1. A method for enhancing the robustness of watermark extraction from digital host content, comprising: receiving a digital host content at a reception device; and extracting embedded watermarks from the host content, using an extraction device, the extracting comprising: decoding individual symbols of an embedded watermark in accordance with at least one watermark detection algorithm; assigning discrete symbol values to the decoded symbols; generating likelihood measures associated with the decoded symbols; and determining whether or not the decoded symbols constitute a valid watermark in accordance with the discrete symbol values and the likelihood measures.