Managing Rights Management

Toshiba and Fujitsu Watermarking Issued Patents

On Tuesdays the USPTO issues new patents. Both of today's Spotlight Patents address various aspects of watermarking. Assigned to Toshiba, the first patent concerns techniques for watermark detection. Assigned to Fujitsu, the second patent concerns techniques for inserting a watermarking program into an image processing program. 7,471,807, "Digital watermark detection... Read more →

Verance Watermarking and Thomson Fingerprinting Patent Applications

On Thursdays the USPTO publishes new pending patent applications. Today's Spotlight Applications address various aspects of watermarking and digital fingerprinting. Assigned to Verance, the first application discloses system reactions to the detection of embedded watermarks in a digital host content." Apparently assigned to Thomson (FR), the second application discloses techniques... Read more →

IBM and NEC Watermarking Patents

Every Tuesday the USPTO publishes new patents. Both of today's Spotlight Patents address various aspects of watermarking. Assigned to IBM, the first patent concerns a contents server, contents receiving method for adding information to digital contents. Assigned to NEC, the second patent concerns techniques for inserting and detecting electronic watermarks... Read more →

RIAA Stops Suing Consumers - Not!

The NYTimes and other outlets reported that the RIAA is ending its lawsuits individual music downloaders. Not so, says Slashdot: According to a report on Wired.com, the RIAA spokesman claims that the RIAA has not filed any new lawsuits "for months"; according to the Wall Street Journal report the RIAA... Read more →

CNET: The RIAA's Letter to ISPs

cnet.com has obtained a copy of letters sent by the RIAA to ISPs regarding P2P downloading of music files. Please bear in mind that this letter serves as an official notice to you that this network user may be liable for the illegal activity occurring on your network. This letter... Read more →

Microsoft and AT&T DRM Patent Applications

On Thursdays the USPTO publishes new patent applications. Both of today's Spotlight Applications concern digital rights management. Assigned to Microsoft, the first application discloses techniques for domain management for digital media. Assigned to AT&T, the second application discloses techniques for DRM. 20080313264, "Domain management for digital media," assigned to Microsoft.... Read more →

Judge postpones hearing in key RIAA lawsuit

CNet reports that a hearing regarding the RIAA initiated copyright infringement suit in Rhode Island federal court against Joel Tenenbaum has been postponed until January 6. As reported here and elsewhere, Harvard professor Charles Nesson and Law School students have intervened in Massachusetts Federal Court to get the copyright law... Read more →

Sony and IBM Watermarking Patents

Tuesdays the USPTO issues new patents. Both of today's Spotlight Patents address various aspects of watermarking. Assigned to Sony, the first patent concerns techniques for providing content protection for digital video products. Assigned to IBM, the second patent concern techniques for generating watermark signals. 7,464,271, "Systems and methods of providing... Read more →

Blu-ray BD+ Resealed, At Least For A While

Slashdot, Engadget, and others are reporting that there are now at least 16 Blu-ray titles that cannot be cracked by SlySoft because of updated / upgraded BD+ programming on the optical disc. The Engadget article also presents a useful BD+ architecture drawing. As I've noted earlier, the BD+ VM-based programmable... Read more →

Fingerprinting and Watermarking Issued Patents

On Tuesdays the USTPO issues new patents. Today's Spotlight Patents concern various aspects of watermarking and fingerprinting. Assigned to Canon, the first patent concerns techniques for watermarking and digital content distribution. Assigned to M2ANY, the second patent concerns techniques for generating digital fingerprints. 7,461,255, "Digital watermark processing apparatus, and digital... Read more →