Use Case — Creative Works
Copyright Protection for Designers, Writers, and Artists
Establish when you created your work — before you share it, before you publish it, before someone else claims it.
The Challenge of Proving Creation Dates
Copyright exists from the moment of creation — but proving that moment is another matter entirely. When a dispute arises over who created something first, the question becomes: can you prove your work existed before the competing claim?
File metadata is unreliable. Creation dates and modification timestamps can be changed by anyone with access to the file. Cloud storage timestamps depend on the provider. Social media posts can be backdated. Even email drafts — long used as a "poor man's copyright" — are controlled by a single service and lack independent verification.
Copyright registration with the U.S. Copyright Office provides legal benefits, but it costs money, takes weeks to months, and only covers works that meet registrability requirements. Many creators — freelance designers, independent musicians, student writers, hobbyist photographers — never register, leaving them without formal proof of when their work was created.
What creators need is a simple, free way to establish when their work existed — independent of any platform, service, or institution — before they share it with clients, collaborators, or the public.
How Timestamping Establishes Authorship
When you timestamp a creative work with EverCert, the file is hashed using SHA-256 — producing a unique cryptographic fingerprint. This fingerprint is anchored to the Bitcoin blockchain via OpenTimestamps, creating a permanent public record that cannot be altered or deleted.
The timestamp proves two things: the file existed at that point in time, and it has not been modified since. If even one pixel changes in an image, one word in a manuscript, or one note in a recording — the hash is completely different and verification fails.
This creates a strong evidentiary record: your work existed in its exact form on a specific date. Combined with other evidence of authorship (drafts, working files, correspondence), a blockchain timestamp significantly strengthens your position in any dispute.
Your file never leaves your device. Only the hash is transmitted. Your unpublished work remains completely private.
How to Timestamp Your Creative Work
- 1Save your work in its current form — any file type works (PSD, AI, DOCX, MP3, WAV, JPEG, RAW, code files, ZIP archives)
- 2Go to evercert.io and drop the file into the upload area
- 3Download the proof package (PDF certificate + .ots proof file)
- 4Store the proof alongside your original work
- 5Timestamp before you share — with clients, on social media, with collaborators, or with publishers. Build a timeline of creation from first draft to final version.
Common Creative Use Cases
- •Manuscripts and book drafts — prove when a story, article, or screenplay existed
- •Graphic designs, logos, and illustrations — establish creation dates before client delivery
- •Music recordings, compositions, and beats — timestamp before sharing with producers or labels
- •Photography — prove when photos were taken and processed, especially for editorial and stock work
- •Source code and software — establish authorship for open-source contributions, freelance projects, and side projects
- •Architectural and product designs — protect original designs before sharing with manufacturers or contractors
Free. Private. No account required.