RUMOR MILL
Called a "transactional" watermarking system, the process embeds information such as merchant and transaction identification numbers into an MP3 or secure music file a few seconds before a user downloads it.
Wednesday, June 21, 2000
COGNICITY BOWS SECURE DOWNLOADING TECHNOLOGY
Digital "Fingerprint" Could Include Merchant, Transaction Info As Well As User’s ID
Cognicity has developed a new type of audio watermarking system that puts a unique "fingerprint" on music files as they are downloaded.
The company has submitted its technology for consideration by the Secure Digital Music Initiative, which plans this week to begin reviewing watermarks for inclusion in a security system for digital music.
Called a "transactional" watermarking system, the process embeds information such as merchant and transaction identification numbers into an MP3 or secure music file a few seconds before a user downloads it. A user's ID or a hardware device's ID could also be included, according to Dr. Ahmed Tewfik, CEO of Cognicity, a four-year-old private company based in Minneapolis, MN.
Cognicity believes that downloadable music files that include personal and transactional information will deter people from illegally copying and distributing files.
