Robust protocols for proving ownership of images

We explore the problem of proving ownership or origin of multimedia content like image/video or audio signals through watermarking. The need for watermarking arises out of the unsuitability of present copyright laws for claiming ownership of digital content. Watermarking schemes however, are threatened by counterfeit attacks, which primarily use the freedom available in the choice of signature or choice of the watermarking method. A restrictive protocol for watermarking could go a long way in rendering counterfeit attacks extremely difficult. We suggest a comprehensive protocol that makes it possible for the true owner to claim ownership unambiguously, while making it extremely difficult for a pirate to do so.