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'''Gracenote''' is a company which maintains and licenses a database of music and movie metadata. The database is accessible online over the Internet. ] many computer software applications that are capable of playing CDs or digital audio files use Gracenote's ] or similar services. These programs generally offer the option of allowing users to directly contribute information to the database. Gracenote's data was initially created this way, though now much of their data comes directly from record labels and numerous other sources. '''Gracenote''' is a commercial enterprise which maintains and licenses a database containing information about the contents of audio CDs. The database is accessible online over the Internet. ] many computer software applications that are capable of playing CDs use Gracenote's ] or similar services such as ]'s ], or open-source projects such as ] and ]. These programs generally offer the option of contributing track listings, and most of the track listings in the Gracenote database are voluntary contributions by individual users of CD-player software.


==Background== ==Background==


Gracenote began in ] as an ] project involving a CD player program named xmcd and an associated database named ]. xmcd and the CDDB service were created by ] and ], respectively. Because CDs do not generally contain any digitally-encoded information about their contents (see ]), Kan and Scherf developed software which identifies and looks up CDs based on TOC information stored at the beginning of each disc. A ], or Table of Contents, is a list of offsets corresponding to the start of each track on a CD. The matching is fuzzy and tolerates some variation in track offsets. Gracenote began in ] as an ] project involving a CD player program named xmcd and an associated database named ]. xmcd and CDDB were created by ] and ]. Because CDs do not generally contain any digitally-encoded information about their contents (see ]), Kan and Scherf developed software which identifies and looks up CDs based on TOC information stored at the beginning of each disc. A ], or Table of Contents, is a list of offsets corresponding to the start of each track on a CD. The matching is fuzzy and tolerates some variation in track offsets.


Some computer users who have copied ] from their turntables onto ] have been astonished to find their computers correctly displaying the titles and track listings when these ] are played on their computer. This happens when a commercial ] is a ] version of an ], containing the same tracks in the same order. If the track offsets of the homemade CD match the track timings of the commercial ] to within a second, the CDDB database can identify the ] successfully. Some computer users who have copied ] from their turntables onto ] have been astonished to find their computers correctly displaying the titles and track listings when these ] are played on their computer. This happens when a commercial ] is a ] version of an ], containing the same tracks in the same order. If the track offsets of the homemade CD match the track timings of the commercial ] to within a second, the CDDB database can identify the ] successfully.


⚫ ==Commercialization and controversy==
Gracenote got its start as a CD recognition service, but has since introduced a wide variety of recognition services and related products. The first of these was MusicID File, released in ] and based on technology purchased from Cantametrix, which offers recognition of digital audio files such as MP3s and other popular file formats. In addition, Gracenote has included DVD recognition in its repertoire. In ] Gracenote purchased audio recognition technology from ] that is highly tolerant of noise, and allows for the recognition of music over a cell phone microphone. It rolled out this service as Mobile MusicID. Gracenote also offers a number of B2B and consumer-side products such as playlisting logic (Gracenote Playlist), third-party database linking for delivery of additional related content (Gracenote Link), among others. Gracenote products are offered for use in PC applications, as embedded products in consumer electronic devices such as home audio components and car stereos, and for use in cell phone handsets.


⚫ In ], Kan and Scherf incorporated CDDB into a privately held company with investment from ], a high-tech venture firm. CDDB was then renamed Gracenote. The maneuver was and remains controversial, because the CDDB database was and is built on the voluntary submission of CD track data by thousands of individual users, who received no compensation for their work. Initially, most of these were users of the xmcd CD player program. The xmcd program itself was an open-source, ] project, and many listing contributors assumed that the database was free as well. However, at some point the code for xmcd was modified to append copyright notices to all submissions. How visible or open this was to contributors remains a matter of debate. Many contributors of track listings were angered at the transfer of these listings to a profit-making entity which proceeded to make money by charging license fees for access to a database of track listings which individuals had contributed for free.
⚫ ==Commercialization==
⚫ In ], Kan and Scherf sold the assets of CDDB to ], a producer of high-end consumer electronics. CDDB was later renamed Gracenote. The maneuver was controversial, because the CDDB database was built on the voluntary submission of CD track data by individual users. Initially, most of these were users of the xmcd CD player program. The xmcd program itself is an open-source, ] project, and many contributors assumed that the database was free as well. Though Gracenote has never charged end users for access to the database through its online service, it does charge commercial developers a fee for the benefit of using its service.


