Songbird, the software brainchild of a 20-year-old Internet entrepreneur, was launched today with song-swap company Napster firmly in its sights.
The technology enables artists and musicians to track down who has done what with their compositions.
The software, invented by Utah-based Mr Travis Hill, won the backing of the record industry's International Federation of the Phonographic Industry watchdog and 10 organisations representing artists, songwriters and publishers.
Songbird was introduced at IFPI's London headquarters.
"Songbird gives music copyright holders a completely new insight into how Napster is using their music and, if they want to, take steps to get it removed," said IFPI chairman Mr Jay Berman.
Songbird follows the release by Napster of its own software that can read digital fingerprints. Napster said on its website it was adding the new feature to comply with a federal court order that bars the trading of copyrighted songs on its service.
Napster said the software reads sonic characteristics of song files and will help it stop users from downloading songs without record companies' permission.
A spokesman for the Recording Industry Association of America said: "We're pleased that Napster is announcing more and more steps toward compliance with the injunction."