Digimarc ID Validation Suite Launches with AssureTec, Intelli-Check and Syscan; Leading Hardware and Software Companies Join Digimarc's Certified Partner Program for ID Validation Solution

Business Wire, May 23, 2005

BEAVERTON, Ore. -- Digimarc Corporation (Nasdaq:DMRCE) today announced the launch of its Digimarc ID Validation Suite (IDVS) Certified Partner Program designed to ensure certification of third-party hardware and software module options used together with the Digimarc IDVS system to authenticate and archive identity documents with unmatched ease, accuracy and speed.

The modular Digimarc IDVS software is the first to be designed for integration with multiple authentication databases and hardware. AssureTec, Intelli-Check (AMEX:IDN) and Syscan (OTCBB:SYII) are the first group of partners to attain "Partner Certification" status. Building on these partnerships, the Digimarc IDVS solution helps ID issuers meet the goals of federal ID security legislation by verifying the authenticity and archiving of credentials used to "breed" new identity documents.

"The integration of the Digimarc IDVS system along with leading reader devices, scanners and software provide DMV personnel, law enforcement officials, and system integrators a new and more powerful method to positively authenticate driver licenses and identity documents across a variety of inspection environments -- from police cruisers to transportation access points to DMV offices to forensic labs," said J. Scott Carr, divisional president, Digimarc. "We are pleased to partner with these industry leading companies to offer our customers a comprehensive, leading-edge solution to authenticate identity documents."

The Digimarc IDVS offering determines whether the ID is genuine, altered or counterfeit by reading and authenticating multiple, machine-readable security features found in driver licenses, passports and other credentials such as IDMarc(TM) digital watermarks, barcodes, magnetic stripes, and optical variable image devices such as Kinegrams. To further enhance the authentication process, the Digimarc IDVS software consolidates authentication results from multiple features and document designs into a simple form and also allows for a more detailed view for authorized personnel.

"We are excited to partner with Digimarc to deploy our i-Dentify reader-authenticator as part of the foundation for Digimarc's IDVS solution in support of the goals of the federal ID security legislation and to bring to market best-of-breed solutions to fight identity theft and fraud," said Bruce Reeves, CEO, AssureTec.

As an optional module of the Digimarc IDVS system, the AssureTec i-Dentify(TM) Model ID-300-RA reader-authenticator is an imaging unit that captures full color, infrared, ultraviolet and coaxial images from all ISO-7501/ICAO-9303-compliant documents such as passports, visas, and national travel cards (ID-1, ID-2 and ID-3) as well as non-ICAO-compliant documents including driver licenses, IATA standard ATB1, ATB2, and TAT document types.

"We are pleased to build on our long-term relationship with Digimarc -- a leader in the industry -- by becoming a certified partner," said Frank Mandelbaum, chairman and chief executive officer of Intelli-Check. "Our patented technology is the enabling, front-end solution for identity management that is being used in DMVs, and other critical sites to verify proof of identity and help prevent the use of false breeder documents to obtain new, valid documents. We believe the integration of our technology, together with that of the other partners, will enable Digimarc to offer its customers and the nation an added level of security.

Another important optional module of the Digimarc IDVS solution, Intelli-Check's ID-Check PC is a software application that enables the user to display, verify and store the data encoded on documents such as government-issued driver licenses, identification cards and military IDs. The application works in conjunction with its Data Capture Module (DCM), which reads and sends the data encoded on barcodes and magnetic stripes to the ID-Check PC application for verification. A smart card reader can also be attached to process smart chips on government issued Common Access Cards (CAC).

Digimarc announced support for Syscan products in 2004 and has extended certification to the IDVS system. Another IDVS system optional module, Syscan's TravelScan 660W is a multi-purpose, portable scanner for identity documents, checks, photos and business cards. The TravelScan FS531 is a flatbed scanner tuned specifically for scanning of secure documents such as passports, driver licenses, bank checks, ID cards, photos and lottery tickets.

Digimarc ID Validation Suite Certification Process

The Digimarc IDVS solution is a modular system for archiving and authentication. As such, Digimarc rigorously tests hardware and software products for inclusion in the Certified Partner program to provide customers with best-of-breed capabilities that are tightly integrated and can be flexibly configured. Digimarc runs a battery of tests in its certification laboratory to ensure that products from certified partners are compatible with the Digimarc IDVS system and meet the high standards of customers. For more information about the certification program, visit www.digimarc.com.