We have worked closely with the client over many years on a range of transformative technology projects. This includes building, upgrading, and improving core systems, such as the design and implementation of the client’s largest core back-office platform. EC has also played a key role in establishing the Azure-based cloud infrastructure that underpins many of the client’s services.
The challenge:
One of the client’s major challenges was to digitise the process of assessing how customers are copying and using copyrighted materials. The current system was manual and paper-based, making it inefficient and difficult to scale. The objective was to automate data collection, ensure rights holders receive appropriate royalties, and determine whether the necessary technology and infrastructure could support this transformation. Additionally, the client required reliable ongoing support and enhancements to their core royalty distribution platform following the departure of the previous vendor.
Our approach:
We developed a series of technical proof-of-concepts (POCs) that demonstrated how digital copyright tracking could be achieved. This included; integrating with customer-deployed photocopier software, storing metadata and PDF files in an Azure Data Lake, using Azure Synapse Analytics to monitor data collection, using OCR technology to scan copied content, and identifying copyrighted material through platforms like Google Books. Future enhancements would include integration with the client’s proprietary databases and AI LLMs to improve accuracy. These components were unified using cloud-based services from Azure, AWS and Google. We architected the overall solution and worked collaboratively with global third-party vendors. We also took over support and development of a core royalty calculation platform, maintaining tight SLAs and extending functionality as needed.
The results:
The POC validated that the available technologies were mature enough to support a scalable, automated copyright management system and the collection of data into the Data Lake is ongoing. The proposed solution is set to transform manual data collection into a seamless, digital workflow that accurately attributes usage and ensures fair compensation for rights holders. Our contributions also stabilised and enhanced the client’s core operational platform, ensuring uninterrupted services and continuous improvements.
The ongoing partnership has positioned the client for future innovation and operational efficiency, and we remain a trusted partner, delivering IT development and support across multiple operational areas.
