Using a Security Feature with a Digital Image File

Abstract

Among other things, at a cloud-based service, digital image files are received from which digital images can be displayed on devices. For each of the digital image files, data is embedded in the digital image file on behalf of a party who has rights in the digital image file. The existence of the embedded data is not perceptible in any digital image that is displayed using the digital image file. The embedded data includes information from which the digital image file can be authenticated. At the cloud-based service, a digital image file is received that is to be authenticated. The digital image file is authenticated based on the embedded data.

1 .- 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A method comprising
 receiving an identification of a digital image file to be protected against unauthorized use, and information to be associated with a digital watermark to be embedded in the digital image file at a server, the information indicating how many instances of the digital image file are permitted to be distributed after the digital watermark has been embedded,   uploading the information and the digital image file to a server with the digital watermark not yet embedded,   receiving from the server confirmation that the digital watermark has been embedded in the digital image file,   uploading to the server a copy of the digital image file for authentication as one of the one or more instances of the digital file that are permitted to be distributed, and   receiving from the server information about the authenticity of the digital image file.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39  in which the copy of the digital image file is uploaded by or on behalf of a party who is an owner of rights in the digital image file. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39  in which the copy of the digital image file is uploaded by or on behalf of a party who is a holder of the digital image file. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39  in which the information about the authenticity includes some or all of the information associated with the digital watermark. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 39  in which the information about the authenticity indicates that the digital image file is not authentic. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 39  in which the information about the authenticity includes an identification of a party who has rights in the digital image file. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 39  in which the information about the authenticity indicates that the party who uploaded the digital file for authentication is not a party who is legally a holder of the digital image file. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 39  in which the information about the authenticity includes information about the party who uploaded it for authentication. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 39  in which the information about the authenticity is received by an owner of rights in the digital image file. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 39  in which the embedded digital watermark comprises a hash of data in the digital image file. 
     
     
         49 . A method comprising
 at a server, receiving an upload of a digital image file to be protected against unauthorized use, and information to be associated with a digital watermark to be embedded in the digital image file at a server, the information indicating how many instances of the digital image file are permitted to be distributed after the digital watermark has been embedded, the uploaded digital image file not containing the embedded digital watermark,   sending from the server a confirmation that the digital watermark has been embedded in the digital image file,   at a server, receiving an upload of a copy of the digital image file for authentication as one of the one or more instances of the digital file that are permitted to be distributed, and   sending from the server information about the authenticity of the digital image file.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49  in which the copy of the digital image file is received from a party who is or represents an owner of rights in the digital image file. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49  in which the copy of the digital image file is received from a party who is or represents a holder of the digital image file. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 49  in which the information about the authenticity includes some or all of the information associated with the digital watermark. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 49  in which the information about the authenticity indicates that the digital image file is not authentic. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 49  in which the information provided to the user includes an identification of a party who has rights in the digital image file. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 49  in which the information about the authenticity indicates that the party who uploaded the digital file for authentication is not a party who is legally a holder of the digital image file. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 39  in which the information about the authenticity includes information about the party who uploaded it for authentication. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 49  in which the information about the authenticity is sent to an owner of rights in the digital image file. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 49  in which the embedded digital watermark comprises a hash of data in the digital image file. 
     
     
         59 . An apparatus comprising
 a cloud-based service that includes   cloud-based servers to provide storage service for digital image files and information about digital image files received from users, the cloud-based servers being configured to   receive identifications of digital image files to be protected against unauthorized use, and information to be associated with digital watermarks to be embedded in the digital image files at the servers, the information indicating how many instances of each of the digital image file are permitted to be distributed after the digital watermark has been embedded,   receive the information and the digital image files with the digital watermarks not yet embedded,   sending confirmation that each of the digital watermarks has been embedded in the corresponding digital image file,   receiving at the servers copies of the digital image files each for authentication as one of the one or more instances of the corresponding digital file that are permitted to be distributed, and   sending information about the authenticity of the digital image files to other devices.   
     
     
         60 . An apparatus comprising
 a client device running a program that is configured to   receive from a user an identification of a digital image file to be protected against unauthorized use, and information to be associated with a digital watermark to be embedded in the digital image file at a server, the information indicating how many instances of the digital image file are permitted to be distributed after the digital watermark has been embedded,   upload the information and the digital image file to a server with the digital watermark not yet embedded,   receive from the server confirmation that the digital watermark has been embedded in the digital image file,   upload to the server a copy of a digital image file for authentication as one of the one or more instances of a digital file that are permitted to be distributed, and   receive from the server information about the authenticity of the digital image file.