Protecting your idea in an i-DEPOT

What is an i-DEPOT for?

You have an idea for an invention, a prototype, or a design, and you want to register it. But you cannot take out a patent for just an idea. And in some cases, you don’t have to register your right: it is automatically acknowledged once you publish your work. Copyright is one example. Still, in some situations, it can be helpful to be able to prove that you were the first to come up with an idea. For instance, in a legal dispute. You can do that if you register your idea in an i-DEPOT, which is managed by the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property.

Where is the i-DEPOT valid?

Once you have registered your idea in i-DEPOT, you can use it as evidence in case of a legal dispute. In Europe, the courts will always admit an i-DEPOT as evidence. In other countries, the judges decide whether they will admit the evidence or not.

How do I register my idea in i-DEPOT online?

You can register your idea quickly and easily online. You first create a MyBOIP account. Once you have logged in, you can upload a document with your idea. Describe your idea as clearly as possible, you may want to include a drawing or picture. You can register your idea for 5 or 10 years.

Storage period and costs i-DEPOT

You can submit your idea digitally or on paper. You can always extend the storage period by 5 years. The costs depend on how you submit your idea and how long you want to store it for. Do you plan to submit i-DEPOTS regularly? Then opening a credit account can be useful. View all fees on the BOIP website or submit your i-DEPOT directly.

Confidentiality agreement for your i-DEPOT

Would you like to share your idea in confidence with others? A potential partner or investor, for example? If so, it is wise to make clear agreements about this in advance. You can do so with a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). In an NDA, you agree what the other party may or may not do with the confidential information. And what the consequences are if the other party does not keep to the agreements. An NDA is an additional tool in a legal conflict. Read how to create an i-DEPOT non-disclosure agreement

Intellectual property

The i-DEPOT does not give you any intellectual property rights. So your idea is not yet legally protected. You can only protect it once you have developed the idea into a real product, service, or process. Once you have done that, you can, for example, register the trademark or design or apply for a patent for the technology. Want to know more?

• Talk to an expert from BOIP or the Netherlands Patent Office (in Dutch).
• Do the ideaSCAN (ideeSCAN, in Dutch) and see for yourself which rights apply to your situation.
• View the Checklist for protecting a product, service or invention.

See more about patents and intellectual property,