This document is submitted in response to the call for proposals issued by the Data Hiding Subgroup (DHSG) of the Copy Protection Technical Working Group. IBM is proposing the DataHiding(TM) technology and system as the most effective method for directly embedding Copy Control Information (CCI) into copyrighted digital video content in order to prevent unauthorized copying by consumers. By using the IBM DataHiding(TM) approach, it is possible to implement all the key functions of 1) copy control, 2) playback control and 3) single copy authorization, both effectively and economically. The use of IBM DataHiding(TM) can also significantly extend the existing copy protection methods for digital audio/video content:
1) By augmenting the existing Content Scrambling System (CSS) for copy protection of digital content published on read-only Digital Versatile Discs (DVD), the IBM DataHiding(TM) method presents a further barrier to unauthorized copying, even when the CSS scrambling has been removed. In addition, IBM DataHiding(TM) also provides a method for detecting and preventing the playback of unauthorized copies should they be made on DVD media.
2) Since the IBM DataHiding(TM) method applies the CCI data directly to the digital video content stream prior to compression and distribution, it provides protection independent of the digital distribution method, be it via electronic or physical means. Therefore digital content distributed via satellite, cable or to terrestrial broadcast or physical media other than DVD is equally well protected.
The IBM DataHiding(TM) system results in embedded data which has no perceptible impact on the picture quality of the displayed video, yet has a very high degree of survivability against the commonly employed processes of transmission and signal conversions. Therefore, no special actions are required during content transmission and distribution in order to preserve the delectability of the embedded CCI data within the designated copy and playback devices. Furthermore the embedding process employed in the IBM DataHiding(TM) system results in a high degree of resistance to unauthorized efforts aimed at disabling the embedded CCI data.
By: N. Morimoto et.al.
Published in: RT0306 in 2002
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