Information carrier integrated with an optically readable information symbol

An optically readable information carrier comprising:

• an information symbol having a predetermined area and including an optically readable mark, the optically readable mark indicating at least part of the predetermined area, the information symbol being optically readable by an information reader after the predetermined area has been identified thereby;
• and
• a mask member removably adhered on the information symbol and arranged to
• abut on the information symbol, and
• mask at least part of the optically readable mark while keeping presence of the information symbol externally visible to change the predetermined area of the information symbol to be continuously unidentifiable unless any one of the mask member and the information symbol is removed from the other thereof, wherein
• the information symbol has an outer periphery defining the predetermined area and a first color with a first light reflectance,
• the mask member is arranged adjacently around the outer periphery of the information symbol and has a second color with a second light reflectance, the first light reflectance and the second light reflectance substantially being equivalent to each other,
• the information symbol and the mask member are integrally printed in the respective first and second colors on an adhered surface of an object, and
• the optically readable information carrier further comprises a cutoff indicating mark arranged around the mask member and configured to indicate boundary lines between the outer periphery of the information symbol and the mask member.

An optically readable information carrier comprising:

• an information symbol having a predetermined area and including an optically readable mark, the optically readable mark indicating at least part of the predetermined area, the information symbol being optically readable by an information reader after the predetermined area has been identified thereby;
• and
• a mask member removably adhered on the information symbol and arranged to
• abut on the information symbol, and
• mask at least part of the optically readable mark while keeping presence of the information symbol externally visible to change the predetermined area of the information symbol to be continuously unidentifiable unless any one of the mask member and the information symbol is removed from the other thereof, wherein
• the information symbol has an outer periphery defining the predetermined area and a first color with a first light reflectance,
• the mask member is arranged adjacently around the outer periphery of the information symbol and has a second color with a second light reflectance, the first light reflectance and the second light reflectance substantially being equivalent to each other,
• the information symbol is composed of a plurality of cells, each of the cells being in any one of the first color and second color, and
• the optically readable information carrier further comprises a sticker with an adhesion surface to be removably adhered at the adhesion surface on an adhered surface of an object, the information symbol being printed on the adhesion surface of the sticker, the mask member is a mask pattern with the second color, the mask pattern being printed on a predetermined portion of the adhesion surface of the sticker, no cells of the information symbol being printed on the predetermined portion of the adhesion surface wherein upon removal of the sticker from the adhered surface of the object, the information symbol is configured to be transferred to the adhered surface of the object, and the mask pattern is configured to remain in the sticker.