Abstract: Various embodiments are directed towards a computer-implemented method and system that analyzes screenplays to identify and score opportunities for product placements. In certain embodiments the method uses natural language speech recognition or other speech processing techniques to identify product placement opportunities. The method initially scans or processes the text in a screenplay to identify significant nouns and actions that equate to opportunities. It then applies a grammar to generate a score for some or all of the opportunities.

Abstract: Batch pricing of digital media items by providing an electronic cart interface for use in managing a purchase of a plurality of digital media items, each digital media item having a status of priced or unpriced. The interface enables a user of the client device to interactively select a plurality of media items to be priced as a batch of digital media items, and to sequentially request one or more rights for each of the selected media items within the batch. The user may obtain a price for each selected media item that is based on the designated pricing model and the one or more rights requested the digital media right to be licensed for each media item.

Abstract: Brokering use of media assets based on rights provided by rights holders and licensing terms requested by potential licensees. Rights include use attributes, geographic attributes, and time attributes. Use attributes include one or more parent categories of uses, such as print advertising, web promotion, etc. Each parent category includes one or more specific uses, such as magazine advertisement, newspaper advertisement, etc. Rights are obtained from rights holders and stored in a data structure that is searchable according to various rights attributes. A licensing request includes desired licensing terms, such as a specific use, time period, and geographic location. The licensing request may also reserve use for a later time and/or impose an embargo on use for a period after use. The data structure is searched for media assets whose rights encompass the desired licensing terms, such as media assets with a parent use that includes a desired specific use.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards providing a device and method of identifying media items from a media library maintained by a media server that are similar to a designated media item. The media server stores a controlled vocabulary which is represented as a hierarchically linked set of nodes wherein a plurality of nodes correspond to concepts and a library of media items. Each media item corresponds to a record in the media library and the record includes at least one metadata field with assigned keywords. The media server receives a designation of a media item from a user computer, retrieves the keywords assigned to the media item, obtains all related concepts from the controlled vocabulary, computes a search weight for each related concept, and queries the media library to identify media items that match the designated media item and provides the results to the user computer.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards providing a device and method of identifying media items from a media library maintained by a media server that are similar to a designated media item. The media server stores a controlled vocabulary which is represented as a hierarchically linked set of nodes wherein a plurality of nodes correspond to concepts and a library of media items. Each media item corresponds to a record in the media library and the record includes at least one metadata field with assigned keywords. The media server receives a designation of a media item from a user computer, retrieves the keywords assigned to the media item, obtains all related concepts from the controlled vocabulary, computes a search weight for each related concept, and queries the media library to identify media items that match the designated media item and provides the results to the user computer.

Abstract: Rights clearances management for assets, such as media assets. A rights brokerage service enables potential licensees to clears rights to use assets within designated projects, such as advertising campaign projects. The potential licensee uses an interface to select or identify an asset without necessarily accessing the asset itself. The rights holders and the rights held by each rights holder are identified based on the asset identity. A request is automatically issued to the rights holders to approve use of the asset for the project. The potential licensee may use an interface to track progress of approvals from the rights holders. Unenforceable rights are detected and approval is automatically obtained. If all enforceable rights are cleared, the asset may be committed for approval by a project manager or other authority. When approved, a license to use the asset is automatically created between the potential licensee and each of the rights holders.

Abstract: Managing content assets, such as images, video, and audio to facilitate filtering, searching, licensing, and editing associated attributes. Content assets are associated with multiple attributes, including licensing models, predefined value tiers, collections, and albums. Value tiers define varying ranges of price, resolution, or other qualities. Collections comprise groups of content assets within families, each specified by a license model and a value tier. Albums comprise groups of content assets that share a common topic, and albums have a predefined duration. An interface enables a user to filter by selecting any combination of the attributes, and to search the filtered content assets by keywords. Collection states and asset states determine which content assets are accessible for filtering and searching.

