Client-side watermarking is used by producers in areas with a high rate of piracy to reach the guilty parties.

Because of the rise in streaming content consumption and the resulting rise in piracy attacks, forensic watermarking solutions are now almost universally used by content producers and distributors when it comes to content security. In addition to DRM-protected content, watermarking solutions help prevent piracy attacks at the user level by providing an additional layer of security.

Server-side, client-side, or a “hybrid approach” can all be used to implement watermarking. Client devices, rather than distributors, are frequently the target of piracy attacks. They take place in countries where copyright law enforcement is weak. It is one of the most common methods of client-side piracy. In these markets, illegal content distribution methods such as simulcasting and cam-recording are frequently employed. Copyright holders can take necessary action against repeat offenders with the help of client-side video watermarking, which can help them identify the infringing users.

On DRM-protected content, OTT providers use client-side watermarking because of its low cost and ease of deployment across a wide range of platforms, including legacy set-top boxes. Watermarking a video using client-side watermarking involves inserting user-related information into the video asset that is unique to each user’s device. For each client device, a unique client-specific secret is used to decrypt the content and to embed a personalized watermark, creating a watermarked version of the content.

Client-side watermarking information can be embedded in each frame without disrupting the viewing experience. To ensure that client-side video watermarking is effective, it should be used in conjunction with a robust digital rights management (DRM) system.

Studios and OTT platforms in high-piracy regions rely on client-side watermarking to track down repeat offenders. As a result of the high demand for this type of content during live events, this strategy succeeds. To help studios extract client-side watermarking and share user information with them in minutes, a forensic watermarking vendor is available to assist.