The digital fingerprints can be applied to images, video, audio and documents such as digital maps, according to the researchers. It can even be used to protect live multicasts such as pay-per-view events.

Already, several companies have expressed interest in the technology, Liu said. Among them is Sony BMG, which recently sparked a firestorm of controversy over its use of a digital rights management technique that was later found to be a security risk and forced Sony to recall millions of its music CDs.

'Sony is very interested in this and has donated over US$120,000' toward equipment for a multimedia lab, Liu said. Others that have expressed interest include Hollywood studios and the U.S. Department of Defense, he said.