Use cases
Seven situations where proof makes the difference.
The same deposit answers very different needs depending on what you're protecting, and against whom. Here are the most common cases.
You know what worries you: something you shared, a partner leaving or a publication. Choose the situation closest to yours.
Trade secrets
Your confidentiality measures are worth documenting, especially when an employee who had access leaves the company.
Trade secret law protects strategic information, provided you can show it was confidential and what measures you took to safeguard it.
Discover →Business plans
A business plan that circulates widely keeps a reference date when its concept was timestamped before the discussions.
Timestamp before you share. A business plan circulates among investors, partners, and potential competitors. Sometimes they are the same people.
Discover →NDAs and contracts
A signed agreement is binding. The certificate documents the integrity of the text, the signing date and the attached documents.
A signed agreement proves a commitment. A timestamped agreement also proves which text was signed, and on what date.
Discover →Defensive publication
A dated publication preserves your freedom to operate and documents your choice not to patent.
Protect an invention without filing a patent: date your work so you can keep using it, then publish it when you choose so that no one else can patent it.
Discover →Fashion and design
With short cycles and outsourcing, many designs are protected by dated proof as the collection takes shape.
A collection can be copied in a matter of weeks. Your ability to prove authorship of a print, a cut or a pattern is settled before the runway show.
Discover →Source code & software IP
Who wrote which line, with which vendor: code ownership is documented contribution by contribution, ahead of the technical audit.
Code is protected by copyright as soon as it's written. But you still need to prove who wrote it, and when.
Discover →Proof of trademark use
A trademark is defended through genuine use over the right period, with evidence gathered over time.
A registered trademark is defended with proof of use. Documenting actual use over time strengthens your file.
Discover →Torn between several of these situations?
Describe what you want to protect and when. We'll open the case that fits.