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Digimarc receives watermark patent

Digimarc, which specializes in the authentication of digital or analog documents, said it has received its 25th patent, which covers techniques for embedding digital watermarks into video and audio content. Such watermarking technology places a unique bit of digital code into a file that is theoretically difficult to remove without damaging the quality of the sound or image. In May, Tualatin, Ore.-based Digimarc received approval from the U.S. Patent Office on 28 claims related to audio watermarking. Approval of the patent shortly followed an announcement by Digimarc and other major consumer electronic companies--including Hitachi, Macrovision, NEC, Philips Electronics, Pioneer and Sony--that they are forming the Video Watermarking Group, a coalition to give film studios means to distribute content online without the fear of potential copyright pirates.

Digimarc, which specializes in the authentication of digital or analog documents, said it has received its 25th patent, which covers techniques for embedding digital watermarks into video and audio content. Such watermarking technology places a unique bit of digital code into a file that is theoretically difficult to remove without damaging the quality of the sound or image.

In May, Tualatin, Ore.-based Digimarc received approval from the U.S. Patent Office on 28 claims related to audio watermarking. Approval of the patent shortly followed an announcement by Digimarc and other major consumer electronic companies--including Hitachi, Macrovision, NEC, Philips Electronics, Pioneer and Sony--that they are forming the Video Watermarking Group, a coalition to give film studios means to distribute content online without the fear of potential copyright pirates.