Abstract: A source attribution system includes a tracking module to generate an identification meta-data to be associated with an original content of a first publisher that originates in a third party source server of a public wide area network such that the original content is attributable to the first publisher through the identification meta-data associated thereto with the original content when the original content having the associated identification meta-data is republished. The system further includes a processor, and memory which is configured to determine that a subsequent publishing of the original content is an embedded portion of another work of authorship when a communication of the identification meta-data is extracted from a server in which the subsequent publishing is manifested and transmitted from the server to the processor. The system also includes a notification module that notifies the first publisher upon subsequent publication of the original content by a subsequent publisher.