Copy Prevention
Copying is impossible to stop completely.
Once the material has been received by the end-user and stored, then the data
is in their hands, and with enough money and time any copy control mechanisms
(software or hardware) can be by-passed. However, the more difficult and expensive
it is to copy material, the less likely it is that the average user will do so.
Tracking unlawful copying
Watermarking is a method of incorporating
a unique mark into a digital file, providing a way of proving ownership of material
contained in another file. However, it doesn’t prevent, or notify you when an
unlawful copy has been made. It may be useful in preventing mass copying of
the material - where the number of copies made and distributed increases the
likelihood of finding out that the copying is being done.