From The Guys at Animoto

Imagine a technology so smart that it’s able to analyze any DRM-Free digital music file and know with complete accuracy what song it is, who performed it, and who owns the copyright(s)?! Just a few months ago a technology like this was out of reach. Well… today, it’s here thanks to companies like Audible Magic and Advestigo… and it’s opening all sorts of new opportunities with digital music that could not exist previously.

For us (and why I’m so excited!), it means one day soon enabling our users to upload not only Creative Commons music and their own music for which they have rights (like our users are allowed to do today), but… any piece of DRM-Free digital music. It should be as simple as that – and we’re working hard to make it that simple for our users. With DRM-Free digital music becoming more mainstream through online music stores like Apple iTunes and Amazon MP3 (http://amazon.com/MP3), it becomes even more important for companies like ours to ensure artists and bands are properly recognized – and compensated - for their work. We look forward to being one of the first companies of our kind to leverage this technology in video production without inconveniencing – or confusing – our users.

What this means to Animoto, in case you’re interested, is that behind the scenes we’ll have the ability to take digital fingerprints of DRM-Free songs that are uploaded by our users to determine whether the song is copyrighted. If the song is copyrighted and we have a deal with the copyright holder then we could take care of the logistics to allow our user to incorporate the song into their Animoto video. If we don’t have a deal with the copyright holder then we could block the use of the song and consider making a deal with the appropriate copyright holder in order to allow our users the use of the song in the future.

As former artists and guys with tons of family and friends in bands and in the music biz, looking out for artists is something we’re incredibly passionate about. It’s important to us that artists and bands are properly recognized and compensated for their work so please be patient with us as we trail blaze in this field in a way that’s a true win-win-win-win, for our users, the artists, the labels, and Animoto.

p.s. We’re in the process of expanding our selection of licensed music on Animoto.com so be on the lookout for new music – and genres - featured in our music lounge.

~ by biz guy brad on October 31, 2007.