Data processing apparatus and method, data processing program, and storage medium

A data processing method comprising the following steps executed by a computer:

• an input step of inputting digital data in which a digital watermark is embedded by using a plurality of elements for at least 1 bit information;
• a key information input step of inputting key information which designates an editorial right;
• a determination step of determining whether or not the digital watermark is embedded in the input digital data based on the input digital data and the input key information by using a statistical method;
• a digital watermark removing step of removing a digital watermark from the digital data in a case that it is determined that the digital watermark is embedded in the digital data in said determination step;
• a manipulating/editing step of manipulating or editing the digital data, from which the digital watermark has been removed in said digital watermark removing step;
• a digital watermark embedding step of embedding as a digital watermark in the digital data, which has been manipulated or edited in said manipulation/editing step;
• and
• an output step of outputting the digital data, in which the digital watermark has been embedded by said digital watermark embedding step.

A computer-readable medium embodying a program which causes a computer to execute:

• an input step of inputting digital data in which a digital watermark is embedded by using a plurality of elements for at least 1 bit information;
• a key information input step of inputting key information which designates an editorial right;
• a determination step of determining whether or not the digital watermark is embedded in the input digital data based on the input digital data and the input key information by using a statistical method;
• a digital watermark removing step of removing a digital watermark from the digital data in a case that it is determined that the digital watermark is embedded in the digital data in said determination step;
• a manipulating/editing step of manipulating or editing the digital data, from which the digital watermark has been removed in said digital watermark removing step;
• a digital watermark embedding step of embedding a digital watermark in the digital data, which has been manipulated or edited in said manipulation/editing step;
• and
• an output step of outputting the digital data, in which the digital watermark has been embedded by said digital watermark embedding step.