WIPO PROOF no longer exists. Why you should switch to BlockchainyourIP

WIPO PROOF is a document time-stamping service launched by the World Intellectual Property Organization in 2020.

This system is based on the time-stamping of a file's digital fingerprint, in order to prove the file's existence, in a move to protect the intellectual property of innovators and creators.

In particular, WIPO PROOF tokens could be used to establish prior art to prevent misuse and misappropriation, and prove useful for safeguarding intellectual assets at all stages of development, from conception to commercialization.

The WIPO Proof service was officially discontinued on February 1, 2022.

The decision was taken by WIPO Member States in October 2021, who felt that the service did not meet profitability requirements. The reasons for this abandonment are therefore purely budgetary, with WIPO believing that the blockchain timestamping market was better served by private players.

The continuity of the Service will be ensured by WIPO for 5 years from the date of creation of the token, without the possibility of renewing or extending this period, i.e. until February 1, 2027 at the latest. After this date, it will no longer be possible to download tokens. It is therefore imperative to download all tokens, and to keep them with a copy of the original file.

Tokens will remain valid for an unlimited period. They can still be verified on the WIPO Proof platform, accessible at this address. This platform is due to close at an unknown date, but it will still be possible to exploit them and verify their veracity using independent platforms or free software.

There are several alternatives to WIPO Proof, which enable documents to be time-stamped using blockchain technology.

Firstly, national intellectual property offices generally offer a document time-stamping service. These services generally have the same disadvantages, in terms of cost, time and cumbersome use, without the advantage of easier international recognition.

There are also private, independent services such as BlockchainyourIP, which allow you to create blockchain proofs in just 1 click, valid internationally and with no time limit.

The anchoring technologies used by WIPO Proof and BlockchainyourIP are similar. They are based on the calculation of a digital fingerprint (Hash) of a file, and the time-stamping of this fingerprint, in order to guarantee the existence and integrity of this file at a given date.

To achieve this time-stamping, WIPO Proof used a proprietary system, audited by third parties, whereas BlockchainyourIP uses the Bitcoin Blockchain, accessible and auditable by all, thus guaranteeing greater transparency, and therefore a higher level of trust, and simplified recognition.

Tokens created on WIPO Proof can still be verified, either on the WIPO verifier: https: //wipoproof.wipo.int/wdts/verify/uploadtimestamp.xhtml

Or by following the technical procedure detailed on the WIPO website: https: //wipoproof.wipo.int/wdts/faqs.xhtml

BlockchainyourIP's proof verifier will soon enable verification of WIPO Proof Tokens: verify.blockchainyourip.com

Yes, you can import tokens created on WIPO Proof and retrieve them on the BlockchainyourIP interface.

This service is provided free of charge when you take out a BlockchainyourIP subscription.

BlockchainyourIP is a service offered by an independent French company. It is not possible to guarantee 100% that BlockchainyourIP will be able to continue its activity forever.

However, even if the company were to disappear, the evidence created with BlockchainyourIP would still be perfectly usable. All you need to do is retain each piece of evidence, along with a copy of the original file, for verification purposes.

It is also possible to generate an export of all proofs in Excel format, to ensure portability and ease of use.

WIPO Proof premium certificates are documents in .pdf format, which can be downloaded and printed. They contain all the information recorded in a token (name of the original file owner, file name, hash, token creation date and, if applicable, the name of the agent or employee who processed it). This makes them easier to read and understand than raw tokens, which only contain this information in machine-readable form.

All certificates issued by BlockchainyourIP are delivered natively with a .pdf version equivalent to these premium certificates, which reproduce the information contained in the technical certificate.

BlockchainyourIP offers 2 evidence storage solutions:

• Hosting offered free of charge for companies not wishing to maintain their own data. This hosting is carried out on servers in France, in 3 separate centers.
• Self-hosting, which enables direct integration with corporate storage solutions, guaranteeing absolute autonomy and confidentiality. Anchored documents never leave the servers.

For certificate verification, BlockchainyourIP provides a verifier accessible at verify.blockchainyourip.com.

Verification can also be done using other proof checkers, based on the same open source technology. This verification can also be done yourself, or by an expert, by visiting a Blockchain Explorer.

Unlike WIPO Proof, which offered token-based pricing (at CHF 20 each), BlockchainyourIP's offering comes in the form of an annual subscription, with unlimited access.

So you can make as many proofs as you like, at no extra cost.

The package also offers multiple user accesses, simplifying deposits on behalf of a company, which can be made directly by operational staff.

BlockchainyourIP is not aimed directly at lawyers, but at businesses.

However, BlockchainyourIP provides lawyers with a trial version with 5 free proofs per year, which they can offer to their clients.

→  Bénéficier de l’offre BlockchainyourIP pour avocats

WIPO Proof and BlockchainyourIP are based on similar technologies.

They can therefore be recognized in all jurisdictions that recognize digital time stamping as admissible evidence.

The evidence created by BlockchainyourIP can be verified by anyone, thanks to Open Source protocols, which can be an advantage when it comes to being recognized before the courts, internationally.

For more information on the legal recognition of Blockchain proof, see our Whitepaper.