Sponsor Access Standard

AccessModel.md

🔧 Sponsor Access Protocol – Revised Access Model

✅ Overview

Each sponsor token grants access rights based on a defined access type, including:

Access Type	Description
timed	Fixed expiration (e.g., 7 days from claim)
day_pass	Each use activates 24-hour access; multiple passes can be held
credit	Consumable points; each content item may cost a variable number
permanent	Unlocks access to specified content permanently
membership	Access scoped to active external memberships (e.g., Patreon, season tickets)
counted	A limited number of accesses, not tied to time or credits (e.g., 3 videos total)

Each token may only support one access type, but a user may store multiple tokens of different types across sponsors.

---

🧩 Token Schema (JWT Payload Example)

{
  "iss": "sponsor.artist.com",
  "aud": "content.artist.com",
  "sub": "token-holder-id", // Optional, or pseudonymous
  "iat": 1715200000,
  "exp": 1715804800, // for timed access
  "scope": {
    "content": ["artist-videos", "vip-photos"],
    "type": "timed",
    "duration": "7d"
  },
  "entitlement": {
    "type": "timed"
  },
  "jti": "abc123"
}

🔄 Alternate entitlement formats:

day_pass

"entitlement": {
  "type": "day_pass",
  "remaining": 5
}

credit

"entitlement": {
  "type": "credit",
  "balance": 10,
  "unit": "points",
  "expires": "2025-12-31"
}

permanent

"entitlement": {
  "type": "permanent"
}

membership

"entitlement": {
  "type": "membership",
  "linkedMembership": "ticket-holder-2025"
}

counted

"entitlement": {
  "type": "counted",
  "remainingUses": 3
}

---

🧠 Other Features to Include

🏷️ Content Cost Metadata (Publisher-Side)

The content can declare cost in metadata:

<meta name="sponsor-cost" content="3 points">
<meta name="sponsor-scope" content="team-videos">

Or in headers:

Sponsor-Cost: 3 points
Sponsor-Scope: team-videos

🔁 Token Update Flow (for credits/day passes)

• After a credit/day pass is used, the sponsor server can return an updated token or delta:

  {
    "updatedBalance": 7,
    "newToken": "<JWT>"
  }

🔐 Revocation & Security

• Support jti (token ID) revocation list.
• Optionally store an anonymized record of used tokens.
• Extensions/apps should track token use locally to prevent double use across sites.

---

💡 Real-World Examples

Use Case	Access Type
7-day content unlock after merch purchase	timed
5 free 24-hour passes per month	day_pass
Concert ticket grants 10 points for fan club content	credit
One-time donation gives lifetime access to a zine archive	permanent
Baseball season pass includes sponsor-based content	membership
College donates 3 passes to premium game videos	counted

---

🔚 Summary: Extending the Protocol

Field	Purpose
type	One of: timed, day_pass, credit, permanent, membership, counted
duration	For timed (e.g., 7d, 6mo)
balance	For credits or passes
unit	For credits (e.g., "points")
remainingUses	For counted access
linkedMembership	External reference (e.g., ticket ID, membership tier)

This model is compact, extensible, and works in both browser and app contexts.

ContentProviders.md

🧭 1. Core Business Model: Value Chain for Sponsored Access

Key Roles in the Ecosystem:

Role	Responsibility	Revenue Stream
🎥 Content Creator	Produces content, sets access type & pricing (e.g. per view, credit, pass)	Share of sponsorship funding
🌐 Access Platform	Web/mobile app that delivers content using Sponsor Protocol	Commission on access (bandwidth + service margin)
💳 Sponsor Provider	Issues tokens based on purchases, memberships, donations	Subscription/margin on token issuance
🧩 Protocol Operator (optional)	Maintains discovery directory or validation APIs	API fees, marketplace revenue
📦 Storage/CDN Provider	Hosts video, audio, app data	Paid per GB (usage-based cost model)

---

📊 2. Revenue Breakdown Example

Imagine a 30-minute 1080p video accessed via a sponsor token.

