Patent ID: 7526650

Claim:
A method having computer instructions executable by a processor, comprising: receiving, on a user device, a video content to be branded with personal information of a user to deter the user from unauthorized redistribution of the video content, wherein the video content is digital or analog; receiving, on the user device, metadata about the video content, wherein the metadata contains instructions about which programs of the video content to brand and a branding strength for the video content; interpreting the metadata received to determine whether to brand the video content by adding a personal identifier based on corresponding instructions contained within the metadata; selecting a security level of the video content to be branded based on sensitivity of the video content as received via interpreted metadata; branding the video content to be branded by adding the personal identifier, stored on the user device, to the video content, wherein the personal identifier is different for each user device and each user and the personal identifier does not have to be sent to a provider of the video content; retaining the personal identifier on a hidden border of a frame on a television monitor; and displaying the personal identifier when the video content is transferred to a computing device, wherein the personal identifier displays information associated with the user of the video content, wherein the personal identifier is placed on at least one of a fixed number of frames or a fixed number of scan patterns for analog video content, and wherein the personal identifier distinguishes channels to brand and channels to leave unbranded, branded channels having a level of security for a program.