I used to work as an intern in a major studio in the US and maybe technology has changed, but watermarked studio files used to mean just adding another audio track over the top to prevent stealing the music (clicks,beeps,tones etc)
I've been told that digital studio multitracks now can be traced back to origin of who licensed them. So let's say so and so's company licensed some tracks from a label the project never happened or company went bust, they still have the tracks and gave to a friend who remixes. Can those files be traced back somehow to the licenser?
If anyone knows for sure chime in. I've asked as many industry people as I still know and some say it's just bs scare tactics to prevent theft and misuse of the label assets. Just curious
thanks :)