[By NBC-1TV H. J Yook]CSC® Digital Brand Services (http://goo.gl/V7Iqmo), the global leader in online brand protection, monitoring, and enforcement services, is pleased to announce the addition of expanded mobile app monitoring and portfolio management services.

This is a pivotal time for brands to take control of their intellectual property rights on mobile apps, which present opportunities, challenges, and risks in equal measure.

Apple and Google’s app stores now offer about 1.5 million apps between them. Users spend roughly two hours a day interacting with apps. According to the research firm Gartner, the market will achieve global revenues of $25 billion in 2014, up 62% year-on-year. The exploitation of brands on mobile apps is on the rise, making this a critical time for brands to exercise their brand rights.

CSC Digital Brand Services’ Mobile App Monitoring Service detects and enforces against unauthorized brand use. The Mobile App Portfolio Management Service provides comprehensive, centralized management of a company’s mobile app assets.

CSC Digital Brand Services Vice President Mark Calandra says: “With the rapid growth of the mobile app marketplace has come the familiar challenge of third-party brand abuse and misuse. Tablets and smartphones are providing yet another digital channel for brands to engage with their customers. We’ve worked hard to become a leading data provider in this space to help monitor and protect brand holders’ rights and we’re thrilled to be adding this service to meet the demands of the growing mobile app market.”