For anyone who comes up with new ideas regularly, storing them in a BOIP i-DEPOT is a good option. An idea as such cannot be protected. However, it may well be possible to protect a tangible expression of the idea, i.e. an actual product, process or service, by securing design, patent or trademark rights, for instance.
There are times, however, when it is useful to be able to demonstrate that an idea already existed at a given point in time, for instance if a dispute arises and you want to prove that your idea takes precedence.
It can therefore be sensible to log each relevant idea, in order to be able to prove later that you created, devised or designed it. An i-DEPOT serves as proof and can be used for various purposes and with respect to various intellectual property rights.
By default, BOIP keeps your i-DEPOT confidential. You can, however, choose to make it public in whole or in part. You can also create a Non-Disclosure Agreement online linked to your i-DEPOT.
What do I have?
Log your idea in four steps
You can submit your i-DEPOT directly online. It is fast, easy and inexpensive to do.
Date stamp
An i-DEPOT is legal proof bearing a date stamp. It is proof that your creation existed on a certain date. An i-DEPOT does not confer (intellectual) property rights and therefore, like a notarial deed, provides no protection. When you are developing a new idea or creation, an i-DEPOT can be the first step on the path to protection.
BOIP's qualified trust service provider, GlobalSign, applies a reliable date stamp to your i-DEPOT and guarantees that its content has not been modified since it was submitted. For more information about GlobalSign and its accreditations and certifications, see their website.
Private or public?
By default, BOIP keeps your i-DEPOT confidential. You can, however, choose to make it public in whole or in part on i-D Space.
Benefits of submitting an idea
- Proof
i-DEPOT provides you with dated, legal proof - Europe-wide validity
The validity of the i-DEPOT certificate is recognised throughout the EU. - Useful in the event of a dispute
If someone claims that they thought up your creation, your i-DEPOT can help you prove the contrary. - Inexpensive
You can secure an i-DEPOT for five years for 37 euro. Extension is easy and cheap. -
Secure and trustworthy
Your idea will be stored encrypted in an i-DEPOT and receive a trustworthy date stamp.
Want to share your idea safely?
An i-DEPOT provides you with legal proof. If you want to share your idea with other parties, for example with potential investors or partners, it is wise to enter into a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with them. Read more about the Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)
Maintain your i-DEPOT
An i-DEPOT needs to be maintained and renewed on time. You can also transmit your i-DEPOT to someone else or make your i-DEPOT public.
Yes, your idea or trade secret is absolutely safe in BOIP's i-DEPOT. Protecting your data is of the utmost importance to us. To that end, we have taken appropriate technical and organisational measures to safeguard the availability, integrity and confidentiality of the i-DEPOT.
