Patent ID: 7734552

Claim:
A method for using a computer to facilitate and control sequential access to a two-level information database created by inputs supplied by originators comprising: receiving and storing in the database a plurality of two-part descriptions each supplied by an originator, each two-part description including a nonconfidential first-level element in the form of a searchable and accessible basic description of an originator's idea, and a confidential second-level element in the form of a searchable, but nonaccessible detailed description of each originator's idea; permitting users to access, search, review and select without restriction, only the nonconfidential first-level elements of the stored two-part descriptions; subsequently providing selecting users with an option to access, search and review the confidential second-level elements of the stored two-part descriptions that correspond to the selected first-level elements by electronically submitting to each selecting user a license agreement including a confidentiality provision and other previously supplied licensing terms; receiving and storing in the computer an acceptance of the license agreement by each selecting user; and upon receipt of license acceptance, providing accepting users with unrestricted access on a confidential basis via the computer to the confidential second-level elements of the stored two-part descriptions corresponding to the selected first-level elements.