Courts generally focus on three core questions when evaluating digital evidence: authenticity, integrity, and timing.

A cryptographic hash combined with a blockchain timestamp helps address each of these:

• Integrity: The hash allows you to show that the file presented later is the same file that existed at the time of registration. Any change to the file would result in a different hash.
• Timing: The blockchain record establishes that the file existed no later than the date and time recorded on the ledger.
• Independent verification: Because the record is stored on a public, tamper-resistant ledger, it can be independently verified without relying on the author or the publisher.

In the United States, courts typically evaluate this type of evidence under Federal Rule of Evidence 901, which governs the authentication of evidence. In some circumstances, electronic records and certifications may also qualify for self-authentication under Rule 902, depending on how they are presented.

A recent example where blockchain timestamping / blockchain-preserved evidence has been recognized is in Marseille, France, March 20, 2025 in the AZ Factory v. Valeria Moda case. This case was widely reported as a landmark decision recognizing blockchain time-stamping as reliable proof used to establish prior rights/authorship in an IP dispute. Click to learn more.

It is important to keep:

• the exact file(s) that was hashed (e.g., Final PDF, Final DOCX, or EPUB),
• the certificate PDF that we email you once the document has been timestamped.

And we recommend a 3-2-1 backup plan:

1. Primary folder on your computer
   
2. Cloud backup (Google Drive / Dropbox / iCloud Drive / OneDrive
   
3. Offline backup (external drive stored separately)

Make sure you do NOT:

• Rename or “resave” the timestamped file after hashing (even small changes can alter the hash).
  
• Rely on email alone as storage (email is fine as a secondary copy, not the only copy).

True Origin™ can be used at any stage of the writing process.

With the $49 single registration, authors may submit any version of their work—early concepts, proposals, drafts, or final manuscripts—to create a time-stamped record of that specific file.

With True Origin™ Verified ($149), authors follow a structured process by submitting four defined versions of their manuscript:

• Initial Draft
• Edited Manuscript
• Proofread Manuscript
• Final Manuscript

This creates a clear, chronological record of how the work developed over time.

For the $49 single registration, each submission documents one version of a file at a specific point in time. If you make changes, you may register the updated version separately.

For True Origin™ Verified ($149), revisions are expected and built into the process.

Authors submit updated versions at defined stages, creating a structured timeline of the manuscript’s development. Each version is recorded as it exists at that moment, and together they form a complete record from draft to final manuscript.

Once a version is submitted, it should not be modified. New changes should be saved as a new version and submitted as the next stage.

Yes. Each file format is treated as a separate file.

With the $49 single registration, authors may choose to register one or multiple formats (such as DOCX, PDF, or EPUB). Each file receives its own time-stamped record and certificate.

With True Origin™ Verified ($149), authors should follow the structured submission process (provided by DartFrog) using a consistent working format (typically DOCX) across all four stages. This ensures a clear and consistent timeline of the manuscript’s development.

Additional formats (such as final EPUB or PDF files) may be registered separately if desired.

Anyone can verify the timestamped record using the reference information provided on your certificate. Verification does not require access to your manuscript or reliance on DartFrog.

This allows third parties to independently confirm when the file existed and that the record has not been altered.

If you misplace your certificate, we can resend it to you. More importantly, the underlying record remains independently verifiable, even without the certificate itself.