Patent ID: 8346602

Claim:
A method for providing and tracking embedded e-mail advertising transmitted over a global computer communications system, comprising the steps of: creating a subscriber network of host e-mail accounts on individual host computers in communication with a network computer of an advertising entity over a global computer communications network, wherein each of said host e-mail accounts transmits e-mail messages from the host computer to third parties by e-mail without passing said e-mail messages through said network computer; downloading embedding and tracking software to each said host computer from said network computer; providing advertising to said host computers from said network computer to be embedded within said e-mail messages transmitted to said third parties by said host computers, tracking said e-mail messages containing said embedded e-mail advertising, and compensating said host e-mail accounts in relation to the volume of said e-mail messages containing said embedded e-mail advertising transmitted to said third parties by said host computers.