A method and system for protecting digital images copied from a video RAM, including the steps of transmitting stored pixel data from a computer memory to a video RAM, identifying protected pixel data within the stored pixel data, modifying the stored pixel data, thereby generating modified pixel data within which individual pixel datum is recognizable as being protected or unprotected, and, in response to pixel data being copied from the video RAM, replacing individual pixel datum copied from the video RAM, that is protected, with substitute pixel datum.