Patent ID: 8656285

Claim:
A computer implemented method of compensating a content provider for the distribution of digital content, comprising: receiving content data at a database, the content data transmitted from the content provider via a communications network and a customized graphical user interface, the content data comprising digital content, a content identifier and a value threshold; providing access to the content identifier by users of the user interface; receiving value from each of a plurality of users in association with the content identifier, said value of a type designated by the content provider in association with the value threshold; generating value data corresponding to a cumulative amount of value received from the plurality of users in association with the content identifier; determining whether access to the content is to be provided to one or more users, the determination based on a comparison of the value data corresponding to the cumulative amount of the value received and the value threshold; and distributing the cumulative amount of value received from the plurality of users to the content provider.