On-Screen Watermark for Copyright Source Tracing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital watermarking methods are ineffective in preventing piracy and tracing the source of illegal multimedia data copies, as invisible watermarks can be easily removed or eliminated by non-contact image-capturing or recording, making it difficult for legal owners to identify and prosecute copyright infringers.
Innovation Solution
A client-server system generates a unique on-screen watermark that is not removable by non-contact copying, allowing the source of multimedia data to be traced by analyzing the identification code embedded in the watermark, which is associated with the client accessing the data, enabling effective copyright protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If invisible digital watermark is embedded in multimedia data, then copyright protection is provided, but the watermark can be eliminated by non-contact image-capturing or recording
Solution Approach 1:
The watermark protection is segmented into two independent parts: visible on-screen watermark displayed during playback and invisible digital watermark embedded in the data. Each part serves a different function - the visible watermark prevents non-contact copying by being obvious to viewers, while the invisible watermark provides data-level protection. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by ensuring that if one watermark type is removed, the other still provides protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The visible on-screen watermark acts as an intermediary between the user and the invisible digital watermark. It serves as a deterrent to non-contact copying while the invisible watermark remains embedded in the data for robust copyright verification. The intermediary visible watermark protects the system from the harmful effect of non-contact copying attempts.
2Reliability
If digital watermark is embedded before distribution or during playing, then copyright information is combined with multimedia data, but the source of illegal copies cannot be traced when watermark is removed
Solution Approach 1:
Different types of watermarks are applied with different properties to different aspects of the protection need. The visible on-screen watermark contains identification code for source tracing and is displayed locally on the screen during playback. The invisible digital watermark is embedded throughout the data structure. This local quality differentiation ensures that visible watermarks provide traceability while invisible watermarks provide verification, resolving the contradiction between verification capability and traceability.
Solution Approach 2:
The visible on-screen watermark with identification code is applied preliminarily during playback before distribution or sharing occurs. This preliminary action ensures that if illegal copying happens, the source can be traced through the visible watermark. Combined with the invisible watermark embedded in the data, this preliminary action prevents loss of traceability information.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If on-screen watermark is added to prevent non-contact copying, then piracy is reduced, but the system complexity increases due to client-server authentication and watermark generation
Solution Approach 1:
The client device performs self-service by generating its own visible on-screen watermark using its unique identification code during playback. The client authenticates itself with the server and receives authorization to display the watermark. This self-service approach distributes the watermark generation burden from the server to individual clients, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining effective piracy prevention through unique watermarks on each device.
Data Source
AI summary
A watermarking method and system are provided. The watermarking system includes a server and a client in communication with each other. At first, the client sends a login request to the server. The server authenticates an access right of the client to access specific multimedia data and generates an identification code uniquely associated with the client according to the login request if the client is authenticated to have the access right to access the multimedia data. An on-screen watermark is generated according to the identification code and added onto the multimedia data to be played. The watermark-generating and adding step may be performed by either the server or the client. The on-screen watermark can be detected by a watermark-detecting method and system to trace privacy source.