Copyright Analysis for Mixed Long-Format Audio Files

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Solution Overview

Problem

Digital rights management for DJ mixes, which combine copyrighted music tracks from multiple owners, is challenging due to difficulties in identifying copyright owners and tracking licensing requirements, as existing fingerprinting tools are not suited for blended content.

Innovation Solution

A computer system that parses DJ mixes into individual copyrighted components, provides tools for accurate editing and verification, and tracks listener playtime to generate compliant reports for copyright licensing entities, using Gracenote fingerprinting, cratefile parsing, and manual editing to ensure accurate song breakdowns and overlapping timestamp management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If existing fingerprinting tools are used to identify copyright owners in DJ mixes, then the identification process is simplified, but the tools fail to accurately identify copyright owners due to blended and overlapping content

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentification processVSAvoidcopyright owner identification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the DJ mix into individual track components by analyzing audio fingerprints and temporal patterns. Each track is identified separately with its own copyright owner, allowing accurate attribution even when tracks are blended together. The mix is divided into discrete track segments that can be independently analyzed and reported.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary tracking mechanism that bridges the gap between fingerprinting tools and copyright identification. This intermediary layer captures temporal information about when each track appears in the mix, allowing the system to resolve ambiguities that standard fingerprinting tools cannot handle alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If DJ mixes are uploaded to generic audio streaming services, then distribution is simplified, but copyright compliance cannot be ensured

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistribution processVSAvoidcopyright compliance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary copyright analysis and tracking before the mix is distributed or streamed. By identifying and recording copyright information in advance, the system ensures compliance is built into the distribution process from the start, rather than attempting to address it after distribution occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms that provide copyright compliance information back to the distribution platform. This allows the system to maintain compliance status and alert copyright owners or platforms of any issues that arise during distribution or streaming.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If multiple fingerprinting tools are combined to improve identification accuracy, then copyright owner identification becomes more accurate, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecopyright owner identification accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple data sources including audio fingerprints, temporal tracking information, and metadata into a unified analysis framework. By combining these elements into a single integrated system, the patent achieves accurate copyright identification without the complexity of running separate independent tools.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a multi-functional platform that performs fingerprinting, temporal analysis, copyright identification, and reporting all within a single unified system. This universal approach eliminates the need for multiple separate tools while maintaining comprehensive functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Device complexity

If traditional short-duration tracks are used instead of long-form DJ mixes, then copyright tracking is simplified, but the unique artistic expression and blending capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecopyright tracking simplicityVSAvoidartistic expression capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts its tracking approach based on the structure of the audio content. For long-form DJ mixes with blended tracks, the system activates temporal analysis and overlapping track detection capabilities. For standard tracks, it uses simpler identification methods, thus maintaining simplicity while accommodating artistic versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10650361B2Method and system for analyzing copyright information in a mixed long-format audio file
Publication Date: 2020.05.12 DUBSET MEDIA HOLDINGS INC
  • US10650361B2 patent drawing
  • US10650361B2 patent drawing
  • US10650361B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A computer-implemented system for analyzing copyright right ownership of a media content containing one or more copyrighted works, comprising the steps of: receiving, by a controller having a CPU, a media content from a first user via a wide area network, the media content comprising a mix of copyrighted works; parsing the media content into a format recognizable by a fingerprinting analytical algorithm; determining by the controller using the fingerprinting analytical algorithm copyright ownership information in the received media content; monitoring by the controller a playing of a select length of the media content from the content storage device by a second user; and reporting to a system operated by a copyright licensing entity by the controller the copyright ownership information associated with the select length of the media content played by the second user.