Blockchain Media Playback Tracking for Transparent Royalty Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The music industry faces challenges in accurately tracking and collecting royalties due to the lack of reliable data and technology for identifying and licensing streaming media, resulting in significant unlicensed activity and uncollected royalties.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using blockchain technology to track media file playback by uploading media files and metadata, validating playback requests, and recording interactions via a blockchain protocol, incorporating consensus algorithms like Proof of Authority to ensure secure and efficient transaction processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional centralized tracking systems are used, then implementation complexity is reduced, but reliability and transparency of royalty tracking deteriorates due to lack of authoritative database and data accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a blockchain network as an intermediary layer between content creators and streaming platforms. This decentralized ledger serves as a neutral mediator that records all media interactions immutably, resolving the trust and transparency issues inherent in traditional centralized systems without requiring a single authoritative database controller.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the royalty tracking function from the streaming platform infrastructure by implementing it as a separate blockchain layer. This segmentation allows the tracking mechanism to operate independently with its own consensus rules and data structures, improving reliability while managing complexity through modular architecture.
2Loss of energy
If comprehensive media tracking is implemented, then royalty collection improves, but loss of time increases due to difficulty in locating parties and validating claims
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by requiring all media files to be registered and authenticated on the blockchain before distribution. This advance registration creates a permanent, searchable record of all rights holders and their works, eliminating the time-consuming process of locating parties and validating claims during royalty distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The blockchain network provides real-time feedback on media interactions by automatically recording and verifying each playback event. This immediate feedback mechanism eliminates delays in tracking and reporting, allowing royalties to be calculated and distributed based on actual, verified usage data rather than estimated or disputed figures.
3Reliability
If blockchain protocol is used for tracking, then transparency and equity improve, but device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal blockchain protocol that serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a registration system for media files, a tracking system for playback events, a verification mechanism for rights holders, and a distribution ledger for royalties. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems while maintaining transparency and reliability.
4Measurement precision
If all media interactions are recorded on blockchain, then measurement precision improves, but loss of time increases due to validation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic batch processing for validating and recording media interactions on the blockchain. Instead of requiring immediate validation of every single playback event, the system aggregates interactions into periodic batches that are validated together, maintaining measurement precision while reducing the time overhead of individual validation operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for tracking media file playback are provided. A request to upload a media file and metadata associated with the media file is received. Next, the media file and metadata is uploaded via a blockchain protocol. Next, a request to play the media file is received from a client device or a digital service provider (DSP) platform. The request to play the media file is validated via the blockchain protocol. Upon validating the request to play the media file, the media file is transmitted for playback at the client device or DSP platform. Last, the number of times the media file is played is tracked via the blockchain protocol.