How to Prove Your Process Was Your Original Idea

You've spent weeks — maybe months — developing your process. It's original, it's valuable, and it's yours. But how do you show when it existed? If someone later claims they had the same idea first, dated evidence is far better than your word alone.

Mailing yourself a sealed envelope (the "poor man's patent") has no special legal standing. A patent gives real exclusive rights, but it is expensive, slow, and only available for inventions. A Bitcoin timestamp sits in between: it is fast, low-cost and independently verifiable evidence of a date — nothing more, and nothing less.

Why Timestamp Your Process Early

A process often exists only as a document, a file, or notes. File dates can be edited and emails can be disputed. A hash written into the Bitcoin blockchain cannot be changed afterwards by anyone, including us, and anyone can check it without trusting icalledit.io. The earlier you create that record — ideally before you share your process with anyone — the more useful it is.

Be clear about the limits: a timestamp shows that this exact content existed at that time. It does not prove that you created it, it gives you no exclusive rights, and it does not replace a patent, trademark or copyright registration. Compare the options to see which one you actually need.

How Bitcoin Timestamping Works

What Makes This Different from Other Methods?

• Permanent: the record lives in the Bitcoin blockchain, which is replicated by thousands of independent nodes worldwide. No one can erase it.
• Independent: you don't need icalledit.io to verify your proof. Any public block explorer works — see how to verify independently.
• Tamper-evident: any change to your process, even one character, produces a completely different SHA-256 hash.
• Fast: the transaction is usually broadcast within minutes. No lawyers, no paperwork.
• Affordable: $19, one-time. It can be submitted as evidence; how much weight it carries depends on the court and jurisdiction.

Is Blockchain Proof Legally Valid for a Process?

A timestamp is evidence, not a legal right. In March 2025 the Tribunal judiciaire de Marseille took blockchain timestamps into account — together with other evidence — when establishing the date and ownership of fashion designs in a copyright case. In 2018 the Hangzhou Internet Court in China admitted evidence preserved on a blockchain. In the EU, the eIDAS Regulation says an electronic timestamp cannot be denied legal effect solely because it is electronic, although only "qualified" timestamps enjoy a legal presumption of accuracy — and a Bitcoin timestamp is not a qualified one. How much weight your proof carries depends on the court and the jurisdiction. Sources are listed on our comparison page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I timestamp a process even if it's just an idea?

Yes. You can describe your process in text, and that description gets timestamped. The more detail you include, the more useful your evidence. You can also attach files — documents, designs, code, images — anything that represents your process.

What if I need to update my process later?

Each version gets its own timestamp. If your process evolves, you can create a chain of registrations showing how it developed over time.

Do you store my process?

Files attached in the Protect flow are hashed in your browser and are not uploaded — we only receive the SHA-256 hash, which cannot be turned back into your content. The title and description you type are stored in your account so you can re-download your certificate. The blockchain records only the hash. Details are in our privacy page.