Widevine Technologies, Inc. today announced it has integrated Widevine Mensor, a digital forensics solution, into a range of new and legacy consumer-electronics devices. This device-level capability incorporates Running Marks watermarking technology from Cinea Inc., a Dolby company.
Widevine Mensor enables studios, broadcasters and video operators to expand theft deterrence and traceability of premium content. The first devices embedded with Widevine Mensor include Scientific-Atlanta's IPN430MC, which is part of Scientific-Atlanta's family of IP set tops supporting advanced codecs, HDTV and DVR, Microsoft Windows personal computers, Motorola's Kreatel 1710, and the AmiNet 110 and AmiNet 124 set top boxes from Amino Communications. Widevine Mensor uses multiple watermarking technologies to ensure robust digital forensics that enable studios, broadcasters and operators to track where, when and to what device content is delivered -- regardless of network, device or video format.
"Cinea's Running Marks watermarking technology is a computer-efficient, low footprint technology with a proven track record in the entertainment industry. The goal of this integration effort is to offer the marketplace practical real-world applications that can be applied easily to the millions of set top boxes already deployed. Working with Widevine Technologies, we are modifying the capabilities of Running Marks to support new consumer markets such as IPTV," says Robert Schumann, General Manager, Cinea.
"This successful integration represents a significant milestone in Widevine's digital forensics initiative. Adding Cinea's robust, processor-efficient watermarking within Widevine Mensor demonstrates that consumer-electronics-device-based marking is a reality," said Glenn Morten, CTO for Widevine. "We expect to provide watermarking on a wide range of consumer devices including new and legacy systems by the end of 2006, including mobile devices. Widevine and Sigma Designs (Nasdaq:SIGM) are actively integrating Widevine's solutions on the Sigma Designs 8634 secure CPU enabling content protection and forensics for a variety of consumer electronics."