Technology migration program

Abstract

A program by which retailers offer customers an exchange of older technology for newer technology. The older technology and newer technology have a common characteristic that facilitates the retailer to give the customer the newer technology for a reduced cost.

1 . A method of replacing an older technology with a newer technology, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing an exchange program by which a retailer provides the newer technology at a reduced cost to a customer who owns the older technology; and   b) requiring that the newer technology and the older technology each have a portion that is the same.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the newer technology comprises one or more DVDs and the older technology comprises one or more VHS tapes. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the portion comprises copyrightable material. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the copyrightable material comprises a movie. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the customer has a license to the copyrightable material from the older technology. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the license was created through a purchase of the older technology by the customer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the license to the copyrightable material is transferred from the older technology to the newer technology through the exchange program. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the transfer of the license to the copyrightable material enables the retailer to provide the newer technology at the reduced cost to the customer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of registering information of an interested customer and initiating the exchange program through the use of a website on the internet. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the retailer provides the newer technology to the customer through one or more authorized agents. 
     
     
         11 . 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 collects the older technology from the customer; and   b) providing an exchange program by which the retailer provides the newer technology at a reduced cost to the customer in exchange for the older technology.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the newer technology comprises one or more DVDs and the older technology comprises one or more VHS tapes. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the newer technology and the older technology each include a portion that is the same. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the portion comprises copyrightable material. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the copyrightable material comprises a movie. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the customer has a license to the copyrightable material from the older technology. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the license was created through a purchase of the older technology by the customer. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the license to the copyrightable material is transferred from the older technology to the newer technology through the exchange program. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the transfer of the license to the copyrightable material enables the retailer to provide the newer technology at the reduced cost to the customer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the providing step involves the exchange program occurring in two stages, in which the older technology is received by the retailer along with 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. 
     
     
         21 - 27 . (canceled)