Digimarc: Protection of Photos

Fotolia chose the Digimarc Images Bridge solution to mark its photographs. Digimarc technology makes it possible to reduce the possibility of stolen photographs. Digimarc offers an electronic mark (watermark in English) which can be visible or invisible.

Contrary to IPTC Information that is integrated in the photographs, Digimarc information consists of a single identification number of the photograph and of the organization which distributes it. They are almost unalterable. Even if the photograph is edited, resized, or cut out, this information will always be present in the image and will allow the authors and distributors to find the photographs.

Why use Digimarc?
Fotolia chose Digimarc technology to satisfy the needs of its photographers and its customers.

• To guarantee the photographer additional safety of its photographs
  
• To guarantee the buyer of a proper sale
  
• To trace photos on Internet which are used without authorization, thanks to the Marcspider solution.
  

Marcspider is a tool which traverses the Internet searching for the marked images. It publishes a monthly report indicating the use of the images on the Internet marked by ImagesBridge technology from Digimarc.

How does it work?
Technology is installed on the remote server loading the images and automaticly marks all accepted photographs before they are visible on the site.

• 1 the photograph is downloaded on the server
  
• 2 copyright information (single identifier of the photograph and single identifier of Fotolia) is added to the photograph
  
• 3 the photograph is visible on the site and contains information of copyright
  

How is this technology used on Fotolia?
The Digimarc traceability solution is used on the Fotolia.com site on two levels:

• The marking is integrated in a visible way and invisible in the large label sizes suggested at the time of search for photographs.
  
• The marking is integrated in an invisible way when a photograph is bought
  

How to test yourself technology?
You can test the Digimarc technology yourself, if you have the Photoshop software, to check if the Digimarc marker is present in your photographs.
You can take as an example the following photograph or any photograph from the Fotolia web site:

• 1. Download the photograph and save it on your disk
  
• 2. Open the Photoshop software and the downloaded image file
  
• 3. Go in the Filter menu, and choose the Digimarc option To see Watermark.
  
• 4. Do not forget to erase the photograph off your hard drive after this test.
  

At the same time you can try to read the IPTC information included in the file:

• 1. Choose in the File menu, the Information section
  
• 2. You can then read all the IPTC information contained in the photograph (name of the author, key words, and country.)
  

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Posted by chad on 12:00, April 14 2005

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