Patent ID: 7574375

Claim:
A method performed by at least one server, the method comprising: the server receiving from a first consumer via a first computer in use by the first consumer a request to sell an item, in which the first consumer purchased the item directly or indirectly from a provider; in which the provider placed on the item at least one restriction on transferability, the at least one restriction on transferability comprising the item being non-transferable by the first consumer; and in which the server and the first computer are communicatively coupled via a communications network; the server presenting to the first consumer via the first computer a plurality of options, in which the options comprise to sell the item by auctioning the item and to sell the item by advertising the item, in which advertising the item comprises posting a price; the server receiving from the first consumer via the first computer a selection, in which the selection comprises one of: to sell the item by auctioning the item, and to sell the item by advertising the item; based at least in part on receiving from the first consumer the request to sell the item, the server sending to the provider a request to release the at least one restriction on transferability of the item; the server receiving from the provider an indication that the at least one restriction on transferability of the item is released; based at least in part on receiving from the provider the indication that the at least one restriction on transferability of the item is released, the server presenting information about the item to at least a second consumer via a second computer in use by the second consumer, in which the information is presented, at least in part, as part of an auction when the selection by the first consumer comprises to sell the item by auctioning the item, and in which the information is presented, at least in part, as an advertisement when the selection by the first consumer comprises to sell the item by advertising the item; and in which the server and the second computer are communicatively coupled via the communications network; the server receiving from the second consumer via the second computer an indication to purchase the item; and based at least in part on receiving from the provider the indication that the at least one restriction on transferability of the item is released, the server causing the item to be transferred from the first consumer to the second consumer.