Referring still to  FIG. 1 , centralized listing backend  140  may publish listings  132  to ancillary marketplaces  152 , as well as make listings generally available to search engines  154 . According to embodiments, listing  132  is posted to centralized listing backend  140 . Centralized listing backend  140  may then make listings generally available to be searched via centralized listing front-end  156  or via search engines  154 . According to embodiments, search engines  154  may be general search engines or specialized search engines. Moreover, search engines  154  may be search engines dedicated to a given subject matter, according to embodiments. Integration with search engines  154  and ancillary marketplaces and publishers  152  may be accomplished by providing XML feeds to the relevant marketplaces. XML feeds may comprise syndication feeds, such as RSS or Atom feeds, or may be proprietary, depending on the implementation of the feeds. 
         [0026]    According to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , listings  132  are hosted by centralized backend server  140 . When consumer  120  investigates listing  132  link from marketplace  130 , consumer  120  is directed to a listing  132  webpage hosted by centralized listing backend  140 . Because marketplace owners will generally configure listing  132  to mirror the look and feel of marketplace  140 , most users will be unaware when viewing listing  132  that they are no longer viewing content on marketplace  130 , but rather content provided by centralized listing backend  140 . 
         [0027]    Similarly, consumers investigating links to listings  132  from ancillary marketplaces and publishers  152 , search engines  154 , or centralized listing front end  156  will be directed to listing  132 . Listing  132  will be made up with data inputted by content owner  110  during submission of listing  132 . All links in listing  132  webpages will direct consumer  120  to marketplace  130 , according to embodiments. For example, a user may search centralized listing backend and select listing  132  from a set of results. Selecting listing  132  will take the user to listing  132  page hosted on centralized listing backend  146  which duplicates the look and feel of marketplace  140  where listing  132  was originally submitted. Conversely, where listing  132  is selected on different marketplace  140  where listing  132  was not originally submitted, listing  132  page displayed will mimic the look and feel of different marketplace  130 , but with an annotation indicating that the item was published on marketplace  130  where it was originally published. The look and feel of each particular listing  132  varies case by case according to the various circumstances of the display of each listing  132 . 
         [0028]    Some marketplaces  130 , according to embodiments, will display listing  132  as a portion of the content of marketplace  130 , as previously described. According to embodiments, marketplaces  130  may be embedded with javascript widgets, for example, which pull listing  132  from centralized listing backend  140  and display listing  132  as an embedded portion of the overall content of marketplace  130  rather than linking consumer  120  to a standalone listing  132 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . According to the exemplary embodiment, listing  132  may comprise a banner or other dedicated marketplace  130  real estate that displays listing  132  content hosted by centralized listing backend  140 . 
         [0029]    According to embodiments and as previously described, listings  132  may be hosted as part of the content of marketplace  130  by the marketplace owner. Marketplace owners may implement their own marketplace listings using XML feeds as previously described and as known by artisans. 
         [0030]    As previously described, small, subject specific marketplaces tend to be familiar with other marketplaces offering similar content subject matter. Content owners that target the traffic of small, subject specific marketplaces stand to benefit from propagating a listing to a group of similarly situated marketplaces rather than visiting each to submit listing  132 . 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , content owners  110 ,  112  may propagate listings  132  to multiple marketplaces  130 ,  134  by visiting single marketplace  134  or a small subset of marketplaces  130 ,  134  where the content owners  110 ,  112  wish to post listings  132 . Centralized listing backend  140  provides a platform for propagation of listing  132  from marketplace  134  to marketplace  130 , as shown in an exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 2 . According to embodiments, marketplace owners receive a portion of revenues when listing  132  is propagated to their marketplace  130  from another marketplace  134 . 
         [0032]    According to an embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , content owner  110  may submit listing  132  to a single marketplace  130 . Marketplace owner, as part of the process of creating marketplace  130 , will decide the payment structure for content owner&#39;s submission of listing  132 . The payment structure, as previously described, may be any payment structure known to artisans for advertising goods and services online or offline, to which the principles of the present disclosure apply. For example, marketplace owner may charge content owner  110  based on a flat fee, cost per clicks (CPC), or cost per action (CPA), or real estate occupied by listing  132 , according to embodiments. 
