ANTI-COPYING METHOD AND APPARATUS

摘要

The present invention teaches anti-copy protection and control of an underlying anti-copy protection mechanism through anti-copy protection codes (108) inserted into a video program (102). The anti-copy protection code (108) may be inserted into closed caption (CC) bandwidth (110). The anti-copy protection codes (108) of the present invention are suitable for use with analog and digital video programs. The present invention contemplates anti-copy protection mechanism having multiple levels of anti-copy protection. These multiple levels of anti-copy protection may include varying levels of degradation of subsequent copies as well as absolute prohibition of subsequent copying.