Citic International Telecom Applies for Patent on Blockchain-Based Digital Watermarking Method for AI-Generated Content, Strengthening Copyright Protection

Citic International Telecom Applies for Patent on Blockchain-Based Digital Watermarking Method for AI-Generated Content, Strengthening Copyright ProtectionOn January 31, 2025, the State Intellectual Property Office of China revealed that Citic International Telecom (Information Technology) Co., Ltd

Citic International Telecom Applies for Patent on Blockchain-Based Digital Watermarking Method for AI-Generated Content, Strengthening Copyright Protection

On January 31, 2025, the State Intellectual Property Office of China revealed that Citic International Telecom (Information Technology) Co., Ltd. filed a patent application for a "Multimedia Digital Watermarking Method for AI-Generated Content Based on Blockchain," with publication number CN119383356A and an application date of June 2024. This patent signifies a new technological breakthrough in the copyright protection of AI-generated content (AIGC), offering a potentially effective solution to address issues of ownership and infringement.

The patent abstract details the method's technical specifics. It cleverly leverages blockchain technology by embedding the blockchain's nonce value and user intervention records into advanced AIGC digital watermarks. This embedding method not only enhances the watermark's robustness, making it more difficult to tamper with or remove, but also enables digital rights management of AIGC content. By tightly integrating key information with the content, the method effectively authenticates content ownership, traces its origin, and ultimately prevents infringement.

While traditional digital watermarking techniques offer some copyright protection, they often suffer from vulnerabilities like watermark destruction and difficulty in tracing origins. The introduction of blockchain technology effectively addresses these challenges. Blockchain's decentralized and immutable nature provides a secure and reliable storage and verification mechanism for digital watermarks. Recording watermark information on the blockchain ensures its integrity and authenticity, preventing malicious tampering and forgery. Furthermore, the distributed ledger characteristic of blockchain facilitates tracking the content's source and dissemination path, providing strong evidence for copyright enforcement.

In this patented method, the nonce value, as a unique identifier in the blockchain, is embedded in the digital watermark, serving as a crucial clue for tracing content origin. User intervention records document all user actions during AIGC content creation, including parameter settings and material selection. These records clearly illustrate the content creation process, providing key evidence for determining copyright ownership. By embedding both the nonce value and user intervention records into the AIGC watermark, the method achieves end-to-end tracking of AIGC content from creation to dissemination, forming a complete copyright protection system.

This patent technology is of significant importance to the development of the AIGC industry. With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, the speed and volume of AIGC content generation are increasing, making copyright protection increasingly crucial. Traditional copyright protection methods struggle to cope with the rapid dissemination and replication of AIGC content, while this patented technology provides a novel solution, offering strong technological support for AIGC copyright protection.

Citic International Telecom (Information Technology) Co., Ltd., as the applicant, leverages its extensive experience in information technology, which provides a solid foundation for the technology's development. Established in 1994, while detailed information like registered capital isn't publicly available, its investment in one company and possession of five patent applications indirectly reflect its strength in technological innovation and industry development. The successful application of this patent marks a significant breakthrough for the company in the field of AIGC copyright protection, contributing positively to the healthy development of the AIGC industry.

This technology is expected to be widely used in the creation, dissemination, and management of AIGC content in the future, effectively protecting the rights of AIGC content creators and promoting the healthy development of the AIGC industry. For users, this technology enhances trust in the authenticity and reliability of AIGC content, mitigating losses due to infringement.

In conclusion, Citic International Telecom (Information Technology) Co., Ltd.'s patent application for the "Multimedia Digital Watermarking Method for AI-Generated Content Based on Blockchain" represents a significant innovation in the field of AIGC copyright protection. It provides an efficient and reliable solution to address issues of AIGC content ownership and infringement, and will have a profound impact on the future development of the AIGC industry. The successful application of this technology will not only protect the rights of content creators but also promote the healthy and orderly development of the AIGC industry, contributing to the prosperity of the digital economy. It marks a significant step forward in addressing the copyright challenges posed by AIGC.