Quoting:This scared me a bit, why are they emailing me? I've written some code (100% my own) and implemented my own methods for matching music. There are some key differences with the algorithm Shazam uses.

The code isn't published yet, but I was planning on releasing it under Apache License to the open source community soon.

It was never my intension to release this commercially, I'm just a programmer who likes to work on technical, mathematical algorithms in his spare time. And if enough people ask for the source code, I'd be happy to give it to them. Who would have thought that creating something at home in a weekend could result in a possible patent infringement!?

Just to be sure I asked them confirmation that the email was indeed sent from their company. And second, I'd like to know which patents are in play. Because I just couldn't think that something this easy (music-fingerprint is a hash, and we do a lookup) can be patented.. Maybe in the States, but in Europe?

I got the following reply from Landmark Digital Services LLC: