Reading a Digimarc embedded within retail product packaging, images, or audio tracks requires utilizing specialized optical scanners, mobile application SDKs, or authorized detection software equipped with Digimarc reading algorithms. Unlike traditional black-and-white barcodes that require a direct line of sight to a specific printed label, Digimarc watermarks are repeated across the entire surface of an item or hidden within media files, allowing compatible hardware devices or smartphones to instantly capture and decode the hidden identification data from any angle.