] Gracenote claims that its database contains information on almost 4 million CDs. The reliability both of this statement and of the database itself have been challenged. Because the information going into the database has not been subjected to quality control, duplicate entries are very common. David Jennings, in an article entitled "How many CDs are there in the world?" gives an example of a six-CD set in which "two of the six CDs appear twice in the database, and one appears three times." An article on the AtomicPop website cites Ty Roberts, chief technology officer of Gracenote, as saying that there are approximately 500,000 individual CD titles commercially released and available for sale today in the United States.
In ], ], a clone of the Gracenote CDDB service, was created by former CDDB users who wanted a noncommercial alternative. The track listing database freedb used to seed its new service was based on the data previously released for public use by CDDB. Nevertheless, some users remained angered by Gracenote's commercialization.
] Gracenote claims that its database contains information on almost 4 million CDs. The reliability of this statement has been challenged. Because the manufacturing process for CDs introduces fuzziness to TOC matching, duplicate entries are very common. An article from the ] news agency cites Ty Roberts, chief technology officer of Gracenote, as saying that there are approximately 500,000 individual CD titles commercially released and available for sale today in the United States. This number does not include CD titles available worldwide, and may not take into account bootlegs, CDs that are out of print, or demo CDs that were never available on the open market. Also, Gracenote allows the submission of personal home-burn CDs, which may contribute to their high count.


==Lawsuits== ==Lawsuits==

In ], Gracenote sued ] for breach of contract when Roxio switched to freedb, allegedly violating its contract with Gracenote in the process. The case was settled in ]. Though terms were not disclosed, Roxio acknowledged that it had renewed its license to use Gracenote's service. The commercialization of CDDB by Gracenote also caused friction with its former licensees. In ], Gracenote sued ] for breach of contract when Roxio tried to switch to ]. The case was settled in ].


====Gracenote v. Musicmatch==== ====Gracenote v. Musicmatch====


In ], Gracenote filed suit in the Northern District Court in Oakland, California, against ], another former licensee, for breach of contract and patent violations. Musicmatch filed a counter-suit against Gracenote. A summary judgement found that Musicmatch's replacement service does not violate Gracenote's patents. The court also found significant evidence that Gracenote may have obtained its patents fraudulently. In a subsequent bench trial, the court found largely in favor of Gracenote, citing no evidence of fraudulent activity on Gracenote's part. Additionally, the court reversed its findings on numerous points in the summary judgement. The case was to have continued on to to a jury trial to determine whether Music Match was in violation of its contract with Gracenote. The case was dropped by both sides during jury selection when ], one of Gracenote's customers, announced its pending purchase of MusicMatch. In ], Gracenote sued another former licensee, ], for breach of contract and patent violations. Musicmatch filed a counter-suit against Gracenote. The Northern District Court in California ruled on ], ] in favor of Musicmatch. The case was settled in ] after Musicmatch received summary judgement on all of Gracenote's patent claims.


A summary judgement found that Musicmatch's CDDB replacement service does not violate Gracenote's patents. The court also found significant evidence that Gracenote may have obtained its patents fraudulently. is available online. A summarized overview of the case is available at the website within Mr. Robert D. Becker's list of representative cases. Mr. Becker was one of Musicmatch's lawyers during the case.
⚫ A growing group of companies continue to enter the media identification and metadata marketplace.


⚫ Gracenote's loss in the Musicmatch case has opened the market for competition, and a growing group of companies continue to enter media identification and metadata marketplace.
==Similar services==
⚫ Many of Gracenote's small former licensees moved to non-commercial services such as freedb, citing claims of restrictive terms and anger over the privatization of the company. At least one large commercial licensee dropped Gracenote's service, such as Musicmatch. Some have subsequently switched back to Gracenote, after the freedb founders parted ways over a dispute about commercializing their service.


==Competition==
⚫ The ] commercial media recognition service allows for the recognition of DVDs and digital audio files such as MP3s, as well as CD recognition, and directly competes with Gracenote in online and embedded device markets globally.

⚫ Many of Gracenote's small former licensees moved to non-commercial services such as ] because of restrictive terms and anger over the privatization of the company. Several large commercial licensees dropped Gracenote's service, such as ]'s ] and ], and have moved to the commercial service provided by ].

⚫ The ] media recognition service was launched in late 2004 by ]. The service allows for the recognition of DVDs and digital audio files such as MP3s, as well as CD recognition, and directly competes with Gracenote in the software and embedded device markets globally.


] is also another music identification service that is open source and created by community contributions. ] is also another music identification service that is open source and created by community contributions.


