Abstract: A method of movie distribution runs on a server accessible by a user desiring to look for a movie to download. After user authentication, the server retrieves a user's permissions list from storage. When it receives a request from the user to download the movie, it checks the permissions list to determine whether or not the user has permission to download the movie. If permitted, the server watermarks the video in a process involving segmenting the video and sends an integrated stream of watermarked-video over the network. When the user does not have permission, then the server requests personal details to gain permission. The server optionally checks if the user is accessing the server from the same Internet Protocol address as used in a previous access. If not, the server asks the user to prove that the user is the same user that has permission to access the server.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying of a watermark to a video using a computer coupled to a network. Unreferenced frames in the video are identified. The video is parsed into paired sequential segments each having a long-compressed segment usually about 2 minutes long and a short-uncompressed segment usually about 2-10 seconds long and having at least one of the unreferenced frames. When the computer accepts a request to download the video, it generates a watermark comprising a randomly-generated alphanumeric string that is associated with the request. The computer then makes a watermarked-short-uncompressed segment for each paired sequential segment by insertion of the watermark into the unreferenced frame in such segment and then compresses it to create a watermarked-short-compressed segment corresponding to each long-compressed segment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deterrence of the theft of video files is described. A partial file is downloaded such that it does not contain all of the necessary information to run the file. When a user wants to purchase the file, the difference between the working and non-working file is downloaded to the user. A randomized and watermark overlaid on the file. The watermark is unique to the purchased file, so that if anyone attempts to illegally copy it, both the fact that the file is illegally copied and the user who owned the file legally can be determined.