Watermarking helps protect our video products and adds to our online marketing efforts. In addition, we’ll share details about an even-more-sophisticated, invisible watermarking technique. This article will cover using bugs and also how metadata watermarks will help protect our video even more.

That’s a visible watermark to identify the network, station or company that owns or is distributing that particular video. Keen Videomaker readers will notice that many online video players include some sort of shaded icon known as a ‘bug’ in the lower corner of videos.

Today, watermarks are added to our video as a way to deter copyright theft and to track viewership. This form of visible marking was used by ancient Greeks, who added emblems to products as a way of signifying quality.

Common video delivery now occurs over the newer HTML5 Web standard, not simply through Flash or Quicktime video players. The changing languages of the Web also play a role in protecting online video. While some video is meant to be shared freely and remixed, other video is required to be safe and secure a product that’s protected against theft. But with ever-increasing viewership comes the potential for unwanted re-distribution. Why? Just look at the stats: each of us added 480 minutes of viewership last year, according to comScore, Inc, a site that follows and measure digital trends. Each year is a better year for online video producers like us.

Watermark on youtube videos