Method and System for Distribution of User Generated Content

Abstract

Systems and methods for distributing user-generated content are disclosed. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention may allow content to be generated by a user at a manufacturer's site with respect to a corresponding product and this content distributed to one or more retailers who sell that product such that the user-generated content may be incorporated into the retailer's site or brick and mortar location in conjunction with that product to allow consumers shopping at that retailer to access or view such user-generated content.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method, comprising:
 a computer system receiving an indication that particular user-generated content corresponds to a first product, wherein the particular user-generated content was collected from one or more users of a first website associated with a first provider of the first product;   the computer system matching the particular user-generated content to a second product offered via a second website associated with a second provider; and   based on the matching, causing the particular user-generated content to be transmitted to a different computer system that is configured to display the particular user-generated content on the second website in association with the second product.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the matching includes determining that the first and second products correspond to a same brand of product. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the matching includes determining that the first and second products are produced by a same manufacturer. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the matching includes determining that the first and second products are the same product. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein determining that the first and second products are the same product is based on matching a universal product code (UPC) for the first product with a UPC for the second product. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the matching is based on a product mapping list that specifies a plurality of products and a plurality of matches between ones of the plurality of products. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the particular user-generated content comprises one or more user reviews of the first product. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the matching comprises receiving manual input from a user, the input specifying that the first product matches the second product. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 determining a payment amount to assess the second provider based on metrics associated with usage of the user-generated content at the second website.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the metrics include a number of sales associated with display of the user-generated content at the second website. 
     
     
         31 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon program instructions that are executable by a computer system to cause the computer system to perform operations comprising:
 receiving one or more items of user-generated content;   based on the one or more items of user-generated content corresponding to a first product and a first website associated with a first provider of the first product, determining that the one or more items of user-generated content are applicable to a second product offered via a second website associated with a second provider; and   based on the determining, causing the particular user-generated content to be transmitted to a different computer system that is configured to display the particular user-generated content on the second website in association with the second product.   
     
     
         32 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 31 , wherein determining that the one or more items of user-generated content are applicable to the second product includes matching one or more characteristics of the first product with one or more characteristics of the second product. 
     
     
         33 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 32 , wherein matching the one or more characteristics of the first product with the one or more characteristics of the second product includes determining that the first product and the second product share at least one identical characteristic. 
     
     
         34 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 32 , wherein matching the one or more characteristics of the first product with the one or more characteristics of the second product includes determining that the first product and the second product differ in at least one characteristic, but match in at least one other characteristic. 
     
     
         35 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 31 , wherein the operations further comprise determining a payment amount to assess the second provider based on metrics associated with usage of the user-generated content at the second website. 
     
     
         36 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 35 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving at least a portion of the metrics associated with usage of the user-generated content from the second website. 
     
     
         37 . A content distribution system, comprising:
 one or more processors; and   memory, coupled to the one or more processors, having stored thereon instructions executable by the content distribution system, using the one or more processors, to cause the content distribution system to perform operations comprising:   receiving information indicating that particular user-generated content corresponds to a first product and was collected from one or more users of a first website associated with a first provider of the first product;   matching the particular user-generated content to a second product offered via a second website associated with a second provider; and   based on the matching, causing the particular user-generated content to be transmitted to a different computer system that is configured to display the particular user-generated content on the second website in association with the second product.   
     
     
         38 . The content distribution system of  claim 37 , wherein the matching is based on a manufacturer part number for the first product and a manufacturer part number for the second product. 
     
     
         39 . The content distribution system of  claim 37 , wherein the matching includes determining that the first and second products correspond to a same brand of product. 
     
     
         40 . The content distribution system of  claim 37 , wherein the matching includes determining that the first and second products are produced by a same manufacturer.