The camera can store biometric data for five users. A photographer would set themselves up as one of these users and look into the viewfinder. The camera would then record information based on the makeup of the user's iris.
Once recorded, the camera would use that data to build a watermark and embed it into each photo as the user shoots. According to the patent application, the camera would apply the watermark information in batches to avoid slowing down the camera.
As intriguing as this new camera might be, adult content producers remained dubious about its usefulness. "Upload" director Eli Cross thought the idea sounded "cute."
"I think it would be more useful as an organization tool," Cross told XBIZ. "The photo could be irrevocably linked to the photographer, so you'd know who to blame."
All Media Play President Jeff Mullen told XBIZ that although he remained open to the possibility of changing cameras, he plans to stay with his Panasconic.
But Mullen added that stopping content theft is a greater concern for adult producers than a high-tech watermark.
"We really need to take [content theft] seriously," said Mullen, who typically shoots about 1,000 photos for an adult production. "Everyone thinks 2257 is the biggest problem, but we need to stop the outright theft that's going on."
Cross agreed.
"We moving into an era where everyone wants their content to be free," he said.
Canon's patent is still pending.