US 5,862,260 · Granted 1999-01-19

The Watermark Detective: How Digimarc Invented Digital Tracking

Imagine hiding a secret code inside a photo, video, or song that tells you everywhere that file gets posted online. This patent describes an automated system that scans the internet, finds those hidden codes, and reports back to whoever owns the original work—like a digital bloodhound for your stolen content.

Curated and verified by the IsItPatented Editorial team

The plain-English version

What it protects

The claim covers an automated system that searches networked computers (like those connected to the internet) for audio, video, or image data embedded with watermarks. What's protected here is the specific method of scanning for marked content and generating a report that identifies where that watermarked material is located and traces it back to its legitimate owner via the watermark information embedded within it.

Why it matters

This patent addresses a genuine problem that emerged in the 1990s as digital media became easier to copy and share online: creators and copyright holders had no easy way to track where their work was being distributed without permission. By automating the detection of hidden watermarks, Digimarc created a foundational tool for digital rights management and content protection that has influenced how media companies monitor unauthorized distribution for decades.

Real-world use

When a music label or film studio discovers their content on unauthorized streaming sites or piracy forums, they can use watermark scanning technology to automatically detect and report those locations rather than manually searching the internet.

Original USPTO abstract

An automated system checks networked computers, such as computers on the internet, for watermarked audio, video, or image data. A report listing the location of such audio, video or image data is generated, and provided to the proprietor(s) thereof identified by the watermark information.

Patent details

Publication number: US 5,862,260
Filing date: 1996-05-16
Grant date: 1999-01-19
Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
Inventor(s): RHOADS; GEOFFREY B.
CPC class: G06F16/955

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