Patent ID: 7636847

Claim:
A video material distribution system for providing video material to be distributed via a network, comprising: a material server operably linked to the network including: a data introduction processor operable to introduce data into video material to be distributed, said introduced data is not perceivable upon presentation of the video material, a distribution client processor configured to negotiate the exchange of video material to be distributed via the network, the video material to be distributed being accessible to the server; a material impairment processor operable to introduce a reversible visible impairment into said material prior to distribution, the material impairment processor providing the reversible visible impairment of said video material using an impairment algorithm dependent on an encryption key, the impairment processor producing removal data corresponding to the algorithm; and at least one client processor operably linked to the network and configured to negotiate the exchange with the distribution client processor to receive the video material to be distributed including both the reversible visible impairment and the introduced data together therein when distributed, and to receive the removal data separately from the said video material, wherein each of said at least one client processor includes an impairment reversing processor operable to reverse said visible impairment of said video material to produce client restored material in accordance with said removal data.