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I can't open, read or execute my "SEAL™ File"?
Perfect! That is the whole idea. In order to be able to open, read or execute your file you will need to open the file through your Safe-Deposit Box. Simply locate the file that you want to open and click on "Open SEAL™ File" from the action column. From your files, you will need to find the email containing your "portion of the SEAL™ Key" for the file, as well as the .SEAL file itself. For extra security, you will also need to enter your PIN. If all three elements are correct, your file will be immediately decrypted and ready for download to your computer.
Don't worry, your original SEAL™ file is still valid and intact and should still be maintained in your personal SEAL™ File archive.
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I am having problems "proof-reading" on Step 3?
If you were unable to "Proof-read" your file on Step 3, there is likely a problem with your security settings within your browser or computer. Please review what Myron says now.
Do you happen to be using the new Safari browser. This is something that we have seen with that particular browser. Can you try to complete your SEAL(TM) file with another Internet browser? The Mozilla Browser available for free at http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/all.html.
To verify that you created your SEAL™ file successfully, return to your Safe-Deposit Box and from the action column on the right hand side, select "Open SEAL™ File" for the file in question. Follow the instructions provided there.
Once you download your copy of the "Opened" SEAL™ file, you should be able to launch it with the original program it was intended for. If you are unable to execute your file, you MUST return to the site and "re-SEAL™" the original file! In a case like this, please contact us and we will refund the original SEAL™ credit to your account and help you to resolve the underlying problem.
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how does a SEAL™ file protect my copyrights?
Simple...(Well, not really) By credibly date-stamping your original creations, producing real-time email and audit trail documentation of the event, and redundantly archiving the resulting SEAL™ files for you. Once you can prove that you had possession of your original work before anyone else, you have the most critical piece of evidence you will ever require to litigate or defend your copyrights. A WorldWideOCR SEAL™ file provides the copyright or intellectual property owner indisputable third-party evidence that their idea existed and was in their possession at a certain point in time. This is CRITICAL! The creator has the "Burden of Proof".
Whether you decide to pursue your idea or not, the earlier in history you can provide evidence of your creation, the better. Should you choose to undertake any subsequent copyright registration process(es), your SEAL™ file will always represent the earliest moment in time that you had tangible and highly credible evidence of your idea's existence.
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what is the maximum number of files I can SEAL™?
Unlike a "real-world" safe-deposit
box, which can easily run $20/year for the smallest size, your WorldWideOCR
Safe-Deposit Box is bottomless. Our initial memberships include SEAL™ credits, and additional SEAL™
credits can be purchased as required, starting at $3. Products and Pricing
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do you have any limits on size or type of files I can SEAL™?
Due to the large numbers of files we process and the enormous bandwidth required to do so, we have imposed a 20MB maximum on SEAL™ file size. However, there is no restriction on the file format. Feel free to use .ZIP files to bundle files and save your SEAL™ credits. Once you have your .SEAL™ files, there is no need to "re-SEAL™" any work contained in those .SEAL™ files unless you have revised them. Because WorldWideOCR never actually executes or reads your file, the SEAL™ process can encrypt any digital file format!
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how do I rename a file?
The name of the file you intend to protect, CANNOT include any spaces. You will need to remove the spaces between the words in the name of the file before uploading it to our server on Step 2.
For example, a WORD Document file would need to be named like one of the following:
My_Lyrics_01.doc ... or MyLyrics01.doc ... or SONG_TITLE.doc
NOT
My Lyrics 01.doc ... or SONG TITLE.doc
Suggestions:
1. SAVE INITIAL FILE WITH NO SPACES
You can do this when you create the file by either inserting an "_" (underscore) between the words, or deleting the spaces when you first "Save" your work.
2. USE EXPLORER TO FIND THE FILE AND RENAME IT
To rename your file, you can "explore" your computer to locate the file you wish to rename. Once you have located the file, simply "right click" on the file and choose "rename". Remove all spaces and click outside the file's new name anywhere. Your file is now renamed. You can also do this while you browse for your file on Step 2.
3. OPEN THE FILE AND "SAVE AS"
To rename a file, you can also open the file with the software it was created in. From the "File" menu, choose "Save as" and rename the file. Be sure to use a filename that does not include spaces between the words.
