Proof-of-purchase watermarks

摘要

A third-party watermark is inserted into a file or files uploaded by a client to a storing party such as a file backup server. The third-party watermark may contain information about the upload itself, such as time and date of the upload and the identity of the client. The third-party watermark may also contain authentication information received from the client or elsewhere that establishes that the client is in proper possession of the file, e.g., it is not a bootlegged copy.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
receiving a file at a backup server that provides a backup service to a client device; sending a prompt from the backup server to the client device, the prompt prompting the client device for a proof of purchase for the file; receiving an image of a sales receipt sent from the client device to the backup server; digitally watermarking the image of the sales receipt into the file to generate a third-party watermarked file that contains the image of the sales receipt establishing that the client device purchased the file; receiving at the backup server a request for a restoration copy of the file; and downloading the third-party-watermarked file to the client device as the restoration copy.