A tamper or copy resistant information bearing device is disclosed. The information bearing device comprises a first data bearing pattern and a second data bearing pattern in overlap. At least a portion of the first data bearing pattern overlaps with at least a portion of the second data bearing pattern to form an overlapping region comprising an overlapped data bearing pattern. At least some information bearing elements of the first type and at least some information bearing elements of the second type in said overlapping data bearing pattern are joined or connected in abutment to form a plurality of overlapped information bearing elements. An overlapped information bearing element comprises a first portion due to said information bearing element of the first type, a second portion due to said information bearing element of the second type, and a third portion due to merging or overlapping of said information bearing element of the first type and said information bearing element of the second type.