Metric	Value
Sponsor token value	$0.50 (e.g., part of a $5 merch purchase)
Content type	Video (30 min, 1080p = ~600MB)
CDN bandwidth cost	~$0.01 (depending on provider, e.g. Bunny.net or Cloudflare R2)
Platform hosting cost (infra, compute)	~$0.005
Platform margin	$0.03
Creator revenue	$0.40
Total cost	~$0.045
Net profit	~$0.455 (mostly to creator or reinvested in platform)

This shows profitability at small scale and how token value + content cost + usage data = sustainable economics.

---

🧾 3. Budgeting & Token Metadata Fields

Each sponsor token can optionally include a budget declaration, enabling:

• Platform to calculate maximum delivery cost allowed
• Sponsor to enforce rate limits
• Token to carry funding metadata for audit

"budget": {
  "unit": "usd",
  "total": 0.50,
  "maxPerAccess": 0.10,
  "expires": "2025-12-31",
  "accessTypes": ["streaming", "download"],
  "platformMargin": 0.03
}

This lets the hosting platform decide:

• If it can serve the content profitably
• What quality to serve (e.g., 720p vs 1080p)
• Whether to pre-cache, prioritize, or offer upgrades

---

📦 4. Commission System for Access Platforms

Encourage third-party web and app developers to integrate by:

• Offering 10%–20% commission on sponsorship redemption and usage

• Allowing platforms to claim commission via signed metadata:

  "platform": {
    "id": "altviewer.app",
    "commission": 0.05,
    "paymentAddress": "acct_abc123"
  }

This drives innovation in apps for:

• iOS/Android video players
• Indie news readers
• Niche sports streaming apps
• Educational content browsers

---

📈 5. Investor Metrics & Pitch

Metric	Value Proposition
CAC to Revenue Ratio	Low, since users bring their own sponsor (e.g. via merch)
TAM (Total Addressable Market)	All digital content behind paywalls, fans of creators, indie media
Revenue Streams	Token sales, API fees, platform commissions, content hosting
Network Effects	More sponsors + creators = more value for access platforms
Privacy Advantage	Regulatory tailwind against tracking and surveillance capitalism

---

✅ Summary: Why This Works

For Content Providers:

• Monetize directly or indirectly via sponsorship.
• Choose flexible models: time-limited, credit-based, or perpetual access.
• Stay independent from YouTube/TikTok algorithms and rev shares.

For Platforms:

• Get a cut of delivery costs.
• Compete on UX, curation, or features.
• Support creators by improving access and engagement.

For Sponsors:

• Fund access to multiple partners.
• Build brand loyalty or reward fans (e.g., sports teams, musicians).
• Avoid ad-based surveillance models.

ExtendedUseCases.md

🎓📈 Extended Use Case: Institutional Sponsorship for Educational & Professional Content

✅ Who the Protocol Serves

Institution	How They Use It
Schools & Universities	Provide students with sponsored access to third-party STEM or career training content (e.g., math courses, coding platforms)
Corporations & Employers	Grant employees access to upskilling, certification materials, or industry knowledge without managing multiple licenses
Government Agencies	Distribute sponsored access to civic or health information platforms
Professional Associations	Offer exclusive member-only content using sponsor tokens, while still interoperating across content platforms

---

💡 Why It’s Better Than Current Models

Current Problem	Sponsor Protocol Advantage
LMS systems are siloed and costly	Distributed access, no lock-in
Per-seat licensing is rigid	Use timed, credit, or counted tokens
Requires managing logins for each platform	Pseudonymous tokens scoped to access, not identity
Hard to audit ROI on training spend	Tokens can track scope, access level, usage, and budget per resource

