Patent ID: 8244596

Claim:
An e-commerce system, comprising: an endorsement engine executing on a network-connected server; and interface software executing on a network-connected server coupled to the endorsement engine and adapted to interact with one or more content sources connected over a network, said content sources located remotely from the endorsement engine and hosting non-advertising content items of a plurality of content types; wherein the interface software enables an endorsing user to browse the content sources and to select a content item of a particular content type from one of the content sources, and the interface software enables the endorsing user to enter a first code associated with the selected content item, and the interface software enables the endorsing user to view product information concerning products available for endorsement and to select a product for endorsement, and the interface software enables the endorsing user to enter a second code associated with the selected product, the second code compatible with the content type of the selected content item; and wherein upon the activation of the first code associated with the selected content item by a viewing user, the viewing user is connected to the selected content item still located at its original content source and is able to view the selected content while still connected to the interface software; and wherein upon the activation of the second code by a viewing user, the viewing user is connected to a network-connected shopping cart, and is thereby enabled to buy the product.