Identification document

Abstract: Known identification documents such as passports and driving licences have a photograph for purposes of identification of the holder of the document. Due to the fact that such a photograph can be replaced by another photograph, such known documents are fraudproof only to a limited extent. If these identification documents already provided with the photograph are further provided according to the invention with a copy of the photograph printed on the identification document, they become highly fraudproof, due to the fact that the printed copy cannot be replaced, and the photograph can be compared at any time with said printed copy, which makes replacing the photograph pointless.

Description: A. Background of the invention The invention relates to an identification document comprising a photograph which has been affixed to a part of a surface of the identification document for identification of a subject by comparing this subject with the photograph. Such an identification document is generally known, for example a passport or an insurance document. In the case of a passport, to a part of a particular page of the passport a photograph of a person has been affixed. This person is thereby identified as the holder of the passport. In the case of an insurance document, to a part of said insurance document a photograph of an article has been affixed. This article, which is to be insured, is thereby identified as the article to be insured. So, in general, the photograph is affixed to a part of a surface of the identification document for identification of a subject by comparing this subject with the photograph. Such known identification documents have the disadvantage that they are fraudproof only to a limited extent, due to the fact that the photograph already affixed can easily be replaced by another photograph. In order to make them more fraudproof, one stamp mark is often placed partly on the identification document and partly on the already affixed photograph, but this mark can be forged without great difficulty on replacement of the photograph. B. Summary of the invention One object of the invention is to provide an identification document of the type mentioned in the preamble which provides better protection against fraud. For this purpose, the identification document according to the invention is characterized in that the identification document comprises a copy of the photograph which has been printed to an other part of the surface of the identification document for checking a possible replacement of the photograph by comparing the photograph with the copy of the photograph. Due to the fact that on the other part of the surface of the identification document the copy of the photograph has been printed, it becomes possible to compare the photograph with the printed copy of said photograph, with the result that replacement of the photograph by another photograph becomes pointless, since the printed copy, which cannot be replaced, will not correspond to that other photograph. This makes such an identification document more fraudproof. The invention is based on the idea that a copy of a photograph printed on the identification document cannot be replaced, and that the fact that the photograph can be compared with its copy makes replacing the photograph pointless. From EP-A 0 113 228 a security card is known which comprises a core formed by two laminae, at least one indicia being provided within the core between the laminae and being detectable through at least one of the laminae, and further indicia being provided on a surface of the core. From DE-A 29 40 891 a fraudproof document is known consisting of a paper on which a photograph has been copied or a copy of a photograph has been printed. Due to EP-A 0 113 228 and DE-A 29 40 891 being related to completely different technologies (the security card consisting of at least two laminae versus the fraudproof document comprising a paper on which only the copy of the photograph has been printed), there is no incentive to combine both applications. A first embodiment of the identification document according to the invention is characterized in that a transparent plastic layer is provided on the copy of the photograph. Such a plastic layer protects the printed copy of the photograph from external influences. A second embodiment of the identification document according to the invention is characterized in that the photograph is situated between the part of the identification document and a transparent plastic layer. A third embodiment of the identification document according to the invention is characterized in that the photograph is affixed to the part of the identification document by means of a metal object. A fourth embodiment of the identification document according to the invention is characterized in that the photograph is affixed to the part of the identification document by means of an adhesive. The second, third and fourth embodiments of the identification document according to the invention relate to the affixing per se and various possibilities for affixing the photograph to the identification document. It is pointed out that it is known from GB 2,228,445 to provide a security document with an impression which is made by a computer-controlled laser printer and constitutes a visual representation of the holder of the document. It is also known from WO 92/03804 to print an impression of the holder of the card on a credit card, and it is known from FR 2,610,748 to provide a cheque with a printed impression by means of an adhesive. However, it is not known from these documents for a document already provided with a photograph additionally to be provided with a copy of that photograph printed on the document. The copy prevents the photograph to be compared therewith from being replaced, while the identification of the holder of the document is by means of the photograph, which will generally give a sharper and clearer picture of the holder than the copy does. C. References GB 2,228,445 WO 92/03804 FR 2,610,748 D. Example of an embodiment The invention will be explained in greater detail with reference to an example of an embodiment shown in the figures, in which: Figure 1 shows an identification document according to the invention. The identification document 1 shown in Figure 1 relates to a passport, with a part 2 to which passport photograph 3 still has to be affixed, and with another part on which a copy 4 of the passport photograph 3 has already been printed. The identification document 1 also contains some text 5, for example personal data. The term identification document must be understood in a very wide sense: it relates not only to the passport shown, but also to a driving licence, an insurance document, a company pass or an admission pass, and even a bank pass or an examination result document. The invention is in fact applicable to any document which has been or has yet to be provided with a photograph for purposes of identification, and relates to printing a copy of the photograph on the document. This provides the possibility of comparing the photograph, which could be replaced by people with fraudulent intent, with the printed - and thus irreplaceable - copy of this photograph, which makes replacement of the photograph by another photograph pointless. The identification document according to the invention has therefore become considerably more fraudproof. Even so-called blank documents to which no photograph has yet been affixed are more fraudproof, due to the fact that having to print the copy on the identification document constitutes an additional obstacle. The invention relates to identification documents to which a photograph has already been affixed and/or on which a copy has already been printed. In one embodiment a transparent plastic layer can be stuck over the photograph and/or over the copy (so-called plastic-coating). In other embodiments the photograph is affixed by means of an adhesive, for example glue, or by means of a metal object such as a staple. The copy is printed by means of a laser printer, a photocopier, a copy printer, a video printer etc. The term printing here must be understood in a wide sense: not only can printing be by means of ink or toner, but printing by means of laser beams or by means of perforations and so-called thermal printing are some of the possibilities. It is important that the copy is printed on the document in such a way that the copy cannot be replaced.

Claims: Identification document (1) comprising a photograph (3) which has been affixed to a part (2) of a surface of the identification document (1) for identification of a subject by comparing this subject with the photograph (3), characterized in that the identification document (1) comprises a copy (4) of the photograph which has been printed to an other part of the surface of the identification document for checking a possible replacement of the photograph (3) by comparing the photograph (3) with the copy (4) of the photograph. Identification document according to Claim 1, characterized in that a transparent plastic layer is provided on the copy (4) of the photograph. Identification document according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the photograph (3) is situated between the surface of the identification document (1) and a transparent plastic layer. Identification document according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the photograph (3) is affixed to the surface of the identification document (1) by means of a metal object. Identification document according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the photograph (3) is affixed to the surface of the identification document (1) by means of an adhesive.

Inventors: KRUIZINGA JAN JOHANNES, KRUIZINGA, JAN JOHANNES
Applicants: NEDERLAND PTT, KONINKLIJKE PTT NEDERLAND N.V.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B42D15
IPC codes: B42D15