Patent ID: 8614835

Claim:
An image processing apparatus comprising: an image acquiring unit that acquires image data to be processed; an additional-data generating unit that generates additional data to be embedded in the image data; a first-code-image generating unit that generates, from the additional data, first-code image data that is machine readable; a first-superimposed-image producing unit that produces first-superimposed image data by combining the first-code image data with the image data; a detecting-data generating unit that generates detecting data to detect a modification made to the first-superimposed image data; a second-code-image generating unit that generates, from the detecting data, second-code image data that is machine readable; and a second-superimposed-image producing unit that produces second-superimposed image data by determining an area and a position associated with a portion of the second-code image data to be clipped based on combining position data in the second code image data, clipping the portion of the second-code image data, the portion of the second-code image data corresponding to an image area of the first-superimposed image data where the first-code image data is to be provided, determining that detecting data associated with the clipped portion of the second-code image data is restorable based on the area associated with the portion, and combining the first-superimposed image data with the second-code image data from which the portion has been clipped to produce the second-superimposed image data.