Protect your creations with blockchain timestamping: a revolution for intellectual property
When it comes to protecting intangible assets, the ability to prove the prior existence of a work, document or idea is a major legal issue. Whether in matters of copyright, patentability, trade secrets or contractual disputes, having reliable, enforceable and lasting proof is essential.
Blockchain technology provides a particularly well-suited response to these requirements. By combining timestamping and distributed ledgers, it enables the creation of timestamped digital fingerprints, recorded in a tamper-proof and decentralised system. Each record is cryptographically sealed, making any alteration technically impossible without compromising the integrity of the entire chain.
In terms of evidence, blockchain timestamping is recognised proof of existence in several jurisdictions, particularly under the eIDAS Regulation in Europe. It can be used in litigation to certify the exact date of a document, file or intellectual creation, without relying on a third-party certifier.
A recent court ruling, which we discuss here, confirms the probative value in France of blockchain timestamping in the context of creating evidence of prior existence.
For lawyers, blockchain timestamping is becoming a strategic complement to traditional protection mechanisms (INPI, bailiff's deposit, etc.). It does not replace them, but reinforces them, particularly in cases where evidence must be produced quickly, at low cost, and without dependence on a central authority.
By integrating this technology into their practices, legal departments are equipping themselves with a modern tool that complies with security, confidentiality and reliability requirements, while anticipating developments in evidence law in the digital age.
In concrete terms, blockchain technology makes it possible to:
- Produce proof of prior existence by anchoring a file hash.
- Guarantee content integrity without disclosing data.
- Eliminate the need for a third-party certifier, while ensuring traceability.
- Strengthen the evidentiary strategy in IP-related disputes.
- Protect your IP on a global scale, as the principle of blockchain timestamping is the same in all jurisdictions.
Examples of legal use:
- A law firm can time-stamp draft contracts or confidential exchanges to guarantee their integrity.
- A company can certify the prior existence of a prototype or concept before filing a patent.
- An author can protect their digital works (texts, visuals, music) before distribution.
- A legal department can archive evidence in the fight against counterfeiting or plagiarism.
- IT developers can timestamp source code.
Blockchain also offers complete traceability and increased transparency, while respecting confidentiality requirements through the use of cryptographic hashes. It can be easily integrated into legal workflows via APIs or secure interfaces, without requiring advanced technical skills.
By adopting a blockchain timestamping solution, legal professionals have a modern, compliant and legally robust tool to strengthen intellectual property protection, anticipate disputes and secure evidence in an ever-changing digital environment.
