Patent Application
20230075125
The present invention generally relates to online licensing platform connecting a fan with an amateur athlete and providing for a conveyance of money to an amateur athlete contemporaneous to conveyance of licensing rights to a fan. More specifically, instant invention platform relates to pre-authorization block, fan-rating of athletes, platform link to allow fan to access athlete social media posts, and live streaming via platform comprising view to registered users of amateur sporting events and fan contests.
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to a system and method for fans to connect online with amateur athletes and providing for a conveyance of money to an amateur athlete contemporaneous to conveyance of licensing rights to a fan (rights licensed comprise use of athlete name, image, likeness—known as NIL). In a preferred embodiment, said connecting allows fan to understand goals and thoughts of said amateur athletes, such as via platform wherein link to social media of athletes allows fan-user to see athlete's online postings. Optionally, said fan access informs decision of fan regarding fan purchase of license from athlete whose social media posts fan has perused via platform link.
In a preferred embodiment, instant invention comprises an online licensing platform allowing a fan to view ratings of athlete's activity on platform, said ratings applied by other platform-registered fans. In a preferred embodiment, said rating of athletes comprises fan assessment of quality of social media posts of athletes, responsiveness of athlete to fan request for video conference, and athletic performance rating by fans of athlete as seen via live streaming link of online licensing platform. Said ratings can be a factor in fan's selection of athlete for license purchase.
In a preferred embodiment, instant invention online licensing platform connects a fan with an amateur athlete and provides for a conveyance of money to an amateur athlete contemporaneous to conveyance of licensing rights to a fan. In a preferred embodiment, said platform uses, in registration and search functions, a plurality of county names.
In a preferred embodiment, said county names comprise locations which house schools attended by platform-registered high school student-athletes. Typically, such names of counties are specified by registering athlete as input from dropdown menu of counties in states which have laws allowing NIL license sale by high school athletes. Such county names comprise searchable aspect of platform-registered high school athletes. During search, such counties are specified as input from dropdown menu by searching fans to indicate the location of their searched-for athlete's school location. One benefit of use of county name is to simplify registration of large number of high school athletes, amalgamating for registration purposes a plurality of high schools in a single county.
In a preferred embodiment, said county names are typically used in conjunction with high school athletes (HSA) whose conference and school regulations allow NIL activities by these HSA while the athletes retain amateur status eligibility. In a preferred embodiment, said counties are in a plurality of states in USA wherein said respective state laws permit/have legalized NIL license-selling activity by high school athletes.
In a preferred embodiment, pre-registration block comprises notice programmed as compulsory to click response, a display to interrupt registration sign-up until block notice responded to by person attempting to register. In a preferred embodiment, said block, i.e., stoppage until response of further steps of sign-up, comprises a sequence which at least potentially safeguards amateur status of registering student-athlete.
In a preferred embodiment, registering athlete is required to click, designating having read said notice associated to said block of sign-up process. In preferred embodiment, athlete registration is prevented by said block from continuing until after athlete clicks certification of his or her having read the said notice, and further clicks to indicate his or her desire to continue steps of platform registration.
In a preferred embodiment, said notice provides a protective effect against athlete registering to platform and selling NIL licenses in contravention of state or local NIL-related regulations applicable to registering athlete. In a preferred embodiment, notice reads as follows—
Notice: No student-athlete should register herein until after the student-athlete first verifies he or she will not be disadvantaged by registration herein, such as by school or conference or other authorities ruling against student-athlete's amateur status or eligibility to participate in school sports.
In a preferred embodiment, such block against continuance of registration steps until after confirmation by user of his or her reading of said amateur-status-protective notice, said block is known herein as pre-authorization block. The word authorization is herein defined as a document giving permission to platform to represent a registering person as their selected category. In a preferred embodiment, the authorization given to platform comes from the registrant clicking one selection of ‘NIL-eligible college athlete’ or ‘NIL-eligible high school athlete’.
In preferred embodiment, the selection step which is typically presented to registering person after the block step response, the selection step is taken by platform as authorizing the platform to present said person as their selected persona, i.e., legitimate NIL-capable/eligible student athlete playing either college sports or high school sports.
As background, the term ‘NIL-eligible’ is herein defined as a student athlete who is able, within all applicable regulations of law and conference and school, to sell license for use of his or her name, image, or likeness and retain amateur status and eligibility. Such athletes, because they can sell NIL and remain within the rules and regulations determining eligibility for participation in amateur athletics, can register on instant invention platform without risk to amateur status.