Join Today, and you can gain access to our helpful Tutorials to guide you through this process!
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what is a digital file?
A digital file, simply means that it can be read by a computer. If your images are JPGs, then you already have them in a "digital" file.
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How do I make MP3 files from my CD so I can apply a SEAL™ to them?
Audio recordings are copied onto CD's in a format called WAV or AIF Files. These files are typically around 10 Mb per minute of track and are far too large to be ported around the Internet. In order to SEAL™ your audio recordings, you will need to reduce the size of the files, or compress them. The most noteable formats are the MP3 and WMA files, although there are others.
These MP3 and WMA files apply a digital compression codec which significantly reduces the file size of your audio recordings to allow you to port them accross the Internet to our server. A WAV file can be compressed down from 50 MB to between ~1MB to 7MB depending on the bit rate you choose to convert your files. For the purposes of applying a SEAL™ to you songs, the quality must be high enough to hear everything "you want heard". You may also use .ZIP files to bundle together song packets up to 20MB in size. This will save you SEAL™ credits!
To create and MP3 or WMA files, insert your CD into the appropriate drive, and open your media player (the program that you listen to music with on your PC). Look under the "Tools - Options" tab, and there should be an option which will allow you to make copies of your CD and apply MP3 or WMA compression. You can alter the conversion bit rate to make high or low quality copies of of your music.
Join Today, and you can gain access to our helpful Tutorials to guide you through this process!
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How do I make ZIP files so I can apply a SEAL™ to multiple files?
To Make a .ZIP File you must do the following:
1. Start WINZIP
2. Choose "File" ----> "New Archive" from the top menu bar.
3. Choose where you would like to save the new .ZIP file and give it a name (without spaces)
(eg. My_Website_02142006) WINZIP will add the .ZIP when you create the file later.
4. Add the files and folders that you want to include in your ZIP file.
5. Choose "File" ----> "Close Archive"
6. A new file called "My_Website_02142006.ZIP" should now exist wherever you saved it.
Ensure that your ZIP files are smaller than 20 MB and you are ready to make a SEAL(TM) File with them. go to WINZIP.com
Join Today, and you can gain access to our helpful Tutorials to guide you through this process!
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can I still register my work at the US Library of Congress?
Yes! You should consider doing this, especially if you are planning to publish your work in the US. WorldWideOCR recommends that copyright holders and intellectual property owners acquire as much protection as they can afford.
As a matter of fact, many of our members are choosing to protect their copyrights with a SEAL™ file date stamp before they file with their National Copyright Office. The SEAL™ file gives them an instant, and therefore, superior date-stamp, which can be substantiated and used to fortify any future copyright registrations for the work.
Because SEAL™ files provide an instantaneous date-stamp, our members can make public disclosure and begin to shop the protected material immediately. In this manner, even if somebody steals your copyright or intellectual property and somehow "officially registers" it before you, you can still produce highly credible evidence of copyright ownership or prior art, pre-dating that of the infringer.
Once again, should you choose to undertake any subsequent national registration process(es), your SEAL™ file will always represent the earliest moment in time that you had tangible and highly credible evidence of your idea's existence.
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what do I do with my SEAL™ file?
We suggest you make several personal back-up
copies of your SEAL™ files. Unlike a sealed envelope, your SEAL™ file can be opened immediately and as many times as you need. The SEAL™ file always remains in your archive! In addition, your SEAL™ files are redundantly archived and will not require a costly safe deposit box, run the risk of the glue and
tape failing or the ink fading, or recording media degradation... you
get the idea.
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what if i need to protect an idea, but I don't want to patent it yet?
You are well advised to, somehow, protect and archive all of your worthwhile intellectual property. Let's say you have a great idea, and all you want to do is sell it. We recommend that people apply a SEAL™ to their work before they make any attempt to move forward with their idea. Once you have your work in SEAL™ file format, we then recommend that you document every disclosure that you make, and use Non-Disclosure Agreements whenever possible. Also, when you submit your idea, state the fact that you have applied a WorldWideOCR SEAL™ to your idea.