Abstract: Brokering use of media assets based on rights provided by rights holders and licensing terms requested by potential licensees. Rights include use attributes, geographic attributes, and time attributes. Use attributes include one or more parent categories of uses, such as print advertising, web promotion, etc. Each parent category includes one or more specific uses, such as magazine advertisement, newspaper advertisement, etc. Rights are obtained from rights holders and stored in a data structure that is searchable according to various rights attributes. A licensing request includes desired licensing terms, such as a specific use, time period, and geographic location. The licensing request may also reserve use for a later time and/or impose an embargo on use for a period after use. The data structure is searched for media assets whose rights encompass the desired licensing terms, such as media assets with a parent use that includes a desired specific use.

Abstract: Automated assistance is provided for managing rules and/or guidelines regarding the usage of branded content for a project, e.g., an advertising campaign, event, signage, decoration, and the like. One or more queries regarding the project are presented to the user. Based on the user's responses to the queries, branded content that is approved for the project's intended use(s) is automatically identified and made available to the user. The determination of which digitized content (media objects) to provide to the user is based at least in part on brand rules and/or guidelines that can be relatively static or dynamically updated by the current user.

Abstract: Multi-lingual search and retrieval of digital content. Embodiments are generally directed to methods and systems for creating an English language database that associates non-English terms with English terms in multiple categories of metadata. Language experts use an interface to create equivalencies between non-English terms and English terms, Boolean expressions, synonyms, and other forms of search terms. Language dictionaries and other sources also create equivalencies. The database is used to evaluate non-English search terms submitted by a user, and to determine English search terms that can be used to perform a search for content. The multiple categories of metadata may comprise structured data, such as keywords of a structured vocabulary, and/or unstructured data, such as captions, titles, descriptions, etc. Weighting and/or prioritization can be applied to the search terms, to the process of searching the multiple categories, and/or to the search results, to rank the search results.

Abstract: Process for enabling a content provider and its users to easily manage licenses for intended uses for selected or provided content.

Abstract: The invention provides a method, system and computer-readable medium for storing images with related information in a relational database and using the information to order available products for a selected image over a network. A unique identifier is generated for each image, allowing different types of searches of the relational database to be performed including product-based and image-based searches. A selection of a returned image causes a cut-down version of the image and all available products to be displayed on a page. If a product is selected, a server enables a transaction for a user to order the selected product. A HTTP Cookie may be employed to store a user identifier, allowing use of user profiles for customization of particular options and displayed products.

Abstract: Matching digital media available in a multi-node system. An example embodiment receives media from media providers. Metadata may also be included with digital media files or stored separately in a database. An example matching system generates, or receives a list of candidate nodes, such as network domains, to search for potential copies of digital media. The list may be defined and/or prioritized based on countries of interest, business sectors of interest, or other business rules. An example system crawls the domains to identify media files that appear on websites that are potential matches of the media files provided by the media providers. The system may download the media files, and evaluate them relative to the provided media files. The system identifies matches and identifies owners or operators of domains that had matching media files. The system generates case records for subsequent licensing or other action regarding the matched media files.

Abstract: Managing negotiations to clear rights for using an asset. A rights requester requests approval through a broker to a rights holder, such as a film studio, to use an image or other asset in a project, such as an advertising campaign. The rights requester or broker provides initial terms, such as fee amounts, type of use, sample of use, territory, or other terms. The broker notifies the rights holder of the opportunity, and provides an interface that enables the rights holder to review, revise, forward, approve, or otherwise manipulate the opportunity. The interface also enables the rights holder to search, sort, filter, analyze, and obtain aggregated information on a number of opportunities. Based on such actions, the broker can propose additional or alternate terms or opportunities. The broker may also automatically accept a counter offer if the revised terms fall within predefined ranges. Alternatively, relays a requester's reply offer.

