Abstract. In this paper, we propose a watermarking scheme for the image ownership verification in terms of a private key pattern and wavelet filters. The watermarking is mainly achieved within the process of decomposition and reconstruction by forging watermark-carrying wavelet filters. This scheme improves the watermark robustness and invisibility since it maximally avoids inserting the watermark into the images directly. It also allows the flexibility to optimize the wavelet filters for better performance. The private key pattern is free from watermark restriction and is associated with individual images. It adds an additional layer of security in a different dimension. The detection of our watermarks, can moreover be achieved without the aid of the original images, and will also be broadly discussed in regard to cropped images or images of certain other distortions.