A method, an apparatus, and a system for copyright rights defense detection are provided. The method includes: sending a metadata query request to a copyright handling apparatus; receiving a metadata query response that is sent by the copyright handling apparatus and that includes feature metadata; obtaining a rights-to-be-defended content feature corresponding to the feature metadata from a feature database; sending a license query request to a license processing apparatus; receiving a license query response that is sent by the license processing apparatus and that includes license information; and performing rights defense detection for a copyright based on the obtained rights-to-be-defended content feature and the license information. Rights defense detection can be performed for a copyright by any rights defense detection service apparatus.