Secure transfer of online privileges including non-financial options

1. A method of transferring privileges, comprising:

selecting by a seller client a game item in an online game provided by a game server;

representing the game item by item data stored in a game database connected to the game server, and associating the item data having an associated privilege in the online game with a first user account;

retrieving by the game server the item data from the game database;

transferring by the game server the item data and a first user identifier of the first user account to an auction server;

disabling by the game server the item data stored in the game database so that the privilege associated with the item data is no longer available in the online game;

storing by the auction server the transferred item data and the first user identifier in an auction database connected to the auction server;

presenting by the auction server an auction for the game item at the auction server;

accepting by the auction server one or more bids at the auction server for the game item;

determining by the auction server a winning bid for the game item from among accepted bids, the winning bid indicating a second user identifier and the second user identifier corresponding to a second user account with the game server;

transferring by an online service company one or more non-financial items based on the winning bid from an account indicated by the second user identifier to an account indicated by the first user identifier,

wherein the online service company connects to and controls both the game server and the auction server so that a second user associated with the second user account is assured of transfer of the game item for said one or more non-financial items;

updating by the game server the item data stored in the game database so that the item data is associated with the second user account; and

enabling by the game server the item data stored in the game database so that the privilege is available in the online game.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more non-financial items include points stored in the account indicated by the second user identifier.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more non-financial items include a game item stored in the account indicated by the second user identifier.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more non-financial items include an online privilege stored in the account indicated by the second user identifier.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more non-financial items include an online certificate stored in the account indicated by the second user identifier.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more non-financial items include a representation of a physical item stored in the account indicated by the second user identifier.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for use in transferring online privileges, the program comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to:

select a game item in an online game provided by a game server;

represent the game item by item data stored in a game database connected to the game server, and associate the item data having an associated privilege in the online game with a first user account;

retrieve the item data from the game database;

transfer the item data and a first user identifier of the first user account to an auction server;

disable the item data stored in the game database so that the privilege associated with the item data is no longer available in the online game;

store the transferred item data and the first user identifier in an auction database connected to the auction server;

present an auction for the game item at the auction server;

accept one or more bids at the auction server for the game item;

determine a winning bid for the game item from among accepted bids, the winning bid indicating a second user identifier and the second user identifier corresponding to a second user account with the game server;

transfer one or more non-financial items based on the winning bid from an account indicated by the second user identifier to an account indicated by the first user identifier,

wherein an online service company connects to and controls both the game server and the auction server so that a second user associated with the second user account is assured of transfer of the game item for said one or more non-financial items;

update the item data stored in the game database so that the item data is associated with the second user account; and

enable the item data stored in the game database so that the privilege is available in the online game.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , further comprising

building an auction profile for the game item by the auction server prior to accepting one or more bids.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , further comprising

enabling a user identified by the first user identifier to access the auction profile and set desired auction parameters including length of the auction, a starting price, a reserve price, and an instance purchase price.