Technology migration program

1. A method of replacing an older technology with a newer technology, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing an exchange program involving a like for like physical media exchange of the older technology for the newer technology by which a retailer or producer of the media provides the newer technology at a reduced cost to a customer who owns the older technology and by which the customer physically surrenders the older technology and ownership thereof, the customer having been granted a license to copyrighted material on the older technology, wherein the license to the copyrighted material is transferred from the older technology to the newer technology through the exchange program;

b) requiring that the newer technology contains copyrighted material that is the same as certain of the copyrighted material on the older technology; and

c) using a network or Internet connection between computers of at least two of the retailer, the producer of the media, and the customer to communicate instructions and other requisite information necessary to facilitate said physical media exchange, the customer participating in the exchange program via one of an online track and a retail track,

wherein the online track involves the customer via his computer visiting an Internet website of the retailer or the producer of the media, whereon the customer during participation in the program (i) identifies the older technology to be exchanged through the program, (ii) inputs corresponding contact information of the customer, and (iii) receives information and instructions regarding processes for the surrender of the older technology and for payment of the reduced cost, and

wherein the retail track involves the customer making an in-person visit to the retailer, whereafter the retailer via its computer during participation in the program (i) catalogs technology exchange transaction and (ii) transmits information with respect to the catalogued transaction to one of the producer of the media or intermediary thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the newer technology and the older technology comprises a different tangible media type.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the copyrighted material comprises a movie.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the license was created through a purchase of the older technology by the customer.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the physical surrender of the older technology along with the transfer of the license to the copyrighted material enables the retailer or the producer of the media to provide the newer technology at the reduced cost to the customer.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the retailer provides the newer technology to the customer through one or more authorized agents.

7. A method of replacing an older technology with a newer technology, the method comprising the steps of:

a) offering a customer a service by which a retailer or producer of media physically collects the older technology from the customer, the customer having been granted a license to copyrighted material on the older technology;

b) providing a like for like exchange program by which the retailer or the producer of media provides the newer technology at a reduced cost to the customer in exchange for the customer's physical surrender of possession and ownership to the older technology, wherein the license to the copyrighted material is transferred from the older technology to the newer technology through the exchange program, wherein the newer technology contains copyrighted material that is the same as certain of the copyrighted material on the older technology; and

c) using a network or Internet connection between computers of at least two of the retailer, the producer of media, and the customer to communicate instructions and other requisite information necessary to facilitate said exchange, the customer participating in the exchange program via one of an online track and a retail track,

wherein the online track involves the customer via his computer visiting an Internet website of the retailer or the producer of media, whereon the customer during participation in the program (i) identifies the older technology to be exchanged through the program, (ii) inputs corresponding contact information of the customer, and (iii) receives information and instructions regarding processes for the surrender of the older technology and for payment of the reduced cost, and

wherein the retail track involves the customer making an in-person visit to the retailer, whereafter the retailer via its computer during participation in the program (i) catalogs the technology exchange transaction and (ii) transmits information with respect to the catalogued transaction to one of the producer of media or intermediary thereof.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein each of the newer technology and the older technology comprises a different tangible media type.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the copyrighted material comprises a movie.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the license was created through a purchase of the older technology by the customer.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the physical surrender of the older technology along with the transfer of the license to the copyrighted material enables the retailer or the producer of media to provide the newer technology at the reduced cost to the customer.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the providing step involves the exchange program occurring in two stages, in which the older technology is received by the retailer or the producer of media resulting in a reduced fee for the newer technology and in which the newer technology is sent out to the customer in exchange for the reduced fee.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the exchange of the newer technology for the older technology and the fee occurs via a mail system being the exchange medium.

14. The method of claim 7 , wherein the retailer provides the newer technology to the customer through one or more authorized agents.

15. The method of claim 7 , wherein the retailer collects the older technology from the customer through one or more authorized agents.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the older technology comprises a VHS tape.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the newer technology comprises a DVD.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the retailer comprises an authorized agent of the producer of the media.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transfer of the license to the copyrighted material includes an additional license to other copyrighted material of the newer technology.

20. The method of claim 2 , wherein the media type of the newer technology possesses superior characteristics with respect to the copyrighted material as compared to the media type of the older technology and its copyrighted material.