Combat Pirated Content With TONE

TONE's Audio-Activated QR Technology Helps Combat Piracy

Author: Tom Webster

May 2, 2025

In the digital age, content is king — but piracy is the silent thief draining the entertainment industry of billions each year. From screeners to theatrical releases, leaks can happen at any phase of the production process, often leaving studios in a never-ending game of “Whack-A-Mole” with illegal sites.

The Real Cost of Piracy

• 229.4 billion visits to piracy sites occurred globally in 2023, with TV content accounting for 45% and films 13% of these visits. (CTAM)
• The global media industry loses approximately $75 billion annually due to online video piracy. (Kearney)
• In the U.S., piracy results in an estimated $29.2 to $71 billion loss each year.(DataProt)
• 70,000 jobs are lost annually in the U.S. due to music piracy.(DataProt)

Despite increased efforts, traditional anti-piracy methods often lag the pirates themselves. The reality? Pirated content travels fast and identifying the source of a leak after the fact can be too little, too late.

This Isn’t Audio Watermarking — It’s Smarter

TONE is not audio watermarking. It's something entirely different. While audio watermarking embeds barely detectable data within sound waves — often susceptible to being stripped, filtered, or lost during compression — TONE's patented audio QR code technology uses an inaudible signal called a TONE-Tag® that acts more like a beacon than a watermark.

• It doesn't rely on fragile metadata
• It can't be removed without destroying the audio
• It survives streaming compression, file conversion, and even editing

Think of it less like a hidden watermark — and more like a secure fingerprint that travels with your content wherever it goes.

How TONE Works

TONE embeds its proprietary TONE-Tags® directly into the audio of your content — trailers, promos, digital screeners, or full features. These inaudible, bi-tonal signals can be tied to specific users, platforms, vendors, or regions. If the content leaks, TONE monitors piracy sites, detects the tag, and delivers exact source data to your team — instantly and anonymously.

• Inaudible to humans
• Virtually unremovable
• Machine-readable and traceable
• Connected to a robust back-end database
• Fast to detect, no AI required

Helping Anti-Piracy Teams - Not Replacing Them

TONE is here to augment, not replace, your anti-piracy team. Instead of wasting valuable hours chasing leads, your team gains immediate insight into who leaked what, when, and where — allowing for faster takedowns, stronger reporting, and less reliance on guesswork. Think of it this way, TONE is like a GPS for content — it doesn’t drive the car for you, but it helps you navigate smarter, avoid costly detours, and reach your destination faster.

TONE eliminates the time taken to search, identify, and take down websites. Instead, TONE increases your ability to audit sites with your illegal content and prioritizes your workload by leveraging KPIs, such as number of illegal downloads, visitors, individual users, distribution, and much more. Save time and money trying to find the content, and spend more time eliminating your pirated content!

TONE offers complete integration of its TONE Tags into ALL of your created content, training, and support, ensuring your existing workflow becomes smarter and more efficient — without reducing headcount or outsourcing control.

From Prevention to Promotion

ONE doesn’t just protect — it promotes. Every TONE-Tag is a QR-like signal, which can also be used to track engagement, personalize experiences, or deliver location-based content. Your anti-piracy solution can now double as a marketing tool.

Stop Playing Catch-Up. Start Getting Ahead

If you're ready to eliminate leaks, protect your content, and elevate your team — TONE offers next-generation tracking without compromise.

• Trace every leak
• Tag every version
• Protect every format
• Empower every team

Contact us today to learn how studios are using TONE to stay secure, profitable, and a step ahead of piracy - without playing whack-a-mole.