Method and apparatus for tracking pirated media

A method of processing a pirated audio visual programs which are unauthorized versions of an authorized master audio visual program, the authorized master comprising electronically stored content including an audio component and a video component and being playable as an audio visual program by a content player, the method comprising the steps of:

• scanning the authorized master using a media scanner for preselected characteristic properties reflecting at least one of a video property and an audio property of the authorized master to generate a master set of characteristics;
• receiving first pirated media comprising electronically stored content including an audio component and a video component and playable as an audio visual program by a content player;
• scanning the first pirated media using the media scanner for the preselected characteristic properties to generate a first set of pirate media characteristics;
• comparing with a comparator the first set of pirate media characteristics with the master set of characteristics to identify at least one introduced artifact in the first pirated media absent from the authorized master, the introduced artifact in the first pirated media comprising at least one of an audio and a visual deviation of the first pirate media content from the master media content;
• storing in a database a first set of pirate parameters corresponding to the first pirated media, the first set of parameters indicating the at least one introduced artifact associated with the first pirated media copy and absent from the master audio visual program;
• receiving second pirated media comprising electronically stored content including an audio component and a video component and playable as an audio visual program by a content player;
• scanning the second pirated media using the media scanner for the preselected characteristic properties to generate a second set of pirate media characteristics;
• comparing with a comparator the second set of pirate media characteristics with the master set of characteristics to identify at least one introduced artifact in the second pirated media absent from the authorized master, the introduced artifact in the second pirated media comprising at least one of an audio and a visual deviation of the second pirate media content from the master media content;
• generating a second set of pirate parameters indicating the at least one introduced artifact associated with the second pirated media copy;
• comparing the second set of parameters to the first set of pirate parameters previously stored in the database and then :
• (a) determining if the second set of pirate parameters is the same as the first set of pirate parameters and in response indicating that the second pirated media copy is a duplicate of the known first pirated media copy;
• (b) determining if the second set of pirate parameters contains the first set of pirate parameters and additional parameters and in response (i) indicating that the second pirated media has been derived from the first known first pirated media copy, and (ii) storing in the database the second set of pirate parameters corresponding to the second pirated media copy;
• and
• (c) otherwise (i) indicating that the second pirated media is a new pirated copy and (ii) storing in the database the second set of pirate parameters corresponding to the second pirated media copy.