Global studios, streaming platforms, and agencies are facing growing challenges in protecting their video content. A single frame from a trailer, a few seconds of video from a pre-release screener, or even a promotional still can go viral within minutes, undermining months of planning and millions in investment.
These aren’t hypothetical scenarios. In 2024, Netflix’s animated series Jentry Chau vs The Underworld was among several titles leaked online alongside other highly anticipated titles like Terminator Zero and Arcane: Season 2, with full episodes surfacing on social media. HBO’s Game of Thrones suffered repeated premature episode leaks, with pirated content circulating before scheduled air dates. More recently, unreleased Marvel content was ripped and shared from internal screenings, sparking media speculation and exposing the studio to financial and reputational risk.
To look at the broader picture, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that leaks and piracy costs the industry over $29 billion in annual revenue in the United States alone. In this high-stakes environment, even a brief leak can derail a release strategy or force a marketing change, costing more than just lost views.
Legacy Solutions are no Longer Safe
Many organizations still rely on legacy methods like A/B watermarking to track down the source of leaks. This technique works by having two versions of a video and changing the order of segments between the two to create a unique code. A/B watermarking has a disadvantage in that it requires at least three minutes of playback to identify the source of the leak. This makes it ineffective for short-form content such as trailers, teasers, social media cuts, and behind-the-scenes clips.
Even worse, pirates have found a way to circumvent these systems. By accessing multiple versions of a video stream and stitching them together, they can break the legacy watermark detection technology. Because there has been no recent innovation in A/B watermarking, it’s particularly vulnerable to manipulation by savvy attackers.
Steg.AI’s Answer: Single Frame Watermarking, Powered by Machine Learning
Steg.AI offers a cutting edge solution: single frame watermarking. Unlike traditional methods, Steg.AI embeds a unique, imperceptible identifier into every single frame of video, ensuring that even a screenshot, brief clip, or phone-recorded leak carries a traceable fingerprint. It works instantly and does not require a specific duration of footage to be effective.
This approach also neutralizes the stitching attack. Since each frame is watermarked independently, Steg.AI can detect tampered streams and identify all the sources involved. Moreover, unlike other single frame watermarking providers, Steg.AI has a near-zero false positive rate, ensuring accuracy and reliability in identifying the source of leaks.
With this software, studios and content teams can confidently secure their entire media lifecycle, from promotional videos to internal screeners and pre-release materials.
Why It Matters Now
As more content is produced and distribution platforms multiply, the risks of leaks only increase. Protection must be embedded within the content– not layered on top. Steg.AI’s single frame watermarking is the only reliable solution that meets the demands of modern media. To learn more, reach out to us at info@steg.ai!