In a preferred embodiment, a further pre-authorization block is applied on platform to registering person at time immediately preceding person uploading photo and/or video. In a preferred embodiment, said upload-associated block is a notice that requires person to click as documentation of his having read the notice which is associated to regulations regarding use of photo/video. The person, certifying his having read said notice, then clicks to continue or clicks to close. The authorization given platform by continuing is taken to be registering person allowing platform to present his/her photo/video as true representation of identity of registering person as a student athlete who is NIL-license-selling eligible as to content of photo/video versus specific regulations applicable to said student-athlete. In a preferred embodiment, the photo notice has following wording: ‘Before posting your photo: Some schools do not allow you to wear your uniform during NIL activities or show school facilities in the photo. Find out your school's policy first, before posting your photo’. In a preferred embodiment, the video notice has following wording: ‘Before posting your video: Some schools do not allow you to say trademarked school verbiage during NIL activities, such as posting a video of you saying the school's name or team name. Find out your school's policy first, before posting your video’.
In preferred embodiment, such programmed enforcement of registering athlete to confirm reading of photo/video upload-related notice, can increase likelihood athlete will read the notice and then check regulations and comply. Such checking by athlete of regulations can prevent athlete inadvertently violating school and/or conference regulations, and/or state law, a potentially protective measure for his or her amateur eligibility.
In a preferred embodiment, instant invention further comprises links to online licensing platform allowing a plurality of athlete online blogs and social media accounts to be accessed by electronic link and contemporaneously by a plurality of fans. Typically, such link connections allow said plurality of fans to choose among links for viewing posts and determining and identifying their respective favorite athletes. Typically, such viewing by fans enables fans to better understand student athlete goals and feelings and thoughts. Typically, via such better understanding, fans develop an improved basis for deciding which student athlete to support with fans' purchase of NIL licenses.
In a preferred embodiment, instant invention comprises registration of at least one high school student-athlete. In a preferred embodiment, a person wishing to be HSA registrant will view a platform notice comprising reference to legal status for HSA NIL licensing-selling activities, such as in various states in USA. As of the time of this writing, approximately nine of the fifty USA states have what experts consider to be finalized regulations supporting HSA participation in NIL.
In a preferred embodiment, instant invention comprises allowing a fan to view a recommendation by a first athlete regarding fan purchase of license from a second recommended athlete. Typically, said recommendation is allowed by first athlete inputting the identification number (ID #) of said second athlete he recommends. Input is onto online licensing platform in space provided to first athlete in his or her profile. Typically, a plurality of athlete ID #s can be input by said first athlete in such recommendations. In a preferred embodiment, such recommendations are by a first athlete of a specific school team, recommending a second athlete who is also on same school team. In a preferred embodiment, a chain of recommendations is allowed which can provide for a full roster of team members of a school team to recommend each other. For example, a first athlete can recommend three team members, and each of these can recommend three other team members, and so on. Typically, by several levels of such recommendations, the full team can be recommended to a plurality of fans, such as by inputting these team members' ID #s by teammates.
In a preferred embodiment, instant invention comprises registrants to view written terms of license agreement between fan and athlete as applicable to sale of licenses on the platform. Requirement by some schools specifying that NIL license agreements must be in writing, these requirements are at least partly satisfied by said platform notice and pre-agreement of registrants.
As background, many observers believe the state of implementation of NIL licensing selling by student-athletes in USA reached an inflection point with the 9-0 Supreme Court of the USA vote in the Alston case (21 Jun. 2021). Many observers believe that the unanimity of the vote by the justices, and the writings by the justices in their concurring opinions constitute strong indications, to the NCAA and other regulatory bodies of amateur sports, that the Constitution of the United States will likely be similarly interpreted as supporting NIL by courts in future cases if brought. Such analysis suggests school sports athletes could achieve pay for performance in amateur athletics, in a manner like the Olympics allowing professional athletes to participate as amateurs in the Olympics despite having a professional sports career away from the Olympics.
As background, observers view the attitude of the NCAA after the Alston decision as suggesting a likelihood that, absent a federal law, at least the near-term future of NIL licensing-selling by student-athletes will be based on a series of differing rules developed by several local jurisdictions and states. Such differing rules might be applied state to state, conference to conference, and school to school, rather than enforced from a national body or the federal government.
In a preferred embodiment, especially in view of the near-term likelihood of said differing rules within various jurisdictions, a series of safeguards are applied within instant invention to protect amateur athlete from inadvertent violation of rules of his school, conference, or state. In a preferred embodiment for example, on the home page of the website, a statement appears to the effect: ‘Offer void, where prohibited by law or in violation of school policy’.
In a preferred embodiment, pre-authorization block/notice alerts a person attempting to register within instant invention platform, such notice referencing the advisability of said person to personally verify such registration is within regulations for NIL license-selling by student-athlete as applicable to his or her situation. Typically, such block requires person to at least acknowledge having read notice before continuing.
