  In the watermark detection scenario, also known as zero-bit watermarking, a
watermark, carrying no hidden message, is inserted in content. The watermark
detector checks for the presence of this particular weak signal in content. The
article looks at this problem from a classical detection theory point of view,
but with side information enabled at the embedding side. This means that the
watermark signal is a function of the host content. Our study is twofold. The
first step is to design the best embedding function for a given detection
function, and the best detection function for a given embedding function. This
yields two conditions, which are mixed into one `fundamental' partial
differential equation. It appears that many famous watermarking schemes are
indeed solution to this `fundamental' equation. This study thus gives birth to
a constructive framework unifying solutions, so far perceived as very
different.
