Bates-stamped redaction is the removal of personal data from numbered pages. The stamp is the label that answers FRCP 34(b)(2)(E)(i), so it has to survive the pass. anonym.plus reserves the stamp zone and works on your own device.
When this applies
Every later citation points at a Bates number: a deposition exhibit, a motion, a log of cuts. Re-stamping after a cut renumbers the set and breaks each of those references. A box drawn over text leaves the characters underneath.
How anonym.plus handles it
- Load the stamped pages into anonym.plus on your device.
- It maps the stamp zone so the number stays untouched.
- The tool flags names, dates, and IDs in the body.
- Confirm the flags away from the stamp area.
- Redact or mask each confirmed item.
- Save the clean pages on your device.
What you need to provide
- The stamped pages (PDF or image scan).
- An operator; Redact for a clean black-box on disclosure.
- A reserved zone so the number is never touched.
PII entity types detected
| Category | anonym.plus entity type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Names | PERSON | G. Fischer → [NAME] |
| Dates | DATE_TIME | 02 Mar → [DATE] |
| Account | US_BANK_NUMBER | acct 4471 → [ACCOUNT] |
| Contact | PHONE_NUMBER | 040 555 0188 → [PHONE] |
| Identifiers | US_SSN | SSN → [SSN] |
| Document IDs | PERSON | ABC-000142 (kept) → [BATES] |
Compliance achieved
- The stamp survives, so labelling under FRCP 34(b)(2)(E)(i) still holds.
- Redact deletes the characters under the mark, not just the pixels over them.
- Numbers are never renumbered, so exhibit and log citations keep pointing home.
- Local OCR reads scanned pages; nothing is uploaded.
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Limitations & cautions
If the stamp overlaps body text, OCR may confuse the two. Set a reserved zone for the number and check the first page of each batch. A black-box cut must fully cover the value, not just hide it under a flattenable layer.
Frequently asked questions
Why is a black box not enough?
A drawn rectangle is an annotation layer. The text sits under it, so it can be copied out or lifted when the file is flattened. Redact removes the characters instead, so there is nothing left to recover.
Should I re-Bates the set after the pass?
Do not, unless the protocol says so. Those numbers key your privilege log, your redaction log, and every exhibit cite. A reserved zone keeps them untouched.
Can it read scanned stamped pages?
Yes. Local OCR reads scans, so PII printed on image pages is caught.