Being creative is fun, meaningful, and for many, a way of life. Creativity can be expressed in many different ways, each offering its own kind of fulfillment. However, the digital world increasingly faces the challenge of unauthorized use of digital content—especially due to the growing use of generative AI, which uses such content for training and thus infringes on the copyrights of creators.

Not cool for creators, because even though we all benefit from trained AI models today, intellectual property rights should not be violated, and the creator should always be recognized. Adobe thought the same and now offers a new Adobe Content Authenticity web app (currently in beta), providing a free and simple solution to label works with so-called Content Credentials. This digital signature is designed to protect content from misuse, enable proper attribution, and give creators more control over how their works are used.

The Adobe Content Authenticity App and Content Credentials

The application was introduced in 2019 and now boasts over 3,700 active members, all advocating for greater transparency in the use of digital content.

Content Credentials are digital labels that can be directly attached to created content. They specify who the creator is, include information like their name or website, and indicate preferences regarding whether the works can be used for AI training.

Even if content is shared on social media or screenshots are taken, the Content Credentials remain intact thanks to digital fingerprints, invisible watermarks, and cryptographic signatures, always showing who the creator was. This provides unprecedented transparency and security for creatives in the digital world.

Content Credentials can be identified by an icon on images, as well as by metadata in the image’s code, showing its origin. You can think of it like a copyright symbol—but more digital and broadly applicable, as it is also readable by AI.

Application and Benefits

Adobe's new web app was developed in close collaboration with the creative community to address the specific needs of creators. Users can upload up to 50 files (in JPG or PNG format, with a maximum file size of 20 MB) at once and customize them individually. Information such as the creator's name, website, or social media profiles can be directly integrated into the Content Credentials.

The processed content can then be downloaded with the attached credentials, creating a clear link between the work and its creator.

Here we incorporate a visual representation provided by Adobe itself, showing how easy it is to apply and protect your content. This visual is a screenshot created by us from Adobe’s website, where the Content Authenticity App is introduced.

Transparency note:

To maintain transparency on our part, we are not the creators of this representation but merely users sharing this information. Source: Adobe Content Authenticity App (Beta).

It is clear from this example that using Content Credentials is straightforward and allows the creator to decide with a single click whether the content may be used for AI training or not.

Additionally, the app provides tools for inspecting and restoring Content Credentials. Even if metadata is removed or content is shared on social media, the digital signatures remain intact thanks to advanced technologies like digital fingerprints, invisible watermarks, and cryptographic signatures. This ensures authenticity even after screenshots or alterations to the content. This feature, called the Inspect Tool, is designed for verification purposes.

Another advantage is the seamless integration of Content Credentials into popular Adobe programs such as Photoshop, Lightroom, and Firefly. This allows creatives to work directly within their familiar environment and benefit from these advanced features without needing additional software. With free access for all Adobe users, the web app offers an innovative and accessible solution to make creative works visible, prevent misuse, and ensure long-term transparency in the digital world.

The Inspect Tool from Adobe Content Authenticity (Beta)

Files can be selected and uploaded via simple drag-and-drop to check who holds the copyright, what usage options are available, and whether the content has already been used by AI.

The tool itself offers two views: History and Comparison.

Adobe describes the History view as follows:
"In the main area of the History view, the Inspect Tool displays the selected asset and its relationship to other content files. These files may also include Content Credentials with additional information. When you select a file in the History view, the associated Content Credentials are displayed on the right side of the page."

The Comparison view allows users to select and compare two assets from the History view. A slider can overlay one asset over the other to reveal differences. Adobe provides two options for this view: side-by-side and slider. This allows users to determine whether someone used a work to create something new or developed it themselves.

The Inspect Tool also offers the ability to search for possible matches. These matches can be based on visual similarities detected by the digital fingerprint or through invisible watermarks—easily identified in the Inspect Tool.

Adobe goes a step further by addressing the restoration of Content Credentials.
"If the Content Credentials of a file are stored in the Content Credentials Cloud, as is the case with Adobe Content Authenticity (Beta), they can even be restored from a screenshot. Some Adobe applications and services can only attach Content Credentials directly to an asset. If the asset is processed in a way that removes metadata, such as when uploaded to an unsupported platform, the Content Credentials may be lost and cannot be restored with the Adobe Content Authenticity Inspect Tool. Found Content Credential matches are listed in chronological order (from the oldest to the most recent version), with the oldest version assigned to the asset given priority."

A quick note: The public beta version of Adobe's Authenticity App is expected to be available from early 2025. It is currently only available as an individual version.

Summary

"Everything is mine!"—In the digital age, this statement is incredibly important to ensure that people cannot simply run wild with someone else’s creative work. Behind every idea and every creative execution lies time, patience, effort, experience, and so much more. And this deserves protection so that others cannot do whatever they please with it.

"Everything is mine" is not ridiculous or unimportant but rather essential. Adobe's Authenticity Initiative allows for greater protection for creative minds online.

Check out more articles from us on the Flanke 7 Blog.