Using an Ipocamp proof before a foreign court

The Ipocamp certificate is designed to be understood by a judge without specific technical training. It links a cryptographic fingerprint of the file, a date set by the network that maintains the registry, independently of Ipocamp, and an unalterable public registry in which any third party can check the corresponding entry.

This technical setup is not specific to French law. Several foreign courts have already accepted evidence based on the same principles. The Hangzhou Internet Court in China was the first to accept a digital timestamp in an infringement case. Since 2017, the US Federal Rules of Evidence have allowed self-authentication of records identified by a cryptographic fingerprint (Rule 902(14)). Italy, by law, gives timestamps on a distributed ledger the same effect as a European electronic timestamp.

In practice, admissibility before a foreign court always depends on local rules of evidence, which only a lawyer admitted in that country can assess with certainty. The certificate and its technical summary can be sent to that lawyer to support the case, but Ipocamp does not appear before foreign courts.

If you receive individual support, it can help you prepare your case and identify useful documents before referring you, if needed, to a local lawyer.

This article is for general information only and does not replace advice from a legal professional licensed in the country concerned.