Charity Roundup was a simple idea that I started in the summer of 1999 when I was an angel investor in the first tranche to fund the patent application by Albert March at Universal Transactions on a digital wallet. This insite into the new digital retail and remittance world set the platform for a simple but innovative way to aggregate significant funds by rounding up online and POS retail purchases to the next decimal. Knowing a bit about patents and my work with open source programmes when I was the COO of Resource Project and the Toronto Linux Lab, I applied the prior art precedent to this process so that any POS app developer or web-based transaction retailer could incorporate this type of charitable funding as part of their social responsibility mandate without the limits of applying for a patent.
2128 “Printed Publications” as Prior Art [R-07.2022]
[Editor Note: For applications subject to the first inventor to file (FITF) provisions of the AIA, see also MPEP §§ 2152.02(b) and 2152.02(e)]
I. A REFERENCE IS A “PRINTED PUBLICATION” IF IT IS ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLICA reference is proven to be a “printed publication” “upon a satisfactory showing that such document has been disseminated or otherwise made available to the extent that persons interested and ordinarily skilled in the subject matter or art, exercising reasonable diligence, can locate it.” In re Wyer, 655 F.2d 221, 210 USPQ 790 (CCPA 1981) (quoting I.C.E. Corp. v. Armco Steel Corp., 250 F. Supp. 738, 743, 148 USPQ 537, 540 (SDNY 1966)) (“We agree that ‘printed publication’ should be approached as a unitary concept. The traditional dichotomy between ‘printed’ and ‘publication’ is no longer valid. Given the state of technology in document duplication, data storage, and data retrieval systems, the ‘probability of dissemination’ of an item very often has little to do with whether or not it is ‘printed’ in the sense of that word when it was introduced into the patent statutes in 1836. In any event, interpretation of the words ‘printed’ and ‘publication’ to mean ‘probability of dissemination’ and ‘public accessibility’ respectively, now seems to render their use in the phrase ‘printed publication’ somewhat redundant.”) In re Wyer, 655 F.2d at 226, 210 USPQ at 794. See also Voter Verified, Inc. v. Premier Election Solutions, 698 F.3d 1374, 1380, 104 USPQ2d 1553, 1556-57 (Fed. Cir. 2012) (“the ultimate question is whether the reference was ‘available to the extent that persons interested and ordinary skilled in the subject matter or art[,] exercising reasonable diligence, can locate it’” (citations omitted)).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charity_rounding_up
I placed the process on the web and this blog so it could be used by any organization if needed.
I also fully disclosed it to the Starbucks Idea site in 2008 after I was not getting any purchase with Interac, Visa or Mastercard.
"Raising funds for charities"
original idea disclosed on Starbucks Site
This would ensure no need to patent the process. Charity Roundup is simply using the digital virtual mall the same as we do a regular physical mall. You have the opportunity to rid yourself of the change from a retail transaction by giving it to a charity. In a mall you will give your change to the Salvation Army, Sick Kids, United Way, Remembrance Day services, WWF etc. or the down on their luck at the entrance. Why not do the same on the net or at a POS retail terminal.
Charityroundup is a very simple system. You sign up and select your charities. When you buy using a POS store terminal or website, your purchase roundsup to the next decimal. $5.65 becomes $5.70. The pennies are directed to the charity of your choice. There is no transaction cost as these are looked after by the retail purchase. By year end, if you have donated enough you get a tax receipt for a nice tax refund. Being Thoughtful without Thinking!
My work with the original Linux lab in Toronto made the need for open source technology vital to this venture. Well after 15 years, there is now starting to be some action in this area.
The recent Southpark Season 19 Episode 5 was all about Whole Foods charity arm twisting and shaming. Charity roundup is transparent and non-confrontational.
I was in Bancroft and found that Loblaw's was using this technology. My internet provider Go Daddy has setup a cludgey service and called it "Rounding up for Charity".
The US has http://www.rounditupamerica.org/ that also applies the roundup funding process.
I just came across a new entry into charitable funding world. It's Changeit . In reviewing the website and its partners, I think it is one of the better proof of concept for the charity roundup model. I do hope that they are moving the majority of funds through to the charities that need it.
I was also doing a financial planning seminar at the Monte Carlo Inn and came across their Round Up 4 Kids charity to raise funds.
There are also internet sites such as "changeroundup.com" that has shown initiative in this area.
The potential is significant and I hope this idea make it around North America and beyond.
Stay posted as I continue to monitor the world of charitable fund raising using the simple method of rounding up your change.
Just saw that Wealthsimple is incorporating Roundup into its saving program. Great news, and like seeing the name Roundup enter into the retail savings world.
https://www.investmentexecutive.com/news/industry-news/new-wealthsimple-feature-allows-clients-to-save-or-invest-their-spare-change/
Even McDonalds and now Lyft have begun incorporating Charity Round Up into their daily business practice. https://www.medalofphilanthropy.org/rounding-up-for-charity/
In Canada Mark's Work Warehouse and Tim Horton's do round up now.
This is truly world wide movement.
John Burns
The Best Financial Services to the Most Vulnerable for the Least Cost.