---

🧩 Examples of Real-World Integrations

Platform	Protocol Integration
Brilliant	Accepts sponsor-authorization tokens from school or employer-signed tokens for timed or credit-based access
Udemy	Supports day-pass access via event-linked sponsors (e.g. onboarding training)
LinkedIn Learning	Uses sponsor protocol to grant course access to employees of a subscribing firm, without requiring SSO setup
Khan Academy (donor-funded)	Issues open sponsor tokens for grant-funded regional student access (e.g., summer learning programs)

---

🧾 Token Model for Institutional Use

{
  "iss": "sponsor.acme-corp.com",
  "aud": "content.udemy.com",
  "scope": ["career-growth", "project-mgmt-cert"],
  "entitlement": {
    "type": "credit",
    "balance": 20
  },
  "budget": {
    "unit": "usd",
    "total": 50.00,
    "maxPerAccess": 5.00
  },
  "expires": "2025-12-31"
}

---

💰 Value to Content Providers

• Transparent cost model: bandwidth + compute + margin
• No need to handle B2B sales or licensing agreements—just accept tokens from registered sponsors
• Still allows creators to set per-unit pricing or minimum margins
• Revenue flows automatically through sponsor claims

---

🧠 Summary

The Sponsor Protocol isn’t just for creators and fans—it’s a universal access gateway for:

• Schools enabling learning
• Employers funding growth
• Associations empowering members
• Governments delivering services

All while respecting privacy, supporting fair pay, and avoiding vendor lock-in.

Pitch.md

🛠 The Sponsor Protocol

Decentralized, Privacy-Respecting Access to Digital Content

---

🧩 What It Is

The Sponsor Protocol is an open standard that enables sponsored access to digital content—videos, articles, apps—through tokens issued from real-world purchases, memberships, or donations.

Rather than subscribing to dozens of sites or relying on ads, users get access through sponsors: merch stores, event tickets, or community platforms that fund access on their behalf.

---

💡 Why It Matters

Today’s creators rely on centralized platforms like YouTube, TikTok, or Patreon, which:

• Take large revenue cuts
• Control visibility with opaque algorithms
• Require users to maintain dozens of subscriptions

The Sponsor Protocol enables creators and platforms to take back control, fund access sustainably, and build direct economic relationships with their audience—without compromising privacy.

---

🧠 How It Works

1. Sponsor Token Issued After a user buys merch or tickets, a pseudonymous sponsor token is issued by a sponsor provider.

2. Content Metadata Advertises Support Websites/apps include headers or meta tags showing support for sponsored access.

3. Browser Extension or App Negotiates Access The client checks tokens and requests an access token from the sponsor.

4. Content Unlocked Access token is validated and content is revealed (e.g., full video, article, download).

---

🏷 Flexible Access Models

• Timed (e.g., 7-day access)
• Day Passes (use-only-when-needed)
• Credit-Based (e.g., 3 points per video)
• Permanent Unlocks
• Membership-Linked (e.g., season ticket holders)

---

💰 Built-in Revenue Model

• Token Budgeting: Tokens include metadata about delivery cost and budget.
• Platform Commissions: Web and mobile apps get a cut of sponsor payments.
• Sustainable Hosting: Content hosts can calculate bandwidth & compute cost and operate profitably.

---

🌍 Who Benefits

Stakeholder	Benefit
🧑‍🎨 Creators	Direct revenue from fans without subscriptions or ads
📱 Platforms	Commission for delivering content, customizable UX
🎟 Sponsors	Build loyalty through value-added access
🙋 Users	Use one sponsor to unlock access across sites and apps

---

📈 Market Opportunity

• Replace paywalls with open sponsorship
• Fund decentralized apps and platforms
• Enable schools, teams, and indie media to monetize directly
• Comply with privacy laws and user choice

---

🚀 Status

• Protocol Spec in Draft
• Token Schema & Access Flow Designed
• Ideal for pilot with sports teams, musicians, and educators

---

Contact: [Your Name] — Founder & Architect 📧 [email protected] 🔗 sponsorprotocol.org

SponsorProtocol.md

✅ Phase 1: Specification & Architecture

1. Define the Sponsor Access Standard

• Draft a spec (e.g. "Sponsor Access Protocol v1") with:

  • HTML meta tag names (sponsor-endpoint, sponsor-scope)
  • HTTP headers (Sponsor-Authorization, Sponsor-Access)
  • Token format (JWT or blind signature-based)
  • Sponsor discovery endpoint schema

2. Design Token Format

• Use JWT with public-key signature or Privacy Pass tokens for anonymity.

