The importance of an i-DEPOT

"I own a furniture factory and am producing a special line of furniture. The production process and the marketing plan still have to be drawn up. One of my representatives had got hold of the drawings of the new furniture and filed them at the BOIP as designs. It is a good thing I have the i-DEPOT because it will enable me to go to court and demand that the design rights relating to the unauthorised registration are declared invalid."

How do I submit an i-DEPOT?

Direct online submission

You can submit your idea directly online. This submission method is fast, easy, cheap and, above all, safe. In several steps you will be asked to fill in specific details and add a description or representation of your concept or idea.

After the payment has been processed, you will receive a confirmation by e-mail and you can download your i-DEPOT certificate immediately. You can also decide not to download your i-DEPOT certificate and instead do this later, for example when you wish to use your i-DEPOT certificate as evidence in a legal or other dispute.

The i-DEPOT certificate is signed by the BOIP in digital form to safeguard the integrity of the document. Any change will automatically make the i-DEPOT invalid.

Apply for an i-DEPOT envelope

The i-DEPOT envelope is available in case it is impossible or undesirable for you to record your concept or idea electronically, or to pay electronically. As soon as we have received the order form (pdf in Dutch or French) and your payment, the BOIP will send you an i-DEPOT envelope.

The envelope consists of two parts, in each of which you should place an identical document describing or depicting your creation as clearly as possible. You then return both parts of the envelope to the BOIP, which dates them upon receipt, returns one part to your address and files the other in its own archives unopened. You can ask the BIOP to send you the second part as well (once only) to provide evidence in the case of a legal dispute or conflict.

Costs

In fact, the attractive price is one of the many benefits of the i-DEPOT.

Multiple ideas? Opening a credit account is cheaper!

If you plan to submit i-DEPOTs on a regular basis, you might consider the option of opening an i-DEPOT account. In that case you pay a once-only activation fee of € 350 and then buy i-DEPOTs at quantity discount rates. The more ideas you submit, the lower the rate. The rate varies according to the number of megabytes used.

Recording multiple ideas via a credit account