Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing images from unlicensed appropriation on a computer system. Prior art graphics security measures, such as encryption, cease to protect the images once the images are deciphered and loaded into the video adapter memory. In the present invention, unlicensed transfers of image data from the video adapter to other storage means are substantially prevented by intercepting data transfer requests to the operating system and identifying whether the image is one to be protected. If the image is one that is marked for protection, the region of the data transfer incorporating the protected image is blacked out or replaced with a specified pattern or message. A preferred embodiment provides a library of software routines that are utilized by image display applications. These routines interface with the computer memory and the video display memory to block the copying of designated images by means of "hooks" into the operating system or operating environment.

Abstract: A method for adding a photograph or other still or animated image to any application program running in its own window in a windowed computer operating environment such as Microsoft Windows 3.1 is presented. A bitmapped or other image is "attached" to any application program capable of running in a windowed environment, without any modification to such application program, such that when the application program is started and its window is opened, the image is displayed at a predetermined location with respect to the application window. The displayed image, though "attached" to the application program's window, does not interfere to any significant extent with the operation of the application. Application programs are thereby customized and personalized by associating particular images, such as scanned-in personal photographs, with each particular application program. The image "attached" to an application may be chosen from a gallery of images.