zoom watermarks are distracting and intrusive

[bjornregnell]

I have recently been dropped into meetings and webinars where the image is cluttered with intrusive and distracting watermarks all over. As I understand it, if I'm not a host then I cannot do anything about it. That's bad. Could Zoom change the default? Could Zoom allow me to first give consent?

If the host, perhaps just because they are not aware of the defaults, show my email in e.g. a webinar without my consent, that's not good.

Best regards

//Bjorn

[Raffy28]

Welcome to Zoom Community!

I understand. Since you're not the host, there's no option for you to remove the watermark.

Perhaps you can ask the host to remove it.

They can turn off the feature "Add watermark that identifies the viewing participant" which is located on the Zoom Client settings.

[bjornregnell]

What I am wondering is if Zoom can

1) change the default for host so that watermarks are *off* by default - this will prevent hosts from accidentally using them when they don't deliberately want them, or can't see through all the numerous settings in the stress of starting a big meeting/webinar etc...

2) allow users to remove the watermarks even if hosts have put them on so users don't get distracted or personal information are not disclosed

3) make the water mark show a less intrusive mark with less visual impact, when users actually activate them deliberately,

Would that be possible?

We have this general discussion at Lund University (with >5000 employments and > 40000 students), where we, due to unwanted watermarks, may consider using MS Teams instead, as MS Teams do not have unwanted watermarks on by default.

Best Regards,

/Bjorn Regnell

Assistant Head of Dept., Computer Science, Lund University, Sweden

[Ray_Harwood]

Welcome to the Zoom Community, @bjornregnell.

My question is: What do you mean by watermarks? Technically, Zoom refers to this article when talking about watermarks:

https://support.zoom.com/hc/en/article?id=zm_kb&sysparm_article=KB0068115

If this is not the watermark you’re referring to, could you drop us a screenshot?

If this is the watermark you’re referring to, the article gives guidance on how to set the watermark feature at the organizational admin level. See especially the section on Watermark Customization Settings.

The default on new accounts is Disabled, I believe.

[bjornregnell]

Thanks for the link!I will study it carefully.

Yes it is the watermark I am referring to. I have problems both with the design of the watermark sometimes distracting the the face or even the eyes of a speaker (imagine that Netflix had put such watermarks on their videos...).  And I have also problems with that the host decides about my user experience. 

Thanks for the information about the organization-wide default. I will try to find who at Lund University is responsible for my organization's default - I guess it is not even my faculty but some central procurement agency or similar perhaps.

Do you think there is a chance that the Zoom development team may revisit the watermark design?

[bjornregnell]

I have now studied the settings article. It says that I can adjust the watermarks opacity and placement (repeated or single instance) but they are grayed out - and I suspect that is due to some other default, perhaps set by my org?

[Ray_Harwood]

@bjornregnell, you are correct. Any personal settings that are greyed out are “locked” at the Admin level. 

[bjornregnell]

I have now managed to reach out to our main admin of zoom and they claim that watermarks are off by default.

BUT today I Zoomed with a colleguaga at our org (Lund University) as host and I got the much distracting watermarks again cover face etc. My host couldn't find how to turn them off and I have turned them off i my settings.

I don't have permission to upload images here but I have a screendump of the watermark if needed.

[Ray_Harwood]

Hi, @bjornregnell.  There’s no screen shot here. Please try again! Seeing exactly what you’re referring to will be very helpful. 

[bjornregnell]

When I tried to paste the screenshot this site says "no permission"...

[bjornregnell]

"

You do not have permission to upload images."

[bjornregnell]

@Ray_Harwood Here is the screenshot: 

It also covers face but I didn't want to share my colleagues face without permission...

[Ray_Harwood]

@bjornregnell, clarify for me who is the owner of the meeting you attended: you, someone on your organization's account, or an external person?

[bjornregnell]

The owner (host) was my colleague Fredrik Nilsson at the Design Dept of the Engineering Faculty LTH at Lund University he is at the same SSO account lu-se at Zoom. Does this help or you need more info? 

[bjornregnell]

Or I think we Zoomed via the Zoom contacts so I'm not 100% sure who started the meeting...

[bjornregnell]

Here is my profile setting: 

[CarlaA]

Hi Community Members!

I wanted to let you know that the watermark issue is a known one, and a fix will be included in the next release. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding.

[Ray_Harwood]

Thanks, @CarlaA... for the information, and for enabling our DMs.

@bjornregnell, as usual, the Zoomie's come through with info I'm not aware of!  Every day is a learning opportunity. 🤔

[bjornregnell]

> Every day is a learning opportunity

Yes, knowing it was actually a bug had saved us some confusion. I have also put my service desk at my uni at work but they obviously had no solution either. But now we know its a bug. Many thanks anyway for trying to help @Ray_Harwood 

[bjornregnell]

> the watermark issue is a known one, and a fix will be included in the next release

AHA! I am so relived that it is not just me being stuck in looking for the right setting to avoid this.

And fantastic to hear that a fix is coming!  I will let my colleagues now about this (we are several that have preferred Teams meanwhile...)

[bjornregnell]

It would be great if you can report here when the bug is fixed? I guess others may find this thread in the future and in that case want to know if/when its fixed. @CarlaA 

[Ray_Harwood]

@bjornregnell, I’d expect it to appear in the Release Notes for Workplace, I think:

https://support.zoom.com/hc/en/article?id=zm_kb&sysparm_article=KB0061222

Things like this usually show up in the Resolved Issues section. 

If you view that link while signed into the Zoom Web Portal, you can Subscribe to it. It’s a good way to keep up with changes to the app as they occur. 

[CarlaA]

Hi everyone,

The fix is now live. Please update your Zoom app to the latest version, and let us know if you continue to experience any issues.

Thank you for your support!