Copyright checking for uploaded media

A network server device for receiving audio files intended for retail distribution, comprising:

• a user interface for receiving an audio file containing audio data and metadata from a user;
• a database of identity tokens computed from audio data of copyrighted music tracks, and metadata indicative of the audio data;
• a fingerprint generator for computing an identity token operative to designate an existence of copyrighted material in the audio data;
• a fingerprint comparator for performing a matching operation with the database to identify an entry similar to the computed identity token, the database containing entries of protected tracks;
• and
• a metadata comparator for comparing the metadata with metadata corresponding to entries in the database,
• the server including logic for determining, based on the matching operation and metadata comparison, whether the received audio file corresponds to a protected track.

A computer program product on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method of detecting ownership rights of received audio files intended for retail distribution, the method of comprising:

• receiving an audio file containing audio data and metadata from a user;
• computing an identity token operative to designate an existence of copyrighted material in the audio data;
• performing a matching operation with a database of identity tokens computed from audio data of copyrighted music tracks to identify an entry similar to the computed identity token, the database containing entries of protected tracks;
• comparing the metadata with metadata corresponding to entries in the database;
• and
• determining, based on the matching operation and metadata comparison, whether the received audio file corresponds to a protected track.