Patent ID: 6711277
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A method of controlling the reproduction of copyrighted images, comprising the steps of:a) providing an image medium having a predetermined pattern of micro-dots; b) steganographically embedding a reproduction authorization signal, that is separate and distinct from the micro-dots, within some copyrighted digital images and not in others; c) printing the copyrighted digital images on the image medium to produce copyrighted images; d) in an image reproduction apparatus, attempting to detect the predetermined pattern of micro-dots and the authorization signal in an image to be reproduced; e) if the authorization signal is detected, and the pattern of microdots is detected, overriding the micro-dot detection and permitting reproduction of the image to be reproduced; and f) if the authorization signal is not detected and the pattern of microdots is detected, preventing the reproduction of the image to be reproduced.