Back in 2013 I proposed +a +way to make paper and PDF invoices easier to process electronically by +adding a QR code with the key information about the invoice. I +suggested using vCard field definition, to get some standard format +for name and address, but any format would work. I did not do +anything about the proposal, but hoped someone one day would make +something like it. It would make it possible to efficiently send +machine readable invoices directly between seller and buyer.
+ +This was the background when I came across a proposal and +specification from the web based accounting and invoicing supplier +Visma in Sweden called +UsingQR. Their PDF invoices contain +a QR code with the key information of the invoice in JSON format. +This is the typical content of a QR code following the UsingQR +specification (based on a real world example, some numbers replaced to +get a more bogus entry). I've reformatted the JSON to make it easier +to read. Normally this is all on one long line: + +
+{ + "vh":500.00, + "vm":0, + "vl":0, + "uqr":1, + "tp":1, + "nme":"Din Leverandør", + "cc":"NO", + "cid":"997912345 MVA", + "iref":"12300001", + "idt":"20151022", + "ddt":"20151105", + "due":2500.0000, + "cur":"NOK", + "pt":"BBAN", + "acc":"17202612345", + "bc":"BIENNOK1", + "adr":"0313 OSLO" +} ++ +The interpretation of the fields can be found in the +format +specification (revision 2 from june 2014). The format seem to +have most of the information needed to handle accounting and payment +of invoices, at least the fields I have needed so far here in +Norway. + +
Unfortunately, the site and document do not mention anything about +the patent, trademark and copyright status of the format and the +specification. Because of this, I asked the people behind it back in +November to clarify. Ann-Christine Savlid (ann-christine.savlid (at) +visma.com) replied that Visma had not applied for patent or trademark +protection for this format, and that there were no copyright based +usage limitations for the format. I urged her to make sure this was +explicitly written on the web pages and in the specification, but +unfortunately this has not happened yet. So I guess if there is +submarine patents, hidden trademarks or a will to sue for copyright +infringements, those starting to use the UsingQR format might be at +risk, but if this happen there is some legal defense in the fact that +the people behind the format claimed it was safe to do so. At least +with patents, there is always +a +chance of getting sued... + +
I also asked if they planned to maintain the format in an +independent standard organization to give others more confidence that +they would participate in the standardization process on equal terms +with Visma, but they had no immediate plans for this. Their plan was +to work with banks to try to get more users of the format, and +evaluate the way forward if the format proved to be popular. I hope +they conclude that using an open standard organisation like +IETF is the correct place to +maintain such specification.
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