MEDIUM OF EXCHANGE BASED ON RIGHT TO USE OR ACCESS INFORMATION

摘要

Methods, apparatus and systems for managing certificates used as a medium of economic exchange include issuing, by at least one computer, electronic certificates configured for use as digital currency units; publishing, by the at least one computer, a promise to redeem the electronic certificates for a right to access a digital object controlled by the at least one computer at a specified rate; and redeeming, by the at least one computer, ones of the electronic certificates for rights to access the digital object at the specified rates. The digital objects may include rights to use or access copyrighted digital content, and/or virtual objects or services useful only in a virtual online environment that is controlled via the one or more computers. The methods, apparatus and systems may include providing one of the electronic certificates to users, in exchange for value.