Stellenbosch University's tech transfer office Innovus invests in Custos Media Technologies to bring its bitcoin bounty anti-piracy technology to more customers.
Custos Media Technologies, a South Africa-based anti-piracy technology developer, has raised an undisclosed amount from Innovus, the tech transfer office of Stellenbosch University, according to Disrupt Africa.
Spun out of Stellenbosch in 2014, Custos works with the entertainment industry to embed bitcoin bounties in media. Bitcoin is an online crypto-currency that is untraceable.
These media files can be played normally, however if they are distributed beyond the intended audience – for example, if a leak of a pre-release movie review copy occurs – then any third-party user can claim the embedded “finder’s fee”, alerting the copyright holder of who committed the infringement.
Custos will use the cash to expand its client base.
Gert-Jan van Rooyen, chief executive of Custos, said: “We can help our clients protect their content at the very sensitive screener distribution stage prior to box office release.”
Anita Nel, chief executive of Innovus, said: “It is a relevant technology with a solid academic footprint and the team members have entrepreneurial flair and think out of the box. Custos is a role model for other research groups who want to commercialise their work and Innovus is highly committed to support the company.”
