Patent ID: 7209892

Claim:
A method for distributing electronic information using a computer network comprising the steps of: receiving from a consumer a request for a selected item of information; formulating one or more offers based on predefined upstream business rule parameters wherein the one or more offers are associated with the selected item of information; dynamically updating the predefined upstream business rule parameters; providing the one or more offers to the consumer based on the dynamically updated upstream business rule parameters; receiving a selection of one of the offers from the consumer; validating the one or more offers for the selected item of information requested by the consumer, comprising the steps of; for at least one offer, referencing an electronic contract between one of a content owner and distributor and a retailer; determining whether the offer is consistent with the electronic contract; and validating the offer when the offer is consistent with the electronic contract; and delivering the requested information to the consumer and enabling the consumer to use the delivered information in accordance with the selected offer.