Use of Mismatched Query Fingerprint as Basis to Validate Media Identification

A method for controlling presentation of metadata regarding media. A system could generate query fingerprints representing media content being presented, the media content having been identified as being a first media-content item. The system could further detect a threshold mismatch comprising at least one of the query fingerprints not matching any of first reference fingerprints known to represent the first media-content item. In response, the system could engage in new media identification, establishing that the media content is a second media-content item, and could obtain both second reference fingerprints known to represent the second media-content item and metadata regarding the second media-content item. Further, the system could validate the new identification as a condition precedent to presenting the obtained metadata, the validating including comparing with the obtained second digital reference fingerprints the at least one digital query fingerprint that did not match any of the first digital reference fingerprints.