The principle: a fingerprint in an immutable ledger
Protecting a work with the blockchain does not mean storing the file on a decentralised server. It means computing a unique digital fingerprint of the file (a SHA-256 hash — a 64-character sequence that identifies the file uniquely) and recording that fingerprint in the Bitcoin blockchain.
The Bitcoin blockchain is a public, decentralised ledger distributed across thousands of nodes worldwide. Once a transaction is recorded, it is cryptographically impossible to modify or delete it. Your file's fingerprint becomes immutable proof that the file existed at that precise date.
OpenTimestamps: the standard protocol
OpenTimestamps is an open-source protocol created by Peter Todd — one of Bitcoin's early contributors. It anchors fingerprints in the Bitcoin blockchain via an aggregation mechanism: thousands of fingerprints are grouped into a single transaction using a Merkle tree, making each anchor inexpensive.
The `.ots` file produced by OpenTimestamps is a self-contained cryptographic receipt: anyone can verify it with the open-source software, without relying on a third-party server. The proof exists independently of Incipite — even if our service shut down tomorrow, your proof would remain valid.
Legal standing
In the UK and US, blockchain timestamps are increasingly accepted as evidence in IP disputes — particularly under the Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE 902) in the US, which recognises self-authenticating electronic records.
In Europe, the eIDAS regulation (2014, revised 2024) governs the legal value of electronic timestamps. A qualified eIDAS timestamp carries a legal presumption of accuracy. OpenTimestamps / Bitcoin are not eIDAS-certified, but their probative value is recognised in many contexts as free evidence subject to the court's assessment.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a blockchain timestamp prove I am the author of a work?
- No — it proves you held the fingerprint of a file at a specific date (prior art), not that you are the legal author. Copyright arises at the moment of creation in most legal systems, regardless of any deposit.
- What if someone slightly modifies my file and timestamps it before me?
- A SHA-256 hash changes radically when even a single byte is modified — the avalanche effect. If someone modifies your work, the fingerprint produced will differ from yours. Priority goes to the first timestamp of the original version.
- Do I need to keep the original file for the proof to be valid?
- Yes — the certificate proves the fingerprint existed, but to show a file matches that fingerprint, you must present the original file. Keep multiple copies (cloud + local + physical backup).