As background, such requirements related to NIL can vary school to school. Often schools will post online their requirements. In a preferred embodiment, instant invention block/notice can optionally allow advice to be rendered to registering athlete to urge athlete to check online for such school-based specific requirements. In a preferred embodiment, block/notice coordinate to at least potentially reduce likelihood said registering person will upload photo and/or video which content is not in compliance to school regulations.
In a preferred embodiment, instant invention comprises at least one platform-linked reference to student athlete lack of funds. Typically, such reference can be a written discussion, a video presentation, a linked social media reference posted by athlete. Typically, such reference is viewable by fan. Typically, such reference provides fan a better understanding of student athlete registrant's sports-related goals and thoughts and feelings.
In a preferred embodiment, such better understanding provides a fan at least one basis by which to determine if fan, to support athlete, wishes to purchase a license from said athlete, i.e., to pay to use said athlete's name, image, or likeness. Typically, a plurality of licenses can be purchased contemporaneously by a plurality of fans from a plurality of registered student athletes via instant invention online license platform.
In a preferred embodiment, instant invention comprises search referencing fan finding profile within instant invention platform-linked data of at least one of college student athlete or high school student athlete. Typically, said search is instituted by registered fan. Typically, such search comprises fan selection from dropdown menu of at least one of state name, city name, county name.
In a preferred embodiment, instant invention comprises several levels of verification for identification of registered athlete as to being true person named in platform registration. In a preferred embodiment, instant invention informs fan users to exercise discretion on platform in dealing with a person purporting to be a named athlete. Where the posts comprise video of person who fan viewer recognizes as true named athlete, that is a level of confirmation.
In a further level of verification optionally used by instant invention, the coach of team can issue a statement listing ID #s of athlete registration on site as linked to true named athlete on coach's team. In a further level of verification optionally used by instant invention, the coach of the team can video the team assembled, and in that video each team member can speak and hold up sign to view, demonstrating their individual ID # to viewer of video. In a further level of verification optionally used by instant invention, the coach can sponsor a biometric registration of his team members. Such biometric data can be used by athlete in logging in at instant invention site. Fans can be made aware of such procedure's use as verification of athlete's identification on platform. In a preferred embodiment, the fan request via instant invention platform for video conference with instant invention registered athlete comprises at least potential for further identity verification directly by fan.
In a preferred embodiment, instant invention comprises at least one of: progressive web application with instructions for user to apply a procedure whereby user can electronically place icon of said app on user's cell phone home page, and/or at least one URL for video located and linkable in view of user of home page, and/or configuration whereby video conference can be requested by platform-registered fan with platform-registered individual who self-identified as NIL-eligible student athlete. Typically, said video conference request is viewable on platform by athlete, such as to identity or claimed name of requesting fan. Typically, said athlete offered video conference request by said identified fan can use configured access on platform allowing athlete to access a list of names of previous purchasers of his or her licenses. Typically, for example where such athlete has policy of speaking only to prior purchasers, said athlete seeing request on platform for video conference is enabled to determine on platform if requestor is a former license purchaser.
In a preferred embodiment, instant invention does not rely on school name for any function of platform. In a preferred embodiment, instant invention does not rely on any team name for any function of platform. In a preferred embodiment, instant invention does not rely on any position designation such as quarterback or goalie or point guard for any function of platform. In a preferred embodiment, instant invention does not rely on any school-trademarked verbiage for any function of platform.
In a preferred embodiment, instant invention platform uses at least one notice advising avoidance by users of posting of sensitive personal data. In a preferred embodiment, said notice further advises platform-registered users not to trust everyone they meet online.
In a preferred embodiment, instant invention platform comprises fan-applied search referencing at least one high school student athlete at least by first letter of last name. In a preferred embodiment, instant invention platform comprises fan-applied search referencing county of student-athlete's high school.
In a preferred embodiment, instant invention platform comprises linked game show wherein fans of a first school sports team in a conference compete against fans of a second school sports team of said conference. Optionally, via the link between social media platform of platform-registered athlete and fans, the fans are alerted in reference to said contest schedule. Typically, such fans collect money to meet the entry fee, as further disclosed below.
In a preferred embodiment, in a fan-contest, each team places their entry fees into escrow with the emcee of the game show, such monies available to be awarded to winner of the contest. Typically, the questions relate to the spinning of the wheel of sport by contestant to select a question category, said category of questions typically about the rivalry between the two teams of the contestants, such as in school sports.
In a preferred embodiment, the fan contest is live cast to the athletes via instant invention online licensing platform video streaming link. In a preferred embodiment, a championship of fans is held at end of season, such as in timeframe matching the end of season sports tournament of the athletic teams of the conference. Such activity builds fan involvement and increases licensing sales via platform.
In a preferred embodiment, platform link comprises live streaming of sports event comprising view of game play of at least one platform-registered athlete. Live streaming is when the streamed video is sent over the Internet in real time, without first being recorded and stored. By transmitting a few seconds of the file at a time over the internet, client devices do not have to download the entire video before starting to play it.
In a preferred embodiment, said platform-supported sports event live streaming is configured using embed code, as well-known in the art. Said sports event live streaming is typically visible to platform-registrants, both fans and athletes. In a preferred embodiment, ads are live streamed during half-time of said live-streamed game. In a preferred embodiment, a portion of the income from displaying said ads are distributed to fans of winning team for further distribution at the fans' discretion, such as to buy name-licenses from student-athletes.
In a preferred embodiment, instant invention comprises an online licensing platform connecting a fan with an amateur athlete and providing for a conveyance of money to an amateur athlete contemporaneous to conveyance of licensing rights to a fan, said platform further:
allowing at least one amateur-status-protective pre-authorization notice to prospective amateur athlete registrant as sign-up process block requiring to continue that registering athlete first confirm reading of notice comprising wording seeking to reduce potential of loss of amateur eligibility, and
allowing choice of category for said registrant representation on platform as one of NIL-eligible college athlete and NIL-eligible high school athlete, and
allowing opportunity to view ratings input by other fans in reference to platform-registered athletes, and
allowing fans opportunity to request video conference with platform-registered athlete, and
allowing fan link to platform-registered athlete's social media posts, and
allowing fan opportunity to purchase on platform a license from said athlete, and
allowing fan opportunity to compete in test of knowledge of said athlete's sport as competition against other fans also registered on platform, and
allowing said athlete opportunity to view said fan competition via live stream link on said platform.
In a preferred embodiment, said online licensing platform further comprises progressive web application with instructions linked to home page for procedure applicable by user to place icon of said app on user's cell phone home page. In a preferred embodiment, said online licensing platform further comprises at least one URL for video on home page, said video referencing at least one student-athlete's lack of funds.
In a preferred embodiment, said online licensing platform further comprises platform-registered fan's access to live streaming link on platform wherein is visible to fan at least one sports game comprising sports game play of at least one athlete registered on platform. In a preferred embodiment said online licensing platform further comprises ad during live stream, said ad highlighting team members of a school team.
In a preferred embodiment, instant invention platform provides fans access to input on platform a rating for platform-registered student-athletes. For example, a fan can rate athlete as five stars for genuine identity, five stars for response to request for video conference, and five stars on quality of social media posts. Such ratings are visible for other fans. In this way, fans visiting site for first time can see other fan users' ratings of plurality of registered athletes. New fans can use such ratings to choose wisely and improve their enjoyment of site experience. In a preferred embodiment, the fan who spent more money on license purchases on platform earns a higher weight to his ratings display. In other words, the rating of high-purchasing fans is more influential mathematically in determining athlete rating than rating of low-purchasing fan.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The notice-reading person can logically become more informed user. Such as informed student athlete who upon reading notice is thus alerted to potential risk of registering on the site if in violation of regulations applying specifically to said informed athlete reader. Such risk-awareness offers aspiring registrant an opportunity to wait to register if he or she has a question about which regulations apply to himself or herself. By clicking ‘close’, the user can then exit the site without registering. Such a user after exit can research his or her status to for a better understanding of his specific risk in selling name, image, and/or likeness licenses. Such rules and regulations can be in respect of the athlete's conference, state, and/or school as regards NIL activity of student athletes. By giving an aspiring registrant such block/notice opportunity to exit and research, the sequence of pre-authorization block/notice, and decision point of ‘close’ or ‘continue’, such opportunity can, at least in instance of amateur athlete who then discovers a conflict in regulations applicable to himself or herself, be amateur-status-protective.
Although the invention has been described in considerable detail in language specific to structural features, and or method acts, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as exemplary preferred forms of implementing the claimed invention. Stated otherwise, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Therefore, while exemplary illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described, numerous variations and alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Such variations and alternate embodiments are contemplated and can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present invention is a continuation in part application to non-provisional application Ser. No. 17/470,193 filed 9 Sep. 2021 entitled ‘METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SPORTS ATHLETE SELLING USE-OF-NAME LICENSE TO FAN TO ENABLE DISPLAY OF SAID ATHLETE NAME IN AD ENDORSEMENT OF TEAM SPIRITEDNESS OF SAID FAN ON SAID FAN SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE’ and to non-provisional application Ser. No. 17/582,875 filed 24 Jan. 2022 entitled ‘ONLINE LICENSING PLATFORM WITH ADDITIONAL FEATURES’, which publications are hereby incorporated in their entirety at least by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17470193 | Sep 2021 | US |
| Child | 17825917 | US | |
| Parent | 17582875 | Jan 2022 | US |
| Child | 17470193 | US |
