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CIP4 Organization — Benefits of Membership
Executive Summary

CIP4 is an open and public association whose mission is to encourage computer-based integration of all processes that have to be considered in the graphic arts industry, in particular through the specification of integration standards. Founded in Switzerland and with offices in Germany and the U.S., the CIP4 organization is a worldwide organization with members on every continent, with the exception of Antarctica.

Regardless of your company type and class of membership, the benefits of membership greatly out weight the price of dues. All members have access to a number of benefits, and one of which can easily justify the cost of annual dues:

  1. All regular employees of a member organization can get a CIP4 account and password which gives them access to:
    • Over thirty technical and non-technical working groups, including the ability to provide input to the ongoing development of the CIP4 specifications (right now CIP4's specifications are the Job Definition Format (JDF) and PrintTalk) and to represent their member organization's interests. For company's providing systems and software, working group participation is a significant advantage for staff developers and programmers; for associate members, working group participation provides unparallel access to the most informed CIP4 member experts and an inside perspective on process automation via CIP4's standards. Note: The majority of working group meetings (with the exception of meetings co-scheduled with interoperability events) are conducted via conference call and WebEx, allowing for inexpensive participation opportunities.
    • Sample JDF data files
    • Draft versions of JDF documents in development … giving you the opportunity to stay informed ahead of the general public.
    • Archives of all JDF documents, presentations, email threads and more - allows you to track down issues and answers.
    • Invites to members-only marketing opportunities, such as the upcoming JDF Pavilion at Ipex that includes opportunities to present in a centralized theater and to participate in show floor demonstrations.
    • The member discount on the JDF Expert Certificate Program (administered by IPA.)
    • Access to the CIP4 Wiki, a comprehensive and evolving repository of knowledge related to CIP4, JDF and PrintTalk.
  2. All CIP4 Members may list JDF-enabled products and services in the JDF Marketplace. The JDF Marketplace is updated and published as a PDF quarterly and it is available to printers, prepress services, finishing services and the graphic arts industry free of charge (it is widely used.)
  3. Access to JDF tools like the JDF Editor, Elk (testing), the CheckJDF Server, and product certification tools (beta tools in circulation now.)
  4. The opportunity for staff to be nominated to a seat on the CIP4 Advisory Board, CIP4's governing body.
  5. Free CIP4 CyberMall listings (new feature.)
  6. Your JDF experts and consultants can signup for the JDF Speakers Bureau, opening the door to public speaking opportunities.
  7. Your JDF-related press releases, case studies, and white papers can be published in the JDF Bulletin, an electronic newsletter distributed six times a year to members and others on a worldwide distribution list.
  8. Use of the CIP4, CIP4 Member and JDF Now logos in you marketing materials and promotional.
  9. For your marketing contacts that subscribe the JDF_Marketing list, notice on unique and often one-time marketing opportunities.

In addition to the above, there are a few benefits that are uniquely meaningful to Full and Partner members, such as:

  1. Access to the C++ and Java JDF software development kits and may incorporate that code in commercial products on the one stipulation that membership in CIP4 is maintained.
  2. Access to CIP4 interoperability events (2-3 events per year) where your developers can test exchange with others and the results are not shared with the public, only members. Access to CIP4 interoperability events (2-3 events per year) where your developers can test exchange with others and the results are not shared with the public, only members.
  3. Access to the product certification program (and its development, as the program is currently under development.)

Of course, like any association, the return on your investment in CIP4 membership will depend on your level of participation and the number of staff that get involved in the areas of activity that most interest them. However, if JDF is in your business plan, the decision to pay the dues in exchange for all of the above benefits should be a no-brainer; it's a great deal.

Membership in CIP4 is organizational and CIP4 has three primary classes of membership: Partner, Full and Associate. If a company sells software or JDF-enabled systems of any type, they are only eligible for Full ($3,000 USD/year) or Partner ($15,000 USD/year.) The one significant difference between Full and Partner membership is that Partner members are guaranteed a seat on CIP4's governing body, (the Advisory Board), while staff from Full members are eligible for an elected seat on the Advisory Board (one Full member seat for each two Partner seats.)

Printers, publishers, prepress services, consultants, distributors, integrators and educational institutes are afforded a significantly discounted rate on membership ($150 USD/year). The founders of CIP4 agreed that the input of printers, publishers and prepress services is critical to the success of CIP4 and its standards; hence, the significant discount.

If you have questions regarding CIP4 membership benefits feel free to contact either Christian Anschütz of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, CIP4's Membership Director, via email at membership_officer@cip4.org or via telephone at +49 6221 92 16 66, or contact CIP4 Executive Director James Harvey via email at executive_director@cip4.org or via telephone at +1 (410) 451 5040.

 

Interested in joining CIP4? You can start the process by submitting an application for membership.