Digital Fingerprints are generated for data objects in a system where separate annotation files are created for data objects. This permits cross heterogeneous system relationship of a data object with associated annotations. The digital fingerprint is saved in an annotation store along with a first relationship between the digital fingerprint and the location of annotations as well as a second relationship between the digital fingerprint and location of copies of the data object. The digital fingerprint can be generated by any system that has a copy of the data object. Annotations or data objects can be found by searching for the digital fingerprint and its relationships.