Apparatus and method for issuing and authenticating securities, etc. using digital watermarking

An apparatus for issuing securities, etc. in printed-out form to a user, the apparatus comprising:

• an issuing means for issuing securities, etc. in the form of digital file;
• a terminal being connected with said issuing means through a network, transmitting an issuance-option by selection of said user of securities, etc. to said issuing means, and receiving securities, etc. according to said issuance-option from said issuing means;
• and
• print-out means being connected with said terminal, printing out said securities, etc. received from said terminal,
• wherein said issuing means comprises:
• means for generating a digital file of said securities, etc. and watermark according to said issuance-option, and
• means for embedding said generated watermark into said digital file of said securities, etc.

A method for authenticating watermark-embedded securities, etc. in the printed-out form, the method comprising the steps of:

• (d) reading said watermark-embedded securities, etc. in the printed-out form and converting said securities, etc. to a digitalized image;
• (e) extracting watermark embedded at an issuing apparatus from said digitalized image;
• (f) generating watermark from an information included in said digitalized image;
• and
• (g) determining authenticity of said securities, etc. by calculating a correlation between said extracted watermark and said generated watermark.