What Certification Does and Does Not Mean
This is the single most important page in this documentation for anyone evaluating, relying upon, or presenting a TrackForge certification in a legal or commercial context. It defines the precise boundaries of what certification asserts — and, equally importantly, what it does not.
What TrackForge certifies
TrackForge certification attests to process fidelity. Specifically, each certification confirms:
- Pipeline execution — The track was processed through TrackForge's documented multi-source enrichment pipeline.
- Cross-source validation — Validation was performed across multiple authoritative sources, and conflicts were identified and resolved.
- Quality gates passed — The metadata met all defined quality thresholds (the Golden Record criteria).
- Human review — A trained operator reviewed and approved the certified data (in B2B engagements).
- Point-in-time attestation — The certified metadata was in the stated condition at the stated time.
- Cryptographic verifiability — The certification hash is independently verifiable against a public blockchain anchor.
- Methodology compliance — The published certification methodology was followed throughout.
B2B vs Self-Service certification
TrackForge offers certification at different service tiers. The level of human involvement — and therefore the strength of the attestation — differs between them:
| Aspect | B2B Certification (Tier 2/3) | Self-Service (Tier 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Analogy | Independent auditor | Notary public |
| Human review | Trained operator reviews and approves each track | Automated pipeline only |
| Conflict resolution | Operator reviews ambiguous conflicts | Algorithmic resolution only |
| Attestation strength | Process fidelity + human verification | Process fidelity only |
| Use case | Catalogue acquisitions, dispute evidence, sync licensing | Ongoing catalogue monitoring, internal QA |
| Suitable for | Legal proceedings, insurance, due diligence | Internal confidence scoring, trend tracking |
For B2B engagements, TrackForge operates as an auditor: a qualified professional examines the evidence and signs off. For self-service, TrackForge operates as a notary: it attests that a defined process was followed and records the result, but does not independently evaluate the substance.
Both tiers produce cryptographically verifiable, blockchain-anchored certifications. The difference is in the depth of human scrutiny applied before certification.
What TrackForge does NOT certify
TrackForge certification does not assert any of the following:
- Legal ownership — Certification does not confirm or establish legal ownership of copyright or neighbouring rights.
- Definitive writer splits — Certification does not assert that writer shares are legally settled or binding.
- Absence of future claims — Certification does not guarantee that no future claim could contradict the certified data.
- Upstream accuracy — Certification does not warrant that no errors exist in the source databases consulted (Spotify, MusicBrainz, PRS, MLC, etc.).
- Legal advice — Certification does not constitute legal advice or a legal opinion.
- Substitute for due diligence — Certification is not a substitute for a formal title search, legal due diligence, or independent legal counsel.
Why certification still matters
Even with these limits, certification creates a defensible record of what was known at a specific time and how it was verified. That record is useful for:
- Due diligence and valuation support.
- Faster dispute triage and settlement.
- Operational alignment across partners.
- Long-term auditability.
Next step: align on reliance and risk
If you plan to rely on a certification in a transaction or dispute, confirm the tier, disclaimer, and evidence package early. We can provide a recommended reliance posture for your use case.
Contact TrackForge
TrackForge certification confirms the metadata state verified by TrackForge as of the certified date. It does not constitute legal proof of copyright ownership, authorship rights, or entitlement to royalties. This certification should not be relied upon as a substitute for independent legal advice, formal title searches, or legal due diligence. Liability for the certification service is limited to the fees paid for that service.
Analogies
Two analogies help clarify the nature and limits of TrackForge certification:
Title insurance
In property conveyancing, a title insurer conducts a thorough search of land registry records, historical deeds, and encumbrances. The resulting policy attests: "We searched thoroughly using a documented process and found no issues." It does not assert: "There are definitively no issues anywhere in the world."
TrackForge certification works the same way. The certification attests to the rigour and completeness of the verification process — not to absolute legal truth. If a previously unknown claimant surfaces after certification, the certification remains a valid record of what was known and verified at that point in time.
Credit rating agencies
Moody's or S&P rate a bond based on documented criteria applied consistently. The rating reflects their assessment methodology, not an absolute guarantee of creditworthiness. Similarly, TrackForge certifies metadata based on a published methodology applied consistently. The certification reflects process fidelity, not an absolute guarantee of metadata accuracy.
In both cases, the value lies in the documented, repeatable, independently verifiable process — not in a claim of infallibility.
What's next
- Who This Documentation Is For — A reading guide for different audiences.
- Golden Record Selection — The criteria a track must meet to qualify for certification.