FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, October 17, 2005
Widevine® Announces Digital Watermarking Technology to Further Track Distribution of Content
Widevine Mensor™ will expand to enable studios and operators to fingerprint and watermark distributed content
Seattle, Wash. Oct. 17, 2005 –Widevine Technologies, the most deployed provider of comprehensive downloadable conditional access systems (DCAS) and digital rights management (DRM) for video operators, today announced digital watermarking technology for studios and operators.
Through partnership with best-of-breed watermarking partners, Widevine will enable studios, broadcasters and operators to insert digital fingerprints into video content as it passes through three key points in the video distribution chain: the content owner, the operator and consumer electronics devices. Widevine Mensor fingerprints and watermarks content at each stage of a multi-node content delivery network. Hollywood studios, broadcasters and operators can track where, when and to what device content is delivered—regardless of network, device or video format. In the event of theft, this approach enhances the possibility of tracking piracy down to the individual.
The company’s digital watermarking technology builds on the technological innovations brought to market in 1999 with Widevine Mensor™. Mensor originated as a digital fingerprinting and identification system that enabled content owners to identify copies of video assets as they passed throughout authorized and unauthorized mechanisms. To date Widevine has fingerprinted and identified unauthorized distribution of over $3B in studio and broadcast assets.
“Widevine continues to deliver an innovative and comprehensive solution to address emerging content owner requirements for watermarking content”, said Reza Rassool, Chief Engineer at Widevine, “We anticipate content owners will want to identify and track assets discretely. Furthermore, Widevine Mensor will help operators streamline the acquisition of content licenses, when forensic requirements migrate into carriage contracts.”
"In recent years, comprehensive software-based conditional access and digital rights management have become table stakes for ensuring operators acquire IP content," said Advanced Media Strategies analyst, Steve Hawley. "Research shows that watermarking technology will emerge as another key content protection requirement over the course of the next 12-18 months. As Widevine continues to be a leader in delivering advanced content protection technologies that meet operator and content owner needs, the company is positioning itself to meet these emerging market requirements."
Early adopters who wish to find out more about Widevine Watermarking technology can email: watermarking@widevine.com.
About Widevine Technologies, Inc.
Widevine is the most widely deployed provider of content security solutions for IP video operators worldwide. Widevine enables telco, cable, satellite and internet service operators to generate new revenue opportunities through the secure distribution, identification and tracking of digital content.
Utilizing a combination of hardware and software-based encryption, Cypher persistently encrypts both digital broadcast and video-on-demand (VOD) content, regardless of video infrastructure, network protocols or compression technologies. An innovator in the industry, Widevine invented the downloadable, software-based Cypher Virtual SmartCard™ client which today protects more IP video set-top boxes and devices in the industry than any other vendor. Widevine Virtual SmartCard clients quickly and affordably enable operators to combat piracy on set-top boxes, personal video recorders and other devices within the home. Widevine Secure operators are guaranteed to encrypt studio and broadcaster content, across any video distribution network and on any Widevine Secure device.
Widevine is a privately held corporation headquartered in Seattle, WA, funded by Charter Ventures, Constellation Ventures, PaceSetter Capital Group, Phoenix Capital Partners, and VantagePoint Venture Partners and Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd (DNP).
For more information see Widevine Technologies at www.widevine.com.
Media Contact:
Eric Moser
Ruder Finn Chicago (for Widevine Technologies)
Tel: +1 312 329 3908
mosere@ruderfinn.com
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