Digital watermarking systems and methods

A method for associating a digital watermark with digital content, comprising:

• providing digital content;
• selecting a predetermined portion of the digital content;
• separating that portion of the digital content into multiple segments;
• providing a digital watermark containing only watermark information, fingerprint information, or both;
• and
• inserting the digital watermark between the segments of the digital content.

A method for distributing watermarked digital content, comprising:

• providing digital content;
• selecting a predetermined portion of the digital content;
• separating that portion of the digital content into multiple segments;
• providing a digital watermark containing only watermark information, fingerprint information, or both;
• inserting the digital watermark between the segments of the digital content substantially at the same time the digital content is distributed.

Watermarked digital content prepared by the method comprising:

• providing digital content;
• selecting a predetermined portion of the digital content;
• separating that portion of the digital content into multiple segments;
• providing a digital watermark containing only watermark information, fingerprint information, or both;
• and
• inserting the digital watermark between the segments of the digital content.

A computer-implemented system for distributing watermarked digital content, comprising:

• a first device for watermarking digital content, the first device comprising:
• a first module for receiving or storing digital content;
• a second module for receiving or creating a digital watermark;
• a third module for modifying the digital watermark;
• a fourth module for dividing a portion of the digital content into segments and inserting the digital watermark between the segments of the digital content;
• and
• a second device for distributing the watermark digital content to a user.