Overview – the Basic Principles. Also see FAQs  

Creative Barcode is a digital IP App designed to take the time, cost and complexity out of early-stage IP protection and disclosure. Tine-stamped, Barcoded files attributing the concept exclusively to you are sent through the file transfer service where recipients accept our Trust Charter agreement before download can commence, thus eliminating the opportunity for theft.

And, for completed works members create ‘Rights Reserved’ and Free-Use barcodes applied to their work presented online at exhibitions or in print and offline.

We have made key elements of IP protection, disclosure and communication more positive, more accessible and more affordable for individuals and companies of all types and sizes.

The intellectual property system is out-of-date and hardly fit for a digital age. Therefore it can obstruct innovation and creativity when seeking to disclose concepts to third parties in search of a deal or collaboration. Further, it can present concerns regarding potential theft.

Creative Barcode members use our unique App to create barcodes that time stamp and attribute work to them alone embedding their contact details and enabling them to send barcoded files through the file transfer facility, where terms of the Trust Charter are accepted before files are downloaded.

The Creative Barcode system is proven internationally and has never been breached.

• Creative Barcode equally benefits buyers and commissioners of concepts and completed works. It is ideal for use as the IP policy within Open Innovation (OI) activities and ideas competitions. The OI or competition organiser is assured that submissions are original and genuine. In reverse those submitting ideas are assured of ethical practice and fair rewards. It protects both parties’ interests.

 

• Members create their unique safe-disclosure barcodes and apply them to their pre-commercialised concepts, pitches, proposals, business propositions and other confidential material before disclosing to a third party. Third parties can include a prospective client, business partner, collaborator, co-creator, Open Innovation organiser, intermediary, supplier or prospective funder. 

Barcoded files are safely disclosed using the CB file transfer system where recipients agree to the Trust Charter terms before download commences. Barcodes can also be applied to any concept/document submitted into tenders and pitches on and offline

• The Trust Charter terms are simple. Our members warrant to the recipient that they are the legal owner of the material disclosed. The recipient warrants to the Creator that they will not use the disclosed material in any way whatsoever without the permission of the Creator.

Therefore should a breach occur it is restricted to whether permission was or was not granted - it’s easy to prove.

Enforcement costs are an issue for every Creator, however the immediate intervention of WIPO and, if applicable, a fixed fee of 60% less than rate card is available for mediation services. 

• Where applicable, written and visual concepts supporting tenders and pitches remain protected if a barcode is applied to submissions and Creative Barcode is the visible third party. This is standard practice. It will not reduce your chances of winning a tender. Instead use of Creative Barcode will protect you from unauthorised use of your concepts if your company is not the one engaged.

 

• Why is Creative Barcode better than an NDA/CDA?

The safe-disclosure barcodes and use of the file transfer service with acceptance of the Trust Charter is legally robust. It can replace or support a non-disclosure /confidentiality agreement (NDA/CDA)

NDA’s that are fair and balanced and protect the interests of both parties are fine, particularly if two sets of lawyers are engaged to represent the interests of either party. And, yes, under those circumstances they are legally robust.

However, when all you want is a safe-conversation to assess the interests of a third party in your concept or gain feedback from prospective funders; intermediaries; potential collaborators or submit concepts to an Open Innovation activity or even just to gain quotations from prospective suppliers/fees for services companies, rarely if ever do you wish to engage lawyers and attract fees pre-deal or incur the delays that would entail.  

You can of course download an NDA/ CDA free from the internet. However, rarely will a serious party accept your general & generic NDA. If they are agreeable to signing one, it will be theirs issued by their legal counsel and weighted to their interests not yours.

An NDA/CDA is not visible. When signed it is filed and only makes a re-appearance if problems arise. An NDA/CDA does not show what has been disclosed at the outset or subsequently during development process where concepts and propositions change and progress.

A safe-disclosure barcode (one per entire project) is always visible on every item disclosed and connected with the concept and its development and innovation journey. Newcomers to projects are equally aware of the terms, protection and history. And throughout the journey the agreement remains the same – no element of any works submitted and disclosed under the safe-disclosure barcode can be utilised without your permission.

• Collaborative innovation / co-creation projects

All innovation is collaborative. Inevitably parties forget who brought what to the party, who shared and progressed the concept and therefore who should be rewarded by value contribution at the conclusion of a project /negotiation deal, license or royalty agreement or the outright or partial sale of IP.

Instigating collaborative or co-creation projects under Creative Barcode terms keeps everything submitted by each party clear and visible. It avoids later arguments and instead provides a solid basis for negotiation as each party’s contributions are documented without doubt.  

 

• Your barcoded work can also under-pin the value of the negotiation. And a % of global sales can reap dividends over owning a much larger percentage rather than funding the business yourself and building a client / customer base from scratch.

Just know when to hand over your baby and ensure you negotiate in to the deal appropriate attribution along with a royalty % and withdrawal rights if implementation deliverables or time-frames are not met.

So, always remember If you Value it Barcode it and your IP policy should thereafter be ‘nothing leaves my building without its barcode’.

Add your ‘Registered with Creative Barcode’ and ‘Trust Charter’ badge to your Company credentials under IP Policy with an IP statement on your web site and also include these on other external marketing material.

Let your staff know what it’s all about and what their and your Company IP responsibilities are. Remember you can book a free company webinar or Skype presentation or even a personal visit at a fixed fee plus travel expenses.  

Creative Barcode® equitably protects the interests of all parties transacting.

 Any questions please contact team@creativebarcode.com