         [0033]    For example, marketplace owner decides that marketplace content placed by content owners  110  on marketplace  130  will cost $200 for a week. Marketplace  130  is dedicated to sailboats, and contains articles relating to sailing, product reviews, America&#39;s Cup information, and other features of interest to sailors. Content owner  110  is a sailboat parts manufacturer and wishes to sell sailboat accessories. Content owner  110  chooses to place listing  132  to sell sailboat accessories on marketplace  130 . Content owner  110  visits marketplace  130  to submit listing  132 . Content owner  110  is directed to a form or other submission method, as would be known and understood by artisans. 
         [0034]    Submission of listing  132  is made and ultimately submitted to centralized listing backend  140 . Centralized listing backend  140  receives listing  132  and charges content owner  110  for placement of listing  132  and receives revenue  200 , according to embodiments. Centralized listing backend  140 , according to embodiments, retains a portion of revenue  200 . Indeed, the services of centralized listing backend  140  may rely solely on retaining a portion of revenues  200  for listings  132  posted to marketplaces  130  according to embodiments. 
         [0035]    Marketplace owner, according to the embodiment, receives revenue  200  collected by centralized listing backend  140  less any portion of revenue retained by centralized listing backend  140 . Thus, marketplace owner may use centralized listing backend  140  to increase revenues by inducing placements of listings  132  without the need to maintain a marketplace backend to handle listings  132 , including submission of the listings, display of the listings, timing of displays, expiry of listings, etc., and payment of revenue for each listing  132  submitted. 
         [0036]    Referring still to embodiments shown in  FIG. 2 , content owner  110  may submit listings  132  to single marketplace  130 , as shown. However, content owners  112  may also submit to a plurality of marketplaces  130 ,  134  in a single step by submitting listing  132  to single marketplace  134  and propagating listing  132  to other marketplaces, for example marketplace  130 . For the purposes of the discussion below, marketplace  130  will be understood to represent at least one marketplace where listing  132  is propagated. 
         [0037]    According to embodiments, content owner  112  may wish to submit listing  132  to a number of related marketplaces  130 ,  134 . Centralized listing backend  140  provides a framework to submit listing  132  to single marketplace  134  and propagate listing  132  to a plurality of marketplaces, for example marketplace  130 . Propagation can occur to a virtually unlimited number of marketplaces, provided the marketplaces are connected to centralized listing backend  140 . 
         [0038]    Centralized listing backend  140  handles propagation of listings  132 , according to embodiments. Because centralized listing backend  140  hosts listing  132  (see e.g.,  FIG. 1 ), each marketplace  130 ,  134  where listing  132  is submitted or propagated by centralized listing backend  140  need only be configured with a javascript widget to have listings  132  displayed, according to embodiments. Where marketplace  130 ,  134  directly hosts listings  132 , listings  132  submitted via other marketplaces may be received via XML feed, as previously described. 
         [0039]    According to embodiments, revenues  202  are generated for the marketplace  134  where submission of listing  132  occurs as previously described. However, fee collection and distribution for marketplace  130  where listing was not originally submitted, but rather propagated, is modified, according to embodiments and as shown in  FIG. 2  via dashed lines. Naturally, for content owner  112  to place listing  132  with both marketplace  134  and marketplace  130 , content owner  112  must pay the fee to place listing  132  with each marketplace  130 ,  134 . Because marketplace owners set their own revenue structures, content owners may be obligated to pay different fees or participate in different fee arrangements from marketplace to marketplace. A marketplace may charge a flat fee of $200 to place the listing for a week and another marketplace may charge $0.05 per click on listing  132 , for example. Centralized listing backend  140  will collect fees from content owners  110 ,  112  based on the parameters defined by the marketplace owner for each marketplace  130 ,  134  that listing  132  is submitted. 
