Watermarking Could Lead to 'X-Men' Uploader [Wired: Threat Level]
The newest X-Men movie, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, has become the latest victim of online peer-to-peer piracy prior to its planned release date. An FBI investigation is already underway attempting to discover the parties responsible for a digital copy of the movie appearing on P2P file trading networks. Because the movie hasn't yet hit theaters, the FBI is focusing on persons involved in the movie's pre-release production as the source of the leak. Successful prosecution of those responsible for leaking the digital copy of Wolverine could result in a prison sentence of up to five years.
The FBI has technology on its side in determining the person(s) who uploaded the movie. Watermarking technology is now commonly used by studios to deter pre-release piracy by tagging each digital copy with a unique digital watermark, allowing the studio to determine who had access to a particular copy in the event that it leaks outside the studio. Broadband Reports posted a report on Friday about a Dallas FBI raid that could be related to the Wolverine piracy, so the FBI may be closing in on the responsible parties.
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