Blockchain-based P2P multimedia content distribution using collusion-resistant fingerprinting

Abstract

Due to the popularization of low-cost broadband Internet access, the amount of the digital data that is illegally redistributed is growing, making content creators and owners lose their income. Fingerprinting, a watermarking-based technology for embedding buyer identifications in legally distributed contents, has emerged as a promising approach to fight illegal redistribution. On the other hand, the blockchain technology is also shaping up to handle the challenge of digital copyright protection. With blockchain, media producers can authorize and manage their copyrights on a public ledger. In this paper, we present a blockchain-based distribution system which blends different technologies (collusion-resistant fingerprinting, perceptual hash functions, and a peer-to-peer file distribution network) to provide copyright protection, collusion resistance, atomic payment, piracy tracing, transparency, proof-of-delivery, revocable privacy (to a buyer), and dispute resolution. The paper also analyzes several security and privacy compromising attacks and countermeasures.