Robust watermark

1. A method for embedding a watermark in block cipher encrypted content, the method comprising:

encoding a binary string comprising data for embedding as a watermark, the binary string comprising n bits, denoted b 0 -b n−1 , where n>2,the encoding comprising:

translating each bit, b 0 -b n−1 , into a block of data, according to the following rule:

if b i =1, then translate b i into a block of data of a first type; and

if b i =0, then translate b i into a block of data of a second type, thereby translating the n bits into n blocks of data corresponding to each bit b 0 -b n−1 ;

arranging a composite block of data comprising:

the n blocks of data; and

at least one additional block indicating the presence of the n blocks of data; and

inserting the composite block of data into a content item as a watermark,

wherein the watermarked content item is block cipher encrypted using an ECB mode of encryption.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the composite block of data comprises:

at least one instance of the block of data of the first type; and

the n blocks of data.

3. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising prefixing a header to the composite block of data, the header comprising a plurality of a repeated block of data of a third type, thereby creating a prefixed composite block of data; and

the inserting comprises inserting the prefixed composite block into the content item.

4. The method according to claim 1 and wherein the content comprises block cipher encrypted content.

5. The method according to claim 1 and wherein the content comprises at least one of:

video content;

audio content; and

a still image.

6. The method according to claim 1 and wherein the binary string comprises unique identification data.

7. The method according to claim 6 and wherein the unique identification data comprises a subscriber ID.

8. The method according to claim 6 and wherein the unique identification data comprises a smart card ID.

9. The method according to claim 3 and wherein the inserting comprises inserting the prefixed composite block of data between a first portion of the content item and a second portion of the content item.

10. The method according to claim 9 and wherein the inserting comprises inserting the watermark into a user data structure inserted between the first portion of the content item and the second portion of the content item.

11. The method according to claim 9 and wherein the inserting comprises inserting the watermark into a network abstraction layer structure of unspecified type inserted between the first portion of the content item and the second portion of the content item.

12. A method for detecting a watermark in watermarked content, the method comprising:

obtaining a block cipher encrypted content item, the encrypted content item being encrypted using an electronic codebook (ECB) mode of encryption, and comprising an encoded binary string comprising data for embedding as a watermark;

locating a prefix in the block cipher encrypted content item, the prefix comprising a repeated plurality of blocks of data of a first type;

locating, after the prefix, a composite block of data, the composite block of data comprising:

at least one instance of a block of data of a second type; and

a plurality of translated blocks of data;

translating the plurality of translated blocks of data into a binary string according to the following rule:

if a block to be translated comprises a block of data of the second type then translate the block of data into a bit b i equal to 1; and

if the block to be translated comprises a block of data of a third type then translate the block of data into a bit b i equal to 0;

arranging the binary string so that for i=0−n−1, the binary string is arranged as b 0 -b n−1 , thereby determining the encoded binary string.