PAYMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WEB-BASED VIDEO EDITING SYSTEM

1 . A system comprising:

a server connected to a network;

a first client communications device connected to the network, wherein the client communications device is in communication with the server;

a second client communications device connected to the network, wherein the client communications device is in communication with the server;

media storage connected to the server, the media storage including media elements that are used in a video production, the media elements including at least one protected media element that has rights data associated with the protected media element indicative of usage rights available for the protected media element; and

production storage connected to the server, the production storage including a set of production instructions that define a video production that includes all or a portion of one or more of the media elements;

the server comprises a video editing subsystem that is configured to:

receive, from the first client communications device, selections indicative of media elements and commands indicative of how the media elements indicated by the selections are to be combined into a client video production, wherein the media elements indicated by the selections include at least one protected media element;

send, to the first client communications device, data allowing temporary playing on the client communication device of the client video production based on the selections and commands received from the client communications device;

send, to the first client communication device, data indicative of usage rights available for purchase through the client communications device of the at least one protected media element;

receive, from the first client communication device, instructions for the purchase of a purchased usage right set including at least some usage rights available for purchase for each of the at least one protected media element; and

send, to the second client communication device, data allowing playing on the second client communication device of the client video production; according to the purchased usage right set.

2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the server includes the media storage.

3 . The system of claim 1 wherein the server includes the production storage.

4 . The system of claim 1 wherein the server includes the media storage and the production storage

5 . The system of claim 1 wherein the first communication device comprises a plurality of client communication devices.

6 . The system of claim 1 wherein the first client communications device comprises a graphical user interface.

7 . The system of claim 6 wherein the client communications device comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: a personal computer, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a phone, and a video player.

8 . The system of claim 1 wherein the network is the Internet.

9 . A method using a server connected to a network, media storage connected to the server, the media storage including media elements that are used in a video production, the media elements including at least one protected media element that has rights data associated with the protected media element indicative of usage rights available for the protected media element, production storage connected to the server, the production storage including a set of production instructions that define a video production that includes all or a portion of one or more of the media elements, a first client communications device connected to the network, wherein the client communications device is in communication with the server, and a second client communications device connected to the network, wherein the second client communications device is in communication with the server, the method comprising:

the server receiving, from the first client communications device, selections indicative of media elements and commands indicative of how the media elements indicated by the selections are to be combined into a client video production, wherein the media elements indicated by the selections include at least one protected media element;

the server sending, to the first client communications device, data allowing temporary playing on the client communication device of the client video production based on the selections and commands received from the client communications device;

the server sending, to the first client communication device, data indicative of usage rights available for purchase through the client communications device of the at least one protected media element;

the server receiving, from the first client communication device, instructions for the purchase of a purchased usage right set including at least some usage rights available for purchase for each of the at least one protected media element; and

the server sending, to the second client communication device, data allowing playing on the second client communication device of the client video production; according to the purchased usage right set.

10 . The method of claim 9 wherein the server includes the media storage.

11 . The method of claim 9 wherein the server includes the production storage.

12 . The method of claim 9 wherein the server includes the media storage and the production storage

13 . The method of claim 9 wherein the first communication device comprises a plurality of client communication devices.

14 . The method of claim 9 wherein the first client communications device comprises a graphical user interface.

15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the first client communications device comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: a personal computer, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a phone, and a video player.

16 . The method of claim 9 wherein the network is the Internet.