         [0040]    Additionally, according to embodiments, marketplace owners may create an affiliate-type program to provide incentives to other marketplace owners to propagate listings  132  placed on their marketplaces  134  to marketplaces  130 , so that marketplace  130  may also earn listing  132  submission fees. As referred to earlier, small, specialized content marketplaces tend to be aware of similar marketplaces. Moreover, content owners  112  are less inclined to place listings at single, small marketplaces with limited traffic, but more inclined to place listings with a number of similar marketplaces to increase the number of viewers of their listings  132 . Thus, marketplace owners are in a unique position to point content owners  112  to others marketplaces  130  to increase the traffic potentially viewing their listings  132 , thereby bring content owners  112  to their marketplace  134  by providing the incentive of connecting content owner  112  with similar marketplaces. Thus, content owners  112  may submit listing  132  at single marketplace  134  and choose to propagate listing  132  to similar marketplaces  130 , without visiting each one or even being aware of the existence of the other marketplaces  130 . 
         [0041]    According to embodiments, content owner  112  submits listing  132  via marketplace  134 . Marketplace owner may decide whether to participate in the affiliate-type program and the affiliates that will be offered to content owners  112  for listing  132  propagation during submission to marketplace  112 , according to embodiments. Marketplace owners, according to further embodiments, decide the affiliate fee they will pay for listings propagated to their marketplace  130  as part of participation in the affiliate type program. 
         [0042]    According to embodiments, during the listing submission process, content owner  112  may be presented with an option to propagate listing  132  to marketplaces  130  other than marketplace  134  on which content owner  112  is directly submitting listing  132 . According to further embodiments, owner of marketplace  134  will have discretion as to which affiliate marketplaces  130  are presented to content owner  112 . Consequently, if owner of marketplace  134  does not want to propagate listings  132  submitted via marketplace  134  to marketplaces  130  that do not play an affiliate fee or that marketplace owner does not want to drive content owners  112  to, the marketplace owner may omit them from the marketplaces to which content owner  112  may elect to propagate listing  132 . Furthermore, owner of marketplace  134  may choose not to affiliate with any other marketplace; consequently, content owner  112  will be unable to propagate listing  132  to other marketplaces  130  from marketplace  134 . Centralized listing backend  140  handles propagation and interaction with content owner  112  regarding propagation choices, according to embodiments. 
         [0043]    As exemplified in  FIG. 2 , content owner  112  submits listing  132  to marketplace  134 . During the submission process, content owner  112  is offered a choice of affiliates with which to propagate listing  132 . According to embodiments, centralized listing backend  140  coordinates which marketplaces, for example marketplace  130 , are offered to content owner  112 . The offered choice of affiliates may detail various information about each affiliate including the price to list with the affiliate and other useful information, such as a summary of the subject matter offered at marketplace  130 . In one embodiment, additional information is offered to a content owner  112  in conjunction with the decision as to which marketplaces to propagate listing  132 . 
         [0044]    Content owner  112  selects affiliates to which content owner  112  wishes to propagate listing  132 . Content owner  112  may select, in addition to submission of listing  132  to marketplace  134 , to have central listing backend  140  propagate listing to affiliated marketplaces  130 . Content owner  112  would then pay revenue  202  and revenue  200 , as shown by dashed lines in  FIG. 2 . However, marketplace  134  may receive an affiliate fee from affiliated marketplace  130  for referring listing  132  to affiliated marketplace  130 . 
         [0045]    Thus, for submitting listing  132  to marketplace  134 , revenue  202  to marketplace  134  would comprise the listing fee revenue  202  less any portion of revenue  202  retained by centralized listing backend  140 . For propagating listing  132  to affiliated marketplace  130 , the owner of marketplace  134  may receives an affiliate fee, which may be designated by affiliated marketplace  130  or by marketplace  134 , according to various embodiments and is added to revenue  202 . Additionally, centralized listing backend  140  may retain a portion of revenue  200  to be paid to the owner of marketplace  130 . Thus, revenue  200  paid to affiliated marketplace  130  owner will be gross revenue  200  less the affiliate fee paid to marketplace  134  owner and the portion retained by centralized listing backend  140 . 
         [0046]    For example, a sail manufacturer wishes to submit listing to a general boating marketplace for a flat fee of $200 for one week. However, the sail manufacturer also wishes to increase sales by submitting listings to other marketplaces dedicated to boating, particularly sailboating. During the submission process of the sail manufacturer&#39;s listing, sail manufacturer is presented with an option to propagate the listing to a dedicated sailboat marketplace for $225. The sailboat marketplace offers a $25 affiliate fee for referral of advertisers. The sail manufacturer selects both the general boating marketplace and the sailboat marketplace to submit and display a listing for custom-made sails. 
