IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,931,536
Granted Patent B2
US 6,931,536 · App. 09/799,648 · Granted Aug 16, 2005

Enhanced copy protection of proprietary material employing multiple watermarks

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,931,536
App. No.
09/799,648
Granted
Aug 16, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and apparatus for distributing proprietary material employs multiple watermarks embedded in the proprietary material for enhanced copy protection. A first watermark is to be processed by programmable and non-programmable devices configured to process the first watermark for copy protection of the proprietary material. If a programmable device eliminates the first watermark so that unauthorized copies of the proprietary material can be made, then non-programmable devices configured to process a second watermark as well as the first watermark look for and process the second watermark for copy protection of the proprietary material upon their failure to detect the first watermark.

Claims (63)

1. A method for preparing proprietary material employing multiple watermarks for enhanced copy protection, comprising:

embedding a first watermark in proprietary material, wherein said first watermark includes copy control information indicating whether programmable and non-programmable devices configured to process said first watermark for copy protection of said proprietary material are allowed to copy said proprietary material; and

embedding a second watermark in said proprietary material, wherein said second watermark includes copy control information indicating whether a first group of said non-programmable devices configured to process said second watermark for copy protection of said proprietary material in the event that said first watermark is not detected are allowed to copy said proprietary material, thereby providing enhanced copy protection of said proprietary material.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said proprietary material includes video content.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said proprietary material includes audio content.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said proprietary material includes picture content.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said proprietary material includes text content.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said programmable devices comprise personal computers.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said non-programmable devices comprise consumer electronic devices.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

embedding a third watermark in said proprietary material, wherein said third watermark includes copy control information indicating whether a second group of said non-programmable devices configured to process said third watermark for copy protection of said proprietary material in the event that said first watermark is not detected are allowed to copy said proprietary material, thereby providing enhanced copy protection of said proprietary material.

9. An apparatus for preparing proprietary material employing multiple watermarks for enhanced copy protection, comprising:

means for embedding a first watermark in proprietary material, wherein said first watermark includes copy control information indicating whether programmable devices and non-programmable devices configured to process said first watermark for copy protection of said proprietary material are allowed to copy said proprietary material; and

means for embedding a second watermark in said proprietary material, wherein said second watermark includes copy control information indicating whether a first group of said non-programmable devices configured to process said second watermark for copy protection of said proprietary material in the event that said first watermark is not detected are allowed to copy said proprietary material.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said proprietary material includes video content.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said proprietary material includes audio content.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said proprietary material includes picture content.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said proprietary material includes text content.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said programmable devices comprise programmable computers.

15. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said non-programmable devices comprise consumer electronic devices.

16. The apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising means for embedding a third watermark in said proprietary material, wherein said third watermark includes copy protection information indicating whether a second group of said non-programmable devices configured to process said third watermark for copy protection of said proprietary material in the event that said first watermark is not detected are allowed to copy said proprietary material.

17. An apparatus for preparing proprietary material employing multiple watermarks for enhanced copy protection, comprising a computer readable medium having proprietary material with embedded first and second watermarks, wherein said first watermark includes copy control information indicating whether programmable and non-programmable devices configured to process said first watermark for copy protection of said proprietary material are allowed to copy said proprietary material, and said second watermark includes copy control information indicating whether a first group of said non-programmable devices configured to process said second watermark for copy protection of said proprietary material in the event that said first watermark is not detected are allowed to copy said proprietary material.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein said proprietary material includes video content.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein said proprietary material includes audio content.

20. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein said proprietary material includes picture content.

21. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein said proprietary material includes text content.

22. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein said programmable devices comprise programmable computers.

23. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein said non-programmable devices comprise consumer electronic devices.

24. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein said proprietary material has a third embedded watermark including copy control information indicating whether a second group of said non-programmable devices configured to process said third watermark for copy protection of said proprietary material in the event that said first watermark is not detected are allowed to copy said proprietary material.

25. A method for processing proprietary material employing multiple watermarks for enhanced copy protection, comprising:

searching for a first watermark embedded in proprietary material;

if said first watermark is detected, then processing said first watermark for copy protection of said proprietary material;

if said first watermark is not detected, then searching for a second watermark in said proprietary material; and

if said second watermark is detected, then processing said second watermark for copy protection of said proprietary material.

26. The method according to claim 25 , wherein said proprietary material includes video content.

27. The method according to claim 25 , wherein said proprietary material includes audio content.

28. The method according to claim 25 , wherein said proprietary material includes picture content.

29. The method according to claim 25 , wherein said proprietary material includes text content.

30. The method according to claim 25 , wherein said processing said first watermark for copy protection of said proprietary material, comprises denying a copy request for said proprietary material if said first watermark includes a no-copy indication.

