Frequently asked questions about proof of prior existence

It's the demonstration that a file existed, in a specific state, at a specific date. Ipocamp computes its cryptographic fingerprint (a unique code derived from its content), then timestamps it by recording it in an unalterable public registry, whose network sets the date independently of Ipocamp. The resulting certificate links the fingerprint, the date, and the author selected for the deposit.

In civil matters (under French law), evidence is free-form: it can be produced by any means. Article 1358 of the French Civil Code leaves it to the judge to assess the reliability of the method. An independent timestamp and an unalterable registry provide the technical elements examined in this context. The judge's decision always takes the whole case file into account.

The fingerprint and timestamp are recorded in an unalterable public registry (Tezos), which anyone can verify for free from any country, independently of any French authority. Legally, European Union law prohibits refusing an electronic timestamp solely because it is in electronic form. Several countries (Italy, China, the United States, Germany...) already recognize this type of evidence in their law or case law. In France, the Marseille Judicial Court accepted an Ipocamp timestamp as proof of prior existence in copyright law. This was a first, consistent with the freedom of evidence set out in Article 1358 of the French Civil Code. For proceedings brought outside France, admissibility depends on local law. We recommend contacting a lawyer in the country concerned. Country-by-country details are available in our legal features.

A single certificate already has evidentiary value. A series of deposits covering successive versions, work stages and exchanges documents the creative process as a whole. Together, these deposits form a body of consistent evidence (separate elements that point in the same direction), stronger before a judge than a single piece.

A patent or trademark grants its holder exclusive rights. A certificate documents a date and the integrity of a file. The two complement each other: the proof dates the stages before a title exists, as well as creations that no title protects.

Yes. In software, for example, the Paris and Douai Courts of Appeal require the creator, in order to establish the software's originality, to demonstrate the intellectual process followed and the choices made among the possibilities. In fashion and design, spec sheets, sketches and trials already document the prior existence of the work. These documents often lack a verifiable date. Ipocamp gives each of them one.

The certificate stays verifiable for life, with no recurring fees, even if you no longer pay anything. If a dispute arises ten years after the deposit, the original certificate remains your proof. The file kept in your space is deleted three years after termination, so keep your own copy.

No. You can deposit a file without an account and receive your certificate by email. An account lets you find all your deposits in one place, including future ones. If you open it later with the same email address, your earlier deposits appear in it automatically.

5 deposits per email address. Each one gives you the proof: the fingerprint, the timestamp and the certificate. Beyond that, a subscription is required, starting at €16/month. It includes up to 300 deposits per year and 10 GB of storage (both extendable), legal protection and support in the event of an intellectual property dispute.

All formats, up to 2 GB per deposit without an account, unlimited with a subscription. The service timestamps the file's fingerprint and processes every format in the same way: image, code, audio, video, spreadsheet, or a compressed archive for a set of files.

Legal protection from Covéa, included in the Individual, Independent Pro and Professional plans. In the event of a dispute over a creation already secured by Ipocamp, your legal costs and lawyer's fees are covered up to €5,000 per dispute on the Individual and Independent Pro plans, and €10,000 on the Professional plan. A conciliation phase, led by Covéa's in-house legal experts, is initiated first to seek an amicable solution, before a lawyer steps in. The cover includes literary and artistic property and, on the Professional plan, trademarks and designs (the appearance of a product), excluding patents and trade secrets. It applies after a three-month waiting period (a period with no cover), if your subscription has stayed active without interruption since the creation was timestamped. Distribution is handled by Ipocamp, a broker registered with ORIAS. For a large volume, a specific contract can be considered in the Custom plan. The exact terms, caps and exclusions are set out in the insurance contract.

Yes. The REST API (automated access to the service) and its real-time tracking (the status of each deposit sent to your tools) let you generate a certificate automatically on every delivery, commit or end of sprint. This is the most common deployment method in businesses.

You must be the author, co-author or rights holder of the deposited file, or be authorized to deposit it. You indemnify Ipocamp against any third-party claim on this matter. Details are set out in our Terms of Service, section "Deposit without an account".

They are used to send your certificate. Their processing follows our privacy policy. Any other use relies on your consent.