Digital watermarks in electronic document circulation

Abstract

This paper reviews different protection methods for electronic documents, their good and bad qualities. Common attacks on electronic documents are analyzed. Digital signature and ways of eliminating its flaws are studied. Different digital watermark embedding methods are described, they are divided into 2 types. The solution to protection of electronic documents is based on embedding digital watermarks. Comparative analysis of this methods is given. As a result, the most convenient method is suggested – reversible data hiding. It’s remarked that this technique excels at securing the integrity of the container and its digital watermark. Digital watermark embedding system should prevent illegal access to the digital watermark and its container. Digital watermark requirements for electronic document protection are produced. Legal aspect of copyright protection is reviewed. Advantages of embedding digital watermarks in electronic documents are produced. Modern reversible data hiding techniques are studied. Distinctive features of digital watermark use in Russia are highlighted. Digital watermark serves as an additional layer of defense, that is in most cases unknown to the violator. With an embedded digital watermark, it’s impossible to misappropriate the authorship of the document, even if the intruder signs his name on it. Therefore, digital watermarks can act as an effective additional tool to protect electronic documents.

Keywords

• digital watermarks, digital signature
• electronic documents
• embedding information
• reversible data hiding