What is Digital Watermarking?

Software piracy is a widespread problem that has become a big menace to the growth of software products, depriving business owners their revenue and return on Investment (ROI). Study has shown that over 30% of all software installed globally is pirated – this is especially prevalent in some developing countries where copyright laws may be weak or not enforced.

Aside its adverse effect on businesses, software piracy can also have a huge economic impact on developers, as well as cause software vulnerability to cyberattacks and decreased internet security. These adverse effects have raised the need for companies to implement anti-piracy protection systems on their software-based products, including product key, temper proofing, legal protection as well as Digital Watermarking – which this article will concentrate on.

What is Digital Watermarking?

Digital watermarking is a process used to embed digital information or piece of code into digital media such as images, audio, video, and other data files. This process helps to protect the copyright of the individual or organization who created the content.

Digital watermarking technique involves adding a layer of metadata that contains information such as the creator’s name, logo, or copyright notice to software or digital products. This is done by using a combination of encryption, steganography, and digital signatures. There are 3 different types of watermarking.

Types of Digital Watermarking

1. Visible Watermarking: in this type of watermarking, visible data, either a logo or text is embedded as the watermark, to denote the digital medium’s owner. Which means, the watermark is placed in a noticeable position.
2. Invisible Watermarking: Invisible watermarking applies a logo or text onto the digital file in a way that is not readily visible. They are usually pieces of code covertly embedded into digital products and only be processed by special software using a computer.
3. Robust Watermarking: Robust watermarking embeds data into the digital product so that it can survive various forms of manipulation. Robust digital watermarks remain intact even during geometric manipulations like shearing, filtering, resampling, or rotation.

Conclusion

When it comes to prevention of software product piracy, digital watermarks are essential and useful for protecting digital assets. Protecting your digital properties as a business owner would not only assure the safety of the product, it will also protect your integrity as well as present you as a reliable partner to your customers or end users.

Therefore, companies, business organizations or individuals who are looking out to develop one or more software products – should bear in mind the issue of piracy by looking out for software development companies like Podtech to ensure the safety of their software products.