Abstract: Automatically determining pricing for at least one unit of content that can be selected and licensed or purchased over a network. Pricing is determined based on an initial price, and at least one of the following: a reviewer rating, content activity, or a customer offer price. Each of these factors may be weighted. The initial price may be a minimum price, a maximum price, a suggested price from a content owner, a pre-calculated market price, or other initial price. Content activity generally reflects user behaviors related to a content item, such as selecting a content item from a search results list, saving it as a favorite, returning to view it, placing it in a virtual shopping cart, or licensing it. Content activity combined with reviewer rating and/or offer price, indicates a “snappyness” score. A new price is dynamically calculated based on the initial price and snappyness score.

Abstract: Searching for assets, such as media assets, that are available according to desired usage criteria. Assets are associated with usage rights specified by rights holders. The usage rights are represented by rights codes, identifying domains of uses and categories of uses within each domain. Domains may comprise advertising rights, editorial rights, internal organization rights, personal use rights, and the like. An interface enables a user to enter key words and to specify desired usage criteria such as geographic location of use, duration of use, a purpose of use, and an industry for use, and exclusive use. The key words are mapped to vocabulary terms that are associated with the cataloged assets. The vocabulary terms are used to search for assets. The assets are also filtered based on the usage criteria relative to the rights codes associated with the assets. Assets matching the vocabulary terms and rights codes are displayed.

Abstract: Distributing review of content or other items for conformance with quality requirements or other criteria. Embodiments include distributing media assets over an electronic network to a number of reviewers. Each reviewer uses an interface to review a media asset and corresponding metadata submitted by a content provider. The interface guides the reviewers through a consistent and easily understood review of the assets, such that reviews need not be domain experts. The reviewer enters pass/fail decisions, comments, additional metadata, one or more ratings on aspects of the asset, or other reviewer information regarding the asset. A media review manager receives the reviewer information regarding each asset and determines whether each asset satisfies overall acceptance criteria. Accepted assets are made accessible to other users such as customers for searching, licensing, or other uses.

Abstract: Rights clearances management for assets, such as media assets. A rights brokerage service enables potential licensees to clears rights to use assets within designated projects, such as advertising campaign projects. The potential licensee uses an interface to select or identify an asset without necessarily accessing the asset itself. The rights holders and the rights held by each rights holder are identified based on the asset identity. A request is automatically issued to the rights holders to approve use of the asset for the project. The potential licensee may use an interface to track progress of approvals from the rights holders. Unenforceable rights are detected and approval is automatically obtained. If all enforceable rights are cleared, the asset may be committed for approval by a project manager or other authority. When approved, a license to use the asset is automatically created between the potential licensee and each of the rights holders.

Abstract: Multi-lingual search and retrieval of digital content. Embodiments are generally directed to methods and systems for creating an English language database that associates non-English terms with English terms in multiple categories of metadata. Language experts use an interface to create equivalencies between non-English terms and English terms, Boolean expressions, synonyms, and other forms of search terms. Language dictionaries and other sources also create equivalencies. The database is used to evaluate non-English search terms submitted by a user, and to determine English search terms that can be used to perform a search for content. The multiple categories of metadata may comprise structured data, such as keywords of a structured vocabulary, and/or unstructured data, such as captions, titles, descriptions, etc. Weighting and/or prioritization can be applied to the search terms, to the process of searching the multiple categories, and/or to the search results, to rank the search results.

Abstract: Automatically determining pricing for at least one unit of content that can be selected and licensed or purchased over a network. Pricing is determined based on an initial price, and at least one of the following: a reviewer rating, content activity, or a customer offer price. Each of these factors may be weighted. The initial price may be a minimum price, a maximum price, a suggested price from a content owner, a pre-calculated market price, or other initial price. Content activity generally reflects user behaviors related to a content item, such as selecting a content item from a search results list, saving it as a favorite, returning to view it, placing it in a virtual shopping cart, or licensing it. Content activity combined with reviewer rating and/or offer price, indicates a “snappyness” score. A new price is dynamically calculated based on the initial price and snappyness score.