By the end of this post, I hope to pass on a little bit of information about QR codes - just some things I've picked up over time in dealing with them.
This post is aimed at non-technical folk, keeping all the gory details to a minimum. For a tech-centric post, go here
What are they?
QR codes are hyperlinks that bridge the real and digital worlds. They allow a piece of print media to take the user to a website, usually on their mobile. The codes themselves are 2D barcodes, and can actually contain text or v-cards to name a few, but mostly they contain hyperlinks.
Where are they from, aren't they just a fad?
They originated in Japan - a subsidiary of Toyota invented them to keep track of car parts. From there, they spread into marketing. Because of their plain, utilitarian nature, I think they will fade as a cutesy novelty, to become ubiquitous, in the same way that hyperlinks are on the web.
Where can one get them?
http://www.qrstuff.com/ is a good place to start, but if you google "QR Code generator", you'll find plenty of tools.
Creative executions?
http://designerqrcodes.wordpress.com/designer-qr-code-art-gallery/ shows many good examples.
What are the legal requirements?
The term "QR Code" is owned by Denso Wave (a subsidiary of Toyota), and their only requirements are listed here:
http://www.denso-wave.com/qrcode/faqpatent-e.html
Basically, you can get away with using the actual code in any way you want, but if you use the term "QR Code", you should note that QR Code is a registered trademark of Denso Wave.
More info?
For more info and links, go to the techie version
QR Codes, explained by commoncraft
http://www.commoncraft.com/video/qr-codes
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