castLabs unveils watermarking tech
August 1, 2023
By Colin Mann
Digital content security specialist castLabs says it is poised to disrupt the content protection market with its single-frame forensic watermarking technology. The solution embeds hidden information within each frame of a video or other digital assets such as static images and documents. Then, it retrieves it with a single picture, offering unparalleled authentication, copyright protection, and content leak tracking capabilities.
Unlike existing forensic watermarking technologies, castLabs’ single-frame solution enables users to extract concealed data from just an image of a single video frame rather than tens of seconds of footage. Content owners can now retrieve hidden information from their digital assets, be it a video, concept art, design, or script, using a smartphone picture or screenshot of the content.
The technology’s algorithm is resistant to numerous image distortions and attacks including camcording, HDCP stripping, collusion, and screencasting. Single-frame watermarking can be applied across all media and use cases, embedding marks almost imperceptible to the untrained eye that are adjustable based on desired robustness levels.
“For years, the content protection industry has grappled with the challenge of retrieving watermark information efficiently and effectively,” notes Michael Stattman, co-founder of castLabs. “With our single-frame forensic watermarking solution, we’ve shattered that barrier. We’re incredibly proud to offer a game-changing technology that can extract watermark information with even just one phone camera photo of a video playing, even if the frame is distorted or partially blocked. This breakthrough not only provides content owners and rights holders with an extra layer of security but also sets a new standard in content protection. We’re empowering them to easily safeguard their intellectual property, protect their monetisation models, and enforce their rights in the digital landscape,” he adds.
According to castLabs, this approach marks a milestone not only in the fight against leaks and the ever-evolving piracy industry but also against the rise of deep fakes.