Microsoft Corp. today announced that it is licensing the audio watermarking technology developed by its Redmond, Wash., research lab to Activated Content Corp., a leading digital technology and application services company in the audio watermarking market, based in Seattle. Concurrent with licensing this technology from Microsoft, Activated Content will expand its offerings within the fast-growing area of audio watermarking in the entertainment, advertising and telephony industries.

Microsoft� audio watermarking technology consists of digital audio software tools that will allow Activated Content to insert nonsecure data into and extract it from audio files, tools that the company can use to offer additional services to the users of the audio file.

The agreement is another example of Microsoft�s continuing efforts to provide companies, startups and local businesses with access to cutting-edge technologies developed in Microsoft Research labs. This type of collaboration also adds value to a healthy IT ecosystem and helps create local economic development opportunities.