Distributed ledger-based digital content tracing

Abstract

Methods and systems for distributed ledger-based digital content distribution chain tracing may comprise receiving an indication of a content asset and an indication of a first user associated with the content asset. A first distributed ledger record may be stored and/or created on a distributed ledger comprising the indication of the content asset and the indication of the first user. A second distributed ledger record may be stored on and/or created on the distributed ledger comprising an indication of a second user associated with the content asset. A version of the content asset may be generated comprising one or more frames having a digital marker. The digital marker may comprise an indication of the first user. At least one of the first distributed ledger record or the second distributed ledger record may be determined based on the digital marker as part of tracking or tracing the content asset.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by one or more computing devices, an indication of a content asset and an indication of a first user associated with the content asset;   causing, by the one or more computing devices, a first distributed ledger record to be created on a distributed ledger, wherein the first distributed ledger record comprises the indication of the content asset and the indication of the first user;   causing, by the one or more computing devices, a digital marker to be added to one or more frames of a version of the content asset, wherein the digital marker comprises the indication of the first user;   receiving, by the one or more computing devices, a request for the content asset; and   causing, by the one or more computing devices, a second distributed ledger record to be created on the distributed ledger, wherein the second distributed ledger record comprises an indication of a second user associated with the request.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the distributed ledger comprises other distributed ledger record entries indicating users associated with requests for the version of the content asset. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indication of the first user comprises a cryptographic key associated with the first user; and
 wherein the indication of the second user comprises a cryptographic key associated with the second user.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining, based on a pirated version of the content asset comprising another digital marker matching the digital marker, that the second user was a source of the pirated version of the content asset. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second user comprises a user that performs editing of content assets before the content assets are distributed to user devices associated with viewers. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving another version of the content asset having the digital marker; and   determining, based on the digital marker, at least one of the first distributed ledger record or the second distributed ledger record.   
     
     
         7 . A device comprising:
 one or more processors; and   memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to:   receive an indication of a content asset and an indication of a first user associated with the content asset;   cause a first distributed ledger record to be created on a distributed ledger, wherein the first distributed ledger record comprises the indication of the content asset and the indication of the first user;   cause a digital marker to be added to one or more frames of a version of the content asset, wherein the digital marker comprises the indication of the first user;   receive a request for the content asset; and   cause a second distributed ledger record to be created on the distributed ledger, wherein the second distributed ledger record comprises an indication of a second user associated with the request.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the distributed ledger comprises other distributed ledger record entries indicating users associated with requests for the version of the content asset. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the indication of the first user comprises a cryptographic key associated with the first user; and
 wherein the indication of the second user comprises a cryptographic key associated with the second user.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the device to determine, based on a pirated version of the content asset comprising another digital marker matching the digital marker, that the second user was a source of the pirated version of the content asset. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the second user comprises a user that performs editing of content assets before the content assets are distributed to user devices associated with viewers. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the device to:
 receive another version of the content asset having the digital marker; and   determine, based on the digital marker, at least one of the first distributed ledger record or the second distributed ledger record.   
     
     
         13 . A system comprising:
 a first computing device; and   a second computing device in communication with the first computing device, the second computing device configured to:   receive an indication of a content asset and an indication of a first user associated with the content asset;   cause a first distributed ledger record to be created on a distributed ledger, wherein the first distributed ledger record comprises the indication of the content asset and the indication of the first user;   cause a digital marker to be added to one or more frames of a version of the content asset, wherein the digital marker comprises the indication of the first user;   receive a request for the content asset; and   cause a second distributed ledger record to be created on the distributed ledger, wherein the second distributed ledger record comprises an indication of a second user associated with the request.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the distributed ledger comprises other distributed ledger record entries indicating users associated with requests for the version of the content asset. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the indication of the first user comprises a cryptographic key associated with the first user; and
 wherein the indication of the second user comprises a cryptographic key associated with the second user.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the second computing device is further configured to determine, based on a pirated version of the content asset comprising another digital marker matching the digital marker, that the second user was a source of the pirated version of the content asset. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the second user comprises a user that performs editing of content assets before the content assets are distributed to user devices associated with viewers. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the second computing device is further configured to:
 receive another version of the content asset having the digital marker; and   determine, based on the digital marker, at least one of the first distributed ledger record or the second distributed ledger record.   
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause:
 receiving, by one or more computing devices, an indication of a content asset and an indication of a first user associated with the content asset;   causing, by the one or more computing devices, a first distributed ledger record to be created on a distributed ledger, wherein the first distributed ledger record comprises the indication of the content asset and the indication of the first user;   causing, by the one or more computing devices, a digital marker to be added to one or more frames of a version of the content asset, wherein the digital marker comprises the indication of the first user;   receiving, by the one or more computing devices, a request for the content asset; and   causing, by the one or more computing devices, a second distributed ledger record to be created on the distributed ledger, wherein the second distributed ledger record comprises an indication of a second user associated with the request.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the distributed ledger comprises other distributed ledger record entries indicating users associated with requests for the version of the content asset. 
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the indication of the first user comprises a cryptographic key associated with the first user; and
 wherein the indication of the second user comprises a cryptographic key associated with the second user.   
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , further comprising determining, based on a pirated version of the content asset comprising another digital marker matching the digital marker, that the second user was a source of the pirated version of the content asset. 
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the second user comprises a user that performs editing of content assets before the content assets are distributed to user devices associated with viewers. 
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 receiving another version of the content asset having the digital marker; and   determining, based on the digital marker, at least one of the first distributed ledger record or the second distributed ledger record.