Client-side watermarking is used by producers in high-piracy regions
Because of the surge in streaming content consumption and the resulting rise in piracy assaults, forensic watermarking solutions are now almost universally used by content creators and distributors in their content security methods. To protect premium streaming content from piracy, watermarking is an additional layer of protection for users.
Watermarking systems can be implemented on the server-side, the client-side, or a combination of the two. In many cases, pirate attacks are made against the client device itself, rather than against distributors. They take place in countries where copyright rules are not well enforced. One of the most common methods of piracy originating from a client device is peer-to-peer sharing. Simulcasting and cam-recording are also frequently employed in these markets to unlawfully share content. Copyright holders can take required action against serial violators by using client-side video watermarking.
Client-side watermarking has been a popular option for OTT providers because of its low cost, ease of extraction, and flexibility to be deployed on a wide range of systems, including legacy set-top boxes. Watermarking a video using client-side watermarking involves inserting user-related information into the video asset that is unique to each user. A client-specific secret is used to decode and insert a tailored watermark into the DRM-protected content., resulting in a uniquely watermarked version of the content, even though the server sends the same encrypted version of the original asset to all client devices.
Video frames can contain client-side watermarking data without affecting the video’s visual quality. Client-side video watermarking should be used in conjunction with a robust DRM because the watermark is not placed until the content reaches the client device.
The client-side watermarking technology is used by studios and OTT platforms in high-piracy regions since it enables them to identify repeat offenders. Because of the tremendous demand for this type of content during live events, this strategy works particularly well in that setting, but it fails miserably elsewhere. In a matter of minutes, a forensic watermarking provider can assist studios remove client-side watermarks and share user information with them.
