ASSOCIATING RIGHTS TO MULTIMEDIA CONTENT

A method and software to implement a method comprising receiving digital content such as multimedia content, and either ascertaining whether at least a part of the digital content has previously been associated with one or more matched referenced works or searching a store of fingerprint data of referenced works for a match. The searching includes determining a fingerprint of at least part of the digital content, e.g., multimedia content; and searching the store of fingerprint data of referenced works for a match. In the case that is has been ascertained that the work has previously been associated, or the searching has produced a match to one or more matched referenced works, associating association data to the one or more matched referenced works. Ownership data to the matched referenced works is included in the association such that use of the digital content can take into account such ownership rights. The associating of the association data is carried out in a secure manner.