When you are a photographer or a videomaker, the key question you end up asking very early on in any conversation is “How can my images be protected from piracy?.
Toronto based Idees Inc, founded by Leila Boujnane and Paul Bloore develops advanced image recognition and visual search software. Their clients include the world’s largest photo wire services – Associated Press and Agence France–Press. Idée’s visual search solutions are the foundation for some of the world’s leading imaging firms, including Adobe Systems Inc., and the most widely adopted solutions in the stock image industry.
Idée’s technology and innovation track record combats unauthorized use of copyrighted content, allowing copyright holders to monetize their images and recover lost revenues due to piracy and copyright infringement.
Leila is an active member of the Toronto community and blogs on innovation here. With Paul, their focus over the next few months will be to scale Idée. The spent the first 4 years of the company’s history developping the technology and securing star clients more recently. To help finance their growth, and for the first time, she will secure funding from venture capitalists.
Leila Boujnane, CEO Idée, interviewed in Florence on June 9th, 2007