• Claims include:

  • iss: issuing e-commerce site
  • aud: sponsor endpoint
  • scope: identifier for content access
  • exp: expiration
  • jti: unique ID (optional, for single-use)

---

🛒 Phase 2: E-Commerce Integration

3. Token Issuance System

• Integrate with merchant platforms (e.g., Shopify, WooCommerce):

  • On eligible purchase, generate token

  • Provide download link or email to user:

    https://sponsor.artist.com/claim?token=...
    

• Use embedded JS on thank-you page to auto-import token to extension or app

---

🌐 Phase 3: Sponsor Server

4. Build Sponsor Verification Endpoint

• REST API with:

  • POST /claim – verifies and exchanges sponsor tokens for access tokens
  • GET /validate – optional endpoint for validation
  • Optional revocation support via jti list or timestamp

5. Serve Access Tokens

• Upon verification, return:

  {
    "accessToken": "<short-lived JWT>",
    "scope": "artist-videos",
    "expiresIn": 604800
  }

---

🌍 Phase 4: Content Website Integration

6. Embed Sponsor Metadata

• Add meta tags or headers to gated content pages:

  <meta name="sponsor-endpoint" content="https://sponsor.artist.com/claim">
  <meta name="sponsor-scope" content="artist-videos">

7. Use JavaScript for Unlocking

• On load, check if access token is available

• If valid:

  • Unblur content
  • Fetch full-resolution data (if behind JS fetch)

• If not:

  • Show call to action or trigger extension/app prompt

---

🔌 Phase 5: Client Integration

8. Browser Extension or Mobile App SDK

• Stores sponsor tokens locally (per user)

• Detects sponsor metadata on pages/apps

• Handles:

  • Token discovery
  • Claim negotiation (e.g., POST /claim)
  • Injects Sponsor-Authorization header or JS variable

---

🔎 Phase 6: Sponsor Discovery System

9. Optional: Global Sponsor Directory

• Centralized or federated sponsor-directory.com with:

  • Query by scope or domain
  • Returns list of known sponsor endpoints
  • Used when metadata is missing or for advanced UX

---

🔐 Phase 7: Privacy Enhancements

10. Token Anonymity Measures

• Use Privacy Pass or blind tokens to avoid identifying the user

• Enforce:

  • No IP logging
  • No token reuse tracking unless required

11. Local-Only Aggregation

• Each token is stored and scoped separately in local extension/app
• No central identity, email, or profile is needed

---

📈 Phase 8: Pilot and Feedback

12. Partner with Early Creators

• Musicians, indie game devs, educators, etc.

• Offer self-hosted sponsor servers or shared infrastructure

• Gather feedback and iterate on:

  • UX
  • Token lifecycle
  • Privacy expectations

---

Deliverables Summary

Deliverable	Description
📄 Protocol Spec	Sponsor Access metadata, headers, and token design
🛒 E-commerce Module	Plugin for Shopify/WooCommerce to issue sponsor tokens
🌐 Sponsor Server	Token claim and validation endpoints
🔌 Browser Extension	Detects and handles access via sponsor tokens
📱 App SDK	For native apps to implement same flow
🌍 Site Integration Kit	JS library to unlock content using sponsor tokens
📡 Discovery Service (optional)	Resolves content to possible sponsors

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Would you like this plan converted into a public-facing proposal or draft spec (e.g. Markdown for GitHub)?