         [0047]    Thus, because the custom-made sails listing is submitted to the general boating marketplace, the general boating marketplace earns a gross revenue of $200. Similarly, because the sail manufacturer elected to propagate the custom-made sales listing to the sailboating marketplace, the sailboating marketplace makes a gross revenue of $225. However, the centralized listing backend retains $50 of the gross revenue of each transaction. Additionally, the sailboating marketplace pays the general boating marketplace the $25 affiliate fee. 
         [0048]    Consequently, for having the listing displayed for one week at both marketplaces, the general boating marketplace is paid $175 ($200 gross revenue−$50 centralized listing backend fee+$25 affiliate fee paid from the sailboating marketplace). The Sailboating marketplace is paid $150 ($225−$50 centralized listing backend fee−$25 affiliate fee paid to the general boating marketplace). 
         [0049]    Centralized listing backend  140  automatically calculates the fees owed to each marketplace  130 ,  134 , according to embodiments. Consequently, affiliate fees are not paid directly from marketplace  130  to marketplace  134 , but rather centralized listing backend  140  calculates and adjusts revenues  200 ,  202  to reflect the amount owed to each marketplace  130 ,  134 . Content owners  110 ,  112  tender payment in one of several ways, as well as revenues  200 ,  202  are dispersed to the marketplaces  130 ,  134  in one of several ways. 
         [0050]    In one embodiment, centralized listing backend  140  screens listings and only permits propagation to marketplaces  130 ,  134  suitable for the listings. Thus, referring again to the boat example, a water ski company would be permitted to submit listing to the general boating marketplace. However, according to embodiments an option to propagate the listing to the sailboat marketplace would not be presented, as water skis are not used with sail boats. According to other embodiments, if listing  132  is unsuitable for a single marketplace that is offered to content owner  112  among a group of affiliates during the submission process of listing  132 , content owner  112  may be precluded from propagating listing  132  altogether. 
         [0051]    According to still similar embodiments, marketplace owner  130  precludes having listing  132  listed on their marketplace  130 , regardless of the origin. Thus, marketplace owners  110  retain control over the content of their marketplaces  130 , despite the ability of content owners  112  to propagate listing  132  to marketplace owner&#39;s  110  marketplace  130 . Likewise according to other embodiments, marketplace owner  112  similarly precludes listing  132  that is submitted directly to their marketplace  134 . 
         [0052]    According to an embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , a process  1000  is shown for submission and viewing of listings. According to an embodiment, a centralized listing backend provides a listing service for a marketplace  1010 , as previously described. A content owner may then submit a listing to the centralized listing backend via the marketplace. Indeed, according to embodiments, content owner submits the listing directly to the centralized listing backend, even though content owner may be visiting the website of the marketplace. The centralized listing backend generates the listing content and provides the listing to the marketplace for viewing  1030 . The centralized listing backend also distributes the listing to third party marketplaces  1040 , for example a newspaper, affiliated website, or a search engine, according to embodiments. When a listing on a third party marketplace is selected, the user selecting the listing is referred back to the marketplace where it was originally submitted  1050 , according to embodiments. According to similar embodiments, the user may view the listing at the third party marketplace, as described previously. Other variations are also described herein and are applicable as well. 
         [0053]    The processes described above can be stored in a memory of a computer system as a set of instructions to be executed. In addition, the instructions to perform the processes described above could alternatively be stored on other forms of machine-readable media, including magnetic and optical disks. For example, the processes described could be stored on machine-readable media, such as magnetic disks or optical disks, which are accessible via a disk drive (or computer-readable medium drive). Further, the instructions can be downloaded into a computing device over a data network in a form of compiled and linked version. 
         [0054]    Alternatively, the logic to perform the processes as discussed above could be implemented in additional computer and/or machine readable media, such as discrete hardware components as large-scale integrated circuits (LSI&#39;s), application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC&#39;s), firmware such as electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM&#39;s); and electrical, optical, acoustical and other forms of propagated signals (e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.). 
         [0055]    While the apparatus and method have been described in terms of what are presently considered to be the most practical and effective embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure need not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures. The present disclosure includes any and all embodiments of the following claims.