== External links == == External links ==
* *
⚫ *
⚫ * Gracenote official estimates 500,000 CD titles currently available for sale in the U. S.
* Gracenote and Roxio Sign Multi-year License, Settle Litigation
* Gracenote Nabs Cantametrix For a Song
* Gracenote acquires cutting edge audio fingerprinting technology from Philips
* *
*
* *
** {{musicbrainz wiki|Gracenote}}
⚫ *
* Reliability of Gracenote database questioned
⚫ * Gracenote official estimates 500,000 CD titles currently available for sale in the U. S.
*


] ]
] ]

Revision as of 13:09, 13 September 2006

For grace notes in music, see grace note.

Gracenote is a commercial enterprise which maintains and licenses a database containing information about the contents of audio CDs. The database is accessible online over the Internet. As of 2005 many computer software applications that are capable of playing CDs use Gracenote's CDDB or similar services such as All Media Guide's AMG LASSO, or open-source projects such as freedb and MusicBrainz. These programs generally offer the option of contributing track listings, and most of the track listings in the Gracenote database are voluntary contributions by individual users of CD-player software.

Background

Gracenote began in 1993 as an open source project involving a CD player program named xmcd and an associated database named CDDB. xmcd and CDDB were created by Ti Kan and Steve Scherf. Because CDs do not generally contain any digitally-encoded information about their contents (see CD-Text), Kan and Scherf developed software which identifies and looks up CDs based on TOC information stored at the beginning of each disc. A TOC, or Table of Contents, is a list of offsets corresponding to the start of each track on a CD. The matching is fuzzy and tolerates some variation in track offsets.

Some computer users who have copied vinyl LPs from their turntables onto CD-Rs have been astonished to find their computers correctly displaying the titles and track listings when these CD-Rs are played on their computer. This happens when a commercial CD is a remastered version of an LP, containing the same tracks in the same order. If the track offsets of the homemade CD match the track timings of the commercial CD to within a second, the CDDB database can identify the CD successfully.

Commercialization and controversy

In 1998, Kan and Scherf incorporated CDDB into a privately held company with investment from Escient, a high-tech venture firm. CDDB was then renamed Gracenote. The maneuver was and remains controversial, because the CDDB database was and is built on the voluntary submission of CD track data by thousands of individual users, who received no compensation for their work. Initially, most of these were users of the xmcd CD player program. The xmcd program itself was an open-source, GPL project, and many listing contributors assumed that the database was free as well. However, at some point the code for xmcd was modified to append copyright notices to all submissions. How visible or open this was to contributors remains a matter of debate. Many contributors of track listings were angered at the transfer of these listings to a profit-making entity which proceeded to make money by charging license fees for access to a database of track listings which individuals had contributed for free.

As of 2005 Gracenote claims that its database contains information on almost 4 million CDs. The reliability both of this statement and of the database itself have been challenged. Because the information going into the database has not been subjected to quality control, duplicate entries are very common. David Jennings, in an article entitled "How many CDs are there in the world?" gives an example of a six-CD set in which "two of the six CDs appear twice in the database, and one appears three times." An article on the AtomicPop website cites Ty Roberts, chief technology officer of Gracenote, as saying that there are approximately 500,000 individual CD titles commercially released and available for sale today in the United States.

Lawsuits

The commercialization of CDDB by Gracenote also caused friction with its former licensees. In 2000, Gracenote sued Roxio for breach of contract when Roxio tried to switch to freedb. The case was settled in 2001.

Gracenote v. Musicmatch

In 2002, Gracenote sued another former licensee, Musicmatch, for breach of contract and patent violations. Musicmatch filed a counter-suit against Gracenote. The Northern District Court in California ruled on August 26, 2004 in favor of Musicmatch. The case was settled in 2004 after Musicmatch received summary judgement on all of Gracenote's patent claims.

A summary judgement found that Musicmatch's CDDB replacement service does not violate Gracenote's patents. The court also found significant evidence that Gracenote may have obtained its patents fraudulently. The court order is available online. A summarized overview of the case is available at the Manatt website within Mr. Robert D. Becker's list of representative cases. Mr. Becker was one of Musicmatch's lawyers during the case.

Gracenote's loss in the Musicmatch case has opened the market for competition, and a growing group of companies continue to enter media identification and metadata marketplace.

Competition

Many of Gracenote's small former licensees moved to non-commercial services such as freedb because of restrictive terms and anger over the privatization of the company. Several large commercial licensees dropped Gracenote's service, such as Microsoft's Windows Media Player and Musicmatch Jukebox, and have moved to the commercial service provided by All Media Guide.

The AMG LASSO media recognition service was launched in late 2004 by All Media Guide. The service allows for the recognition of DVDs and digital audio files such as MP3s, as well as CD recognition, and directly competes with Gracenote in the software and embedded device markets globally.

MusicBrainz is also another music identification service that is open source and created by community contributions.

External links

Categories: