Digimarc

Digimarc is a digital watermarking technology provider enabling the invisible embedding of information into many forms of content, including audio, video, imagery, and certain objects. Through relationships with licensees and business partners, Digimarc technology provides solutions for media identification and management, counterfeit and piracy deterrence, and digital commerce.^[1] ^[2]

History

Digimarc was founded by Geoff Rhoads, an astrophysicist with a background in deep space imaging. Initial inspiration for the company came while photographing images of the planet Jupiter. He felt that his digital images were vulnerable on the internet, even with copyright protection.^[3] Recognizing the need for a better way to protect and track digital images, Rhoads began the initial research and development of invisible watermarking, laying the foundation of Digimarc Corporation, which was founded in May, 1995.^[4] ^[5]

In 1996, after initial venture funding,^[6] Digimarc released its first product: a digital watermarking plug-in bundled with Adobe Photoshop, Corel, and Micrografix.^[7] In 1997, Digimarc’s first patent was awarded,^[8] fostering new relationships with business partners interested in the security applications of imperceptible digital watermarking.

After a second round of venture funding and increased investments in research and technology, Digimarc signed a multi-year contract with a consortium of central banks^[9] and built new relationships with companies looking to leverage Digimarc watermarking technologies.

In 2001, Digimarc acquired the ID Systems assets of bankrupt Polaroid Corporation and established Digimarc ID Systems, LLC.^[10] The acquisition gave Digimarc the resources to develop IDMarc, a secure driver license technology eventually adopted by 37 state DMVs.^[11] Rapid growth and adoption of Digimarc technologies elevated Digimarc to No. 1 on Forbes 2004 list of 25 fastest growing tech companies.^[12]

Increased interest from the entertainment industry in Digimarc’s core watermarking technology,^[13] and further investments and advancements in digital watermarking, lead to the decision to sell ID Systems to L-1 Identity Solutions for $250 million.^[14] In 2008, Digimarc, a sizably smaller and more focused company, concentrated its resources on its core watermarking technology, investing in research and development efforts reflected in its patent portfolio, which is ranked among the most valuable in the world.^[15]

Today, Digimarc continues to invest heavily in research, development, and talent acquisition, while building new relations with government and businesses partners.

Technology

Digimarc, through its IP portfolio, licenses its digital watermarking technology to numerous business partners. Digimarc also develops proprietary software through its in-house engineering team. Applications using Digimarc technology include:

Digital Images

Digimarc For Images is a proprietary digital watermarking service that allows communication of information through imperceptible digital watermarking technology.^[16]

Mobile Devices

Digimarc Mobile is a proprietary technology enabling communication between printed materials and objects with mobile phones.^[17]

Music

Digimarc’s business partners offer solutions to manage, track, and protect audio content from digital piracy and copyright infringement.^[18] ^[19]

Diver Licenses

Through Digimarc’s IDMarc technology, L-1 Identity Solutions provides secure driver licenses and IDs, protecting citizens from identity theft and fraud.^[20]

Documents

Digimarc licenses technology to partners for protecting the integrity of contracts and agreements throughout the decision making process. Secures confidential documents with the ability to track source leaks.^[21]

Television

Digimarc, through a partnership with The Nielsen Company, provides technology for market intelligence for online viewing, to protect and manage television programming assets.^[22] ^[23]

Movies

Digimarc technology is licensed to movie studios to protect and manage the rights to assess without degrading image or viewing experience.^[24]

Geospatial

Technology supporting secure military information management.^[25]

Partners

Adobe^[26]

Adobe Scene7^[27]

AlpVision^[28]

aquaMobile^[29]

Arbitron^[30]

BrandProtect^[31]

Civolution^[32]

Complete Inspection Systems, Inc^[33]

Corel^[34]

Equilibrium^[35]

InDorse Technologies^[36]

L-1 Identity Solutions^[37]

License Stream^[38]

Mark Any^[39]

Monic^[40] ^[41]

MSI^[42]

Nielsen^[43]

Open Text^[44]

Signum Technologies^[45]

Teletrax^[46]

Thompson^[47]

Ulead Systems^[48]

USA Video Interactive Corp.^[49]

Veil^[50]

Verance^[51]

Verimatrix^[52] ^[53]

Winkcode Interactive^[54]

Affiliations

Founding partner of the Digital Watermarking Alliance.^[55]

References

[1] ttp://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=dmrc

[2] ttp://topics.nytimes.com/topics/news/business/companies/digimarc-corporation/index.html

[3] ttp://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=dmrc

[4] ttps://delecorp.delaware.gov/tin/controller

[5] ttp://egov.sos.state.or.us/br/pkg_web_name_srch_inq.do_name_srch?p_name=DIGIMARC&p_regist_nbr=&p_srch=PHASE1&p_print=FALSE&p_entity_status=ACTINA

[6] ttp://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-18651302/digimarc-receives-funding-4.html

[7] ttp://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18652483.html

[8] ttps://www.digimarc.com/media/release.asp?newsID=111

[9] ttp://contracts.onecle.com/digimarc/counterfeit-license.shtml

[10] ttp://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-81034373.html

[11] ttp://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-81034373.html

[12] ttp://www.forbes.com/2004/01/30/cz_jy_0130fastesttechs04.html

[13] ttp://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-134592278.html

[14] ttp://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-180460687.html

[15] ttp://finance.yahoo.com/news/The-Wall-Street-Journal-Lists-bw-1342320518.html?x=0&.v=1

[16] ttp://www.photoshopsupport.com/photoshop-blog/10/cs5-02/digimarc.html

[17] ttp://www.thefreelibrary.com/Digimarc+Announces+Digimarc+Mobile+Client+Software+for+World's+Top...-a0128650568

[18] ttp://www.google.com/patents/about?id=OZDIAAAAEBAJ&dq=Digimarc,+music,+audio

[19] ttp://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/patog/week28/OG/html/1344-2/US07562392-20090714.html

[20] ttp://www.security-technologynews.com/article/identity-document-authentication.html

[21] ttp://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/patog/week52/OG/html/1349-5/US07639837-20091229.html

[22] ttp://www.google.com/patents/about?id=OZDIAAAAEBAJ&dq=Digimarc,+music,+audio

[23] ttp://www.drmwatch.com/watermarking/article.php/3715141

[24] ttp://www.allbusiness.com/media-telecommunications/movies-sound-recording/5015407-1.html

[25] ttp://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P1-118269723.html

[26] ttps://www.digimarc.com/media/release.asp?newsID=124

[27] ttp://www.scene7.com/news/2004/20040921.asp

[28] ttp://www.alpvision.com/pdf/Digimarc%20AlpVision%20Licensing%20Announcement_v042910_FINAL.pdf

[29] ttps://www.digimarc.com/media/release.asp?newsID=24757

[30] ttps://www.digimarc.com/media/release.asp?newsID=24766

[31] ttps://www.digimarc.com/media/release.asp?newsID=604

[32] ttps://www.digimarc.com/media/news_link.asp?newsID=24724

[33] ttp://www.mhwmag.com/article.cfm?id=27186

[34] ttps://www.digimarc.com/media/release.asp?newsID=99

[35] ttps://www.digimarc.com/media/release.asp?newsID=138

[36] ttps://www.digimarc.com/resources/alerts_archive/15DEC2009.asp

[37] ttps://www.digimarc.com/media/release.asp?newsID=678

[38] ttp://www.licensestream.com/licensestream2/portal/company/press.aspx?pid=54

[39] ttps://www.digimarc.com/media/release.asp?newsID=573

[40] ttp://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20090513/169993/

[41] ttps://www.digimarc.com/media/release.asp?newsID=24729

[42] ttps://www.digimarc.com/resources/alerts_archive/05092008.asp

[43] ttps://www.digimarc.com/media/release.asp?newsID=610

[44] ttps://www.digimarc.com/appdev/business_partners.asp

[45] ttps://www.digimarc.com/media/release.asp?newsID=195

[46] ttps://www.digimarc.com/media/news_link.asp?newsID=507

[47] ttps://www.digimarc.com/appdev/business_partners.asp

[48] ttps://www.digimarc.com/media/release.asp?newsID=157

[49] ttps://www.digimarc.com/media/news_link.asp?newsID=24714

[50] ttp://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-15679666_ITM

[51] ttps://www.digimarc.com/media/release.asp?newsID=239

[52] ttp://www.drmblog.com/index.php?/archives/11_Digital_Watermarking_From_Verimatrix.html

[53] ttp://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-119882928.html

[54] ttp://www.marketwatch.com/story/digimarc-signs-winkcode-interactive-limited-as-newest-licensee-of-mobile-technology-2010-04-20?reflink=MW_news_stmp

[55] ttp://www.digitalwatermarkingalliance.org/membership.asp

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