A method and system for incorporating a watermark into an original digital picture utilizes an image file, such as a JPEG file to store a watermark or otherwise altered rendition of an original digital picture. The marker section of the JPEG file would include the original digital picture as well as meta data relating to the watermark as well as a copyright notice. Additionally, a password is encrypted and embedded into the header section of the JPEG file. Therefore, an end user could only download and print the original digital picture by the proper entering of a password supplied by originator of the JPEG file.