31. The method according to claim 25 , wherein said processing said second watermark for copy protection of said proprietary material, comprises denying a copy request for said proprietary material if said second watermark includes a no-copy indication.

32. The method according to claim 25 , further comprising determining whether said proprietary material is stored on a recordable medium.

33. The method according to claim 32 , wherein said processing said first watermark for copy protection of said proprietary material, comprises:

if said proprietary material is stored on a non-recordable medium, then complying with a play request for said proprietary material; and

if said proprietary material is stored on a recordable medium and said first watermark is detected to have a no-copy indication, then denying a play request for said proprietary material.

34. The method according to claim 32 , wherein said processing said second watermark for copy protection of said proprietary material, comprises:

if said proprietary material is stored on a non-recordable medium, then complying with a play request for said proprietary material; and

if said proprietary material is stored on a recordable medium and said second watermark is detected to have a no-copy indication, then denying a play request for said proprietary material.

35. An apparatus for processing proprietary material employing multiple watermarks for enhanced copy protection, comprising a non-programmable device configured to:

search for a first watermark in proprietary material, and process said first watermark for copy protection of said proprietary material if said first watermark is detected; and

if said first watermark is not detected, search for a second watermark in said proprietary material, and process said second watermark for copy protection of said proprietary material if said second watermark is detected.

36. The apparatus according to claim 35 , wherein said proprietary material includes video content.

37. The apparatus according to claim 35 , wherein said proprietary material includes audio content.

38. The apparatus according to claim 35 , wherein said proprietary material includes picture content.

39. The apparatus according to claim 35 , wherein said proprietary material includes text content.

40. The apparatus according to claim 35 , wherein said non-programmable device is a consumer electronic device.

41. The apparatus according to claim 35 , wherein said non-programmable device is further configured to deny a copy request for said proprietary material if said first watermark includes a no-copy indication.

42. The apparatus according to claim 35 , wherein said non-programmable device is further configured to deny a copy request for said proprietary material if said second watermark includes a no-copy indication.

43. The apparatus according to claim 35 , wherein said non-programmable device is further configured to:

comply with a play request for said proprietary material if said proprietary material is stored on a non-recordable medium; and

deny a play request for said proprietary material if said proprietary material is stored on a recordable medium and said first watermark is detected to have a no-copy indication.

44. The apparatus according to claim 35 , wherein said non-programmable device is further configured to:

comply with a play request for said proprietary material if said proprietary material is stored on a non-recordable medium; and

deny a play request for said proprietary material if said proprietary material is stored on a recordable medium and said second watermark is detected to have a no-copy indication.

Assignments (11)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 25, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: APTIV DIGITAL INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; SONIC SOLUTIONS LLC; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 051145/0090 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2017
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
To: MARKING OBJECT VIRTUALIZATION INTELLIGENCE LLC
Reel/Frame 040866/0949 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 13, 2016
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
To: MARKING OBJECT VIRTUALIZATION INTELLIGENCE, LLC
Reel/Frame 039426/0931 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE EXECUTION DATE TO READ JULY 22, 2016 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 039261 FRAME 0298. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE EXECUTION DATE OF THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jul 28, 2016
From: MARKING OBJECT VIRTUALIZATION INTELLIGENCE, LLC
To: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039503/0398 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 26, 2016
From: MARKING OBJECT VIRTUALIZATION INTELLIGENCE, LLC
To: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039261/0298 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 9, 2016
From: MACROVISION CORPORATION
To: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038947/0271 →
PATENT RELEASE Recorded Jul 24, 2014
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ALL MEDIA GUIDE, LLC; APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; TV GUIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 033396/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 24, 2014
From: APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; SONIC SOLUTIONS LLC; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 033407/0035 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2011
From: APTIV DIGITAL, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC, A BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS COMPANY; ROVI CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 027039/0168 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2010
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION)
To: ALL MEDIA GUIDE, LLC; APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ODS PROPERTIES, INC.; ROVI DATA SOLUTIONS, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS TV GUIDE DATA SOLUTIONS, INC.); ROVI GUIDES, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GEMSTAR-TV GUIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.); ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS MACROVISION CORPORATION); ROVI SOLUTIONS LIMITED (FORMERLY KNOWN AS MACROVISION EUROPE LIMITED); ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; TV GUIDE, INC.; TV GUIDE ONLINE, LLC; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 025222/0731 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 15, 2008
From: APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; GEMSTAR-TV GUIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; INDEX SYSTEMS INC; MACROVISION CORPORATION; ODS PROPERTIES, INC.; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; TV GUIDE ONLINE, LLC; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 020986/0074 →