Patent ID: 8360248

Claim:
A system for the viral transfer of media, the system comprising: a service provider, the service provider having a plurality of media titles for selection and rental by a first subscriber; a catalog list maintained by the service provider, the catalog list containing media titles assigned to and in the current physical possession of the first subscriber, the catalog list being accessible on a communications network for accessibility and selective rental of at least one media title assigned to and in the current physical possession of the first subscriber by a second subscriber; a means for a second subscriber to search and request one or more media titles from the catalog list containing media titles assigned to and in the current physical possession of the first subscriber; a means for the service provider to approve a physical media exchange between the first and second subscribers; a means for the first subscriber also to approve the physical media exchange between the first and second subscribers to place the second subscriber in current physical possession of the media title, without utilizing a distribution system of the service provider; a means for the service provider to notify the second subscriber that the first subscriber has approved the physical media exchange between the first and second subscribers; a means for the first subscriber to confirm to the service provider that the exchange that placed the second subscriber in physical possession has occurred; and a means for the second subscriber to confirm to the service provider that the exchange that placed the second subscriber in physical possession has occurred, thereby to inform the service provider of a location of the media title.