Rockin’ Patent – Spotify AB’s “System And Method For Association Of A Song”

US Patent No. 10,762,885 – Spotify AB - System and method for association of a song, music, or other media content with a user's video content - Rockin’ Patent – Patents Rock – Russell IP
  • Rockin’ Patent®: US Patent No. 10,762,885
  • Filed: 29 December 2017
  • In the name of: Spotify AB
  • Title: System and method for association of a song, music, or other media content with a user’s video content
  • What’s claimed: “A system for association of a song, music, or other media content with a user’s video content, comprising a computer, including a media server that executes thereon and is adapted to receive requests from client media devices to download, stream, or otherwise access media content; wherein each of one or more client media devices includes: a media application that communicates with, and controls playback of media content items received from the media server, for playing at a requesting or controlled media device; and a messaging application that provides access by the client media device to a social messaging environment and enables recording of video content; wherein each media content item accessible at the media server is associated with a reference that enables access to the media content item at the media server, for use by a requesting client media device; wherein during creation of a video presentation comprising a video content recorded at a particular client media device, utilising the messaging application at the particular client media device, the media device: receives, from the media server, a set of media content options for display and selection at the particular media device client; receives as input a selection of a media content option from within the set of media content options, indicative of a request to associate a selected media content item with the video presentation being created; receives, from the media server in response to the received input, a reference associated with the selected media content item and a metadata that provides an indication of the selected media content item, which indication is usable by the media server to identify a particular media content item accessible at the media server; and creates a video presentation media file, including: the video content recorded by the messaging application, combined with a portion of the selected media content item received from the media server; and the reference and the metadata associated with the selected media content item as part of a video file header information, for use by a recipient media device, upon receipt of the media file, in accessing the selected media content item at the media server; and wherein the media server is configured to provide access to the selected media content item in response to a request from the recipient media device, including: receiving, from the recipient media device, a request for the selected media content item, using the reference and the metadata associated with the selected media content item as part of the video file header; and sending the selected media content item to the recipient media device, for playing at the recipient media device.”
  • Why this patent rocks:
    • The patent states that current technology-enabled social messaging apps don’t offer an easy way to add a media content, like a particular song, to a video message. You could send a video message with ambient music in the background; however, the patent explains that the quality is often poor and difficult for the recipient to determine which, e.g., song or artist is included.
    • This patent, therefore, involves a system and method for the association of a song, music, or other media content with a user’s video content. This allows the user to determine a song that is associated with an audio clip and a song metadata of a media content, with a ‘video moment’.
    • A recipient of the ‘video moment’ can hear the audio clip in combination with the video content, and also view the song metadata overlay, to find out the name of the song and artist that was used in the video, or optionally access the song at a media server, for further listening.
    • Interestingly, the patent suggests Spotify AB might be planning to expand beyond just music streaming, bringing the fan and artist closer within the platform by enabling users to make short videos with high quality music.
    • The move has been described as ‘experimenting with TikTok-like user-generated videos ‘, see the article here for more information on why Spotify might be considering ‘video moments’. 

If you’re a patent-savvy music tech business looking for patent help, get in touch with Russell IP here!

The information above is for general interest and information only and does not constitute legal advice.

Share the Post:

Related Posts

IP insurance: an option worth knowing about

By Iain Russell, Patent Attorney and Director at Russell IP (BSc, CPA, EPA, FRSA — 20 years’ experience in computer-implemented inventions and music technology). IP Insurance: An Option Worth Knowing About A question we are sometimes asked, particularly by those new to patents, is what the point is in having a patent if you cannot afford to enforce it, or to defend an allegation that you infringe someone else’s rights. It is a fair concern: patent disputes can be expensive. One option that some businesses may not be aware of is intellectual property (IP) insurance. Important note: Our expertise is

Read More

What Does A New UK Government Study Reveal About AI Patents?

By Iain Russell, Patent Attorney and Director at Russell IP (BSc, CPA, EPA, FRSA – 20 years’ experience in computer-implemented inventions and music technology). What Does A New UK Government Study Reveal About AI Patents? Published: September 2026 | Last updated: September 2026 A recent government-backed study in the UK has found that AI-related patent applications rose from 5.2% of all US patent applications filed in 2014 to 20.3% in 2023. In other words, AI patent applications now make up roughly one in five filings in the US. The finding comes from a study called AI Skills for Life and

Read More

Gain the Competitive Edge

Let's see how we can help protect your IP

Get in touch using the contact form or the phone number below to see how we can protect your IP.

There’s no obligation to sign up for anything.