Vyou and Digimarc Partner to Protect Online Assets; Leaders in Content Protection and Copyright Communication Join Forces to Protect Images On the Internet

Business Wire, Feb 8, 2001

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 8, 2001

As the volume of valuable content published on the Web grows, so does the opportunity for both innocent and malicious theft and misappropriation.

Vyou Inc., the leading provider of web-based content access management solutions, today announced a partnership with Digimarc (Nasdaq:DMRC), the leading provider of digital watermarking technology and applications, to offer customers a better way to manage their content.

Together, Vyou and Digimarc provide content creators a comprehensive, real-time solution for their image management needs, emphasizing copyrights and reducing image theft on the Internet. Vyou's Vyoufirst(TM) technology protects content in a web browser from being copied, saved, printed or screen-captured, thereby reducing the risk of digital theft and misuse and enabling new e-commerce models. Digimarc's ImageBridge(TM) watermarking technology gives content owners the ability to communicate copyrights, connect content across the Internet and enable e-commerce transactions generated through the display of digital images as they travel across the Web.

"The online environment is changing rapidly, and many of the rules are being written each day," explains Reed Stager, vice president and general manager for Digimarc MediaCommerce. "Customers will not wait for copyright protection and image management to catch up. They need an answer today. With Vyou, we are confident that the strength of our combined offering supports the widest variety of content and image protection needs on the Internet."

Digimarc and Vyou provide customers a comprehensive solution for more effective digital image and asset management. Using the combination of Digimarc's watermarking and Vyou's real-time content access management, customers have the ability to control the use of their web-based content by determining what content, if any, can leave the browser, trace watermarked images across the Web and monitor overall content distribution. Without solutions such as those offered by Vyou and Digimarc, customers are generally forced to choose between allowing universal, unrestricted use of their digital assets on the Web, limiting the possibility of potential revenue generated through licensing agreements, or restricting access to their digital assets and only allowing a limited number of viewers to see the work, also curtailing potential revenue.

"Content owners too often lose control of their digital assets and, as a result, lose revenue opportunities simply because the technology required to prevent the loss has not been available," said Shel Virden, vice president, marketing and corporate development for Vyou Inc. "Our partnership with Digimarc not only protects the rights of intellectual property owners, it raises the standard for material that can be published on the Web."

About Vyou Inc.

Vyou Inc., a privately held company based in San Jose, CA, provides real-time, content access management solutions that allow companies to maintain control over their brands and online content. Vyou's Vyoufirst software allows the highest quality text, images, HTML, and streaming content to be published on the Web without fear of potential redistribution or misuse. For more information, visit the Web sit at www.vyou.com or call 408/287-4200.

About Digimarc MediaCommerce

Digimarc MediaCommerce provides content owners a range of solutions for copyright communication, asset management, and enhanced e-commerce capabilities and enables enterprises to manage, track and protect digital image, audio and video assets. Digimarc MediaCommerce offerings include ImageBridge and MarcSpider Subscription services for enterprises and professionals who use commercially available applications for embedding and using watermarks. ImageBridge Software Development Kit (SDK) and licenses for integrating Digimarc software with commercial or enterprise specific applications are also available. Digimarc's MediaCommerce division was founded in 1996. For more information visit http://www.digimarc.com/imaging/index.shtml.> About Digimarc

Digimarc Corp., based in Tualatin, Ore., (Nasdaq:DMRC) is the world leader in digital watermark technology and applications. Digimarc is creating an inherent, persistent digital identity for all media content through imperceptible digital code that can be embedded in any analog or digital material. The company has established three business units to focus on diverse media applications. Digimarc MediaCommerce watermarking solutions enable protection and tracking, and also facilitate e-commerce of digital images, audio, and video. Digimarc Secure Documents provides anti-counterfeiting solutions to deter unauthorized PC-based reproduction of valuable documents such as financial, identification and product packaging. Digimarc MediaBridge -- a fundamentally new way for consumers to access the Internet -- allows printed materials to become direct portals to relevant destinations on the Internet. Digimarc's vision is to become a standard feature of all media content. For more information about Digimarc, please visit our Web site at http://www.digimarc.com.