14 DAY TRIAL // The audio watermarking technology developed by Microsoft Research will find its way into the users' files courtesy of Activated Content. The Redmond company announced a new licensing agreement with Activated Content designed to provide access to its proprietary audio watermarking technology. Microsoft explained that, essentially, the technology comprises a set of digital audio software tools designed to both insert and extract nonsecure data from audio files. Activated Content is already a strong presence on the audio watermarking market and hopes to expand its portfolio of offerings following the agreement with Microsoft.
"We are excited about this agreement with Activated Content because they are uniquely positioned to extend this audio watermarking technology to new, emerging applications, and we feel great about supporting the development of a company based in our own backyard," said Louis Carbonneau, general manager of the Intellectual Property Licensing Group at Microsoft. "Microsoft is committed to licensing its intellectual property portfolio to benefit customers and the IT ecosystem as a whole. Agreements like this allow companies to access our rich research and development and patent portfolio and create cutting-edge technologies that benefit their value proposition to customers."
"Because of this collaboration with Microsoft, we will be able to rapidly deploy innovative solutions and create new applications for the audio watermarking market," said Eric Silberstein, CEO of Activated Content. "Working with Microsoft and being able to combine our existing assets with their innovative technologies and vast intellectual property portfolio was a unique opportunity for us, and one that we believe will benefit us in the short and long term."
The Microsoft audio watermarking technology will be deployed in scenarios serving traditional content producers, but it will also be tailor-fitted to user-generated content. According to the Redmond company, Activated Content is set to reveal a new line-up of offerings that will combine audio watermarking with materials available in the entertainment industry, but also in the advertising and telephony markets.