Kodak's Portra has a major watermark-inside-frame problem

[moodlover]

(there was a url link here which no longer exists). More than a year later I have discovered this same issue in Portra 160 by accident. I have a photo here that I darkened with curves and I discovered it all over the highlights, look closely:

Darkened further, look at highlights:

Sorry I cannot show the original unblurred frame, it is a private project that I just cant publicly display right now unless it's to someone who can help. Anyone experienced this before or know about this?

 

[moodlover]

Before anyone asks, the film was purchased from B&H or Adorama in NYC, used right away, developed and scanned. Has not been through x-rays or sent to Mars or anything extreme.

 

[MattKing]

What is the batch number and develop before dates of the film?
There are other threads about this. It involves the same backing paper as the the T-Max 400. That backing paper has since been replaced with backing paper with fewer numbers and lines, and much fainter ink.

 

[moodlover]

Matt I have no idea, I threw out the box a year ago and just looked at the photos now. How recent were these backing papers fixed and how do you know?

 

[MattKing]

Matt I have no idea, I threw out the box a year ago and just looked at the photos now. How recent were these backing papers fixed and how do you know?

How long do you have available?
My problem with answering your questions is that the story has evolved through time, as Kodak Alaris' customers have discovered problems, and Kodak Alaris has tried to deal with them.
Here are a couple of threads: (there was a url link here which no longer exists) and (there was a url link here which no longer exists) and (there was a url link here which no longer exists)
Kodak Alaris will replace the film: profilm@kodakalaris.com is the email address to use. You can find the emulsion batch number for your film in tiny characters amongst the edge printing near the end of the film.
I received my replacement T-Max film from Mr. Mooney at that address in late April of this year. He indicated that the backing paper used with that replacement film came into use at the beginning of 2016.
I do not know whether the same replacement backing paper switch happened at the same time with Portra.

 

[Chadinko]

Golly Gee Whiz, I was told that I mishandled my film or something, let it get too hot or humid or something magical or evil, to get this in Ektar 100, that this was a problem only on TMax films.

Hmmm.

profilm@kodakalaris was excellent. I only had a visible problem with two negatives and they replaced the whole box.