A multi-layered copy protection scheme distinguishes between security failures due to faulty watermark detection schemes and true security failures. At an initial security level, the fault-tolerance is low. If the security test fails at this initial security level, the process enters a next level of security, wherein the fault-tolerance is increased, but at the expense of additional processing time. If the security test again fails at this increased security level, the process enters a higher level of security, wherein the fault-tolerance is further increased, but at the further expense of additional processing time. Eventually, either the security test is passed, and the protected material is rendered, or a determination is made that the failures are not due to faults in the watermark detection process, indicating that the content material is, in fact, copy protected, but not authorized for rendering.