diff --git a/typology/interfaces.py b/typology/interfaces.py
index 5d798a5..4282903 100644
--- a/typology/interfaces.py
+++ b/typology/interfaces.py
@@ -73,6 +73,9 @@ class IType(Interface):
                              'to the type. Note that this object need not '
                              'provide the IType interface itself but it '
                              'should be adaptable to ITypeProvider')
+    options = schema.Dict(title=u'Options',
+                description=u'A mapping of optional settings to be used for '
+                             'application or environment specific purposes')
     # possible extensions:
     # subTypes
     # parentTypes
diff --git a/typology/type.py b/typology/type.py
index 624c44a..36176bc 100644
--- a/typology/type.py
+++ b/typology/type.py
@@ -32,9 +32,10 @@ class BaseType(object):
 
     def __init__(self, context):
         self.context = context
+        self.options = {}
 
     def __eq__(self, other):
-        return self.token == other.token
+        return IType.providedBy(other) and self.token == other.token
 
     title = u'BaseType'