Secure digital registration of contracts governing media content use

A system comprising:

• a memory storing a software code;
• and
• a hardware processor configured to execute the software code to:
• receive media content including a media content identification (ID);
• identify, using the media content ID, one or more rules governing use of the media content, the one or more rules including at least one of:
• (a) one or more first rules restricting use of the media content, or (b) one or more second rules permitting use of the media content;
• generate, based on the one or more rules governing use of the media content, a digital contract specifying at least one of:
• (i) one or more constraints on use of the media content or (ii) one or more enablements on use of the media content;
• register the digital contract with the media content ID in a secure database accessible over a communication network;
• generate, using the media content, a digital fingerprint of the media content;
• link the digital fingerprint with data identifying the secure database;
• and
• store the digital fingerprint and the linked data identifying the secure database in a media content fingerprint database accessible over the communication network.

A method comprising:

• receiving media content including a media content identification (ID);
• identifying, using the media content ID, one or more rules governing use of the media content, the one or more rules including at least one of:
• (a) one or more first rules restricting use of the media content, or (b) one or more second rules permitting use of the media content;
• generating, based on the one or more rules governing use of the media content, a digital contract specifying at least one of:
• (i) one or more constraints on use of the media content, or (ii) one or more enablements on use of the media content;
• registering the digital contract with the media content ID in a secure database accessible over a communication network;
• generating, using data identifying the secure database, a first watermark;
• and
• embedding the first watermark into the media content, the first watermark identifying the secure database.