Providing that your idea is original, you now have two elements of proof of ownership. The SEAL™ file, and documented disclosure to your targets. You will have one full year after your first public disclosure to file for a patent or find a partner to take your idea forward.
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what if I need to open my SEAL™ file?
Simply login to the
WorldWideOCR and from your Safe-Deposit Box, locate the item and click "open SEAL™ File". You will then be asked enter your PIN and your
portion of the SEAL™ Key that you received via e-mail upon completion of the SEAL™
process. Upload your associated SEAL™ File, and
while you wait, your creation is decrypted for
your immediate
download. WorldWideOCR will follow up with a detailed e-mail, describing our
involvement with your now decrypted SEAL™ File and testimony to the fact that we have
two identical copies of your encrypted SEAL™ File in our archives.
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what about redundant SEAL™ File archiving?
It is always recommended that you back everything up! But even in the
event that you lose your SEAL™ Files, don't worry. In addition to
your copy of the SEAL™ file, WorldWideOCR will also create two redundant
archive copies and store them in two separate locations for as long as you
remain a member. This gives you a total of three backup locations.
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what
if I lose my personally archived copy of the SEAL™ File?
Through your Safe-Deposit Box, and at a charge of $20 US per request, WorldWideOCR will restore one or all of your SEAL™ files for personal download and archiving. You can then securely re-transfer your SEAL™ Archive from our server to a desktop of your choice.
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can I make copies of my SEAL™
File?
WorldWideOCR encourages you to make as many copies of your personally archived SEAL™ files as you want. DO NOT RENAME YOUR SEAL™ FILES!!!
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what if I can't complete the "SEAL™ Process"
in one session?
Once you begin to SEAL™ your file, you must complete the process within 48 hours.
Uninterrupted, the 5 step SEAL™ File process typically takes between 5 and 20 minutes, depending on your bandwidth and file size. Should you be interrupted, you can return to WorldWideOCR and check the status of your SEAL™ files from your Safe-Deposit Box. For 48 hours following your original session, you may resume any pending SEAL™ File by clicking on the "Resume" button in the File Status column.
For your own file security, after 48 hours, any incomplete SEAL™ Files are deleted from our server. You will receive an email, informing you that your incomplete SEAL™ file has expired and that your SEAL™ credit was restored to your account. You will need to begin again.
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why must I "proof-read" my file before I SEAL™ it?
Once your file has been securely transferred to the WorldWideOCR server, you will be asked to "proof-read" your file. This needs to be done to ensure that you have uploaded the "correct and functioning" original file. Liken this step to checking the contents of an envelope before you send it of to your archive. This step is crucial as you will be signing off
that the file transfer was successful and that your file remained intact.
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why
can’t I just e-mail my work(s) to myself or my friend?
Actually, you probably could, but it will be much less secure and far more difficult for you to testify as credibly as WorldWideOCR or your government copyright office will. Because these institutions are built upon trust and credibility, they have no interest in tampering with any of the data supplied to them by their registrants. Unfortunately, your friend's motivations could easily be brought into question.
While many computers and files can be easily tampered with, a business like ours, built with integrity and based upon trust and credibility, can offer many obvious benefits with respect to testifying in these matters.
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can't
I just registered mail all of my ideas in one package?
As they say, "It's better than nothing..." But this also depends on who you talk to. You may hear that this method will suffice to provide proof of copyright ownership, but you may also hear that mailing your copyrighted material to yourself is completely useless in a court of law.
For example, there is an argument that one could send an empty, un-sealed envelopes through the Postal system to acquire the date-stamps. At a later date, the copyright holder can then insert their latest work the the pre-date-stamped envelope, seal it, and claim the date on the envelope as their original date of creation. This version of the "Poorman's Copyright" has become a thing of the past.
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can I copyright the name of my band or musical group?
You cannot own the copyright to a name. You can, however, trademark your name in association with the services you provide. Simply put, a trademark is a word, name, symbol or other device that identifies the goods or services of a given person, group or company which also distinguishes them from the goods or services of other persons, groups or companies.
Trademark law is written to prevent others from using your trademark (such as the name of a musical group or artist) on their merchandise, without expressed written consent.
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