Introduction to Digital Rights Management - DRM

DRM Digital Watermarks

A digital watermark is a signal or code that is hidden (typically is imperceptible to the user) in a digital signal (such as in the digital audio or a digital image portion) that contains identifying information. Ideally a digital watermark would not be destroyed (that is, the signal altered so that the hidden information could no longer be determined) by any imperceptible processing of the overall signal. For example, a digital watermark should not be distorted or lost when the signal is passed through a conversion or compression process.

A software program or assembly that can separate the watermark from a media file extracts a digital watermark. This watermark may be used to provide the key that is able to decode and play the media file. The process of watermarking is called stenography.

Watermarks can be encrypted to increase the resistance of the DRM system to hackers. Encrypted watermarks are tamper resistant information that is added (data embedding) or changed information in a file or other form of media that can be used to identify that the media is authentic or to provide other information about the media such as its creator or authorized usage. While it may be possible to identify the watermark in the media file, a decryption code is needed to decipher the contents of the watermark message.

Digital watermarks can be added to any type of media files such as digital video and audio. Adding or slightly modifying the colors and/or light intensities in the video in such a way that the viewer does not notice the watermarking information may perform video watermarking. Audio watermarking may be performed by adding audio tones above the normal frequency or by modifying the frequencies and volume level of the audio in such a way that the listener does not notice the watermarking information.

Figure 1.17 shows how watermarks can be added to a variety of media types to provide identification information. This example shows that digital watermarks can be added to digital audio or video media by making minor changes to the media content. The digital watermark is added as a code that is typically not perceivable to the listener or viewer of the media. This example shows that digital watermarks can be added to audio signals in the form of audio components (e.g. high frequency sound) or video components (color shift) that cannot be perceived by the listener or viewer.

Table that describes copyright, patents, trademark, and trade secrects

Digital Watermarks Diagram

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Digital Rights Management - DRM Books

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Introduction to Digital Rights Management - DRM

Digital rights management systems identify, track, authorize and restrict access to digital media. You will learn how DRM systems help to protect and enforce copyrights, patents, trademarks, and other forms of intellectual property. Discover how to uniquely identify digital media and how to monitor and track the usage of digital media.

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