Digital timestamping provides technical proof that your file existed at a specific date and time, and has not been modified since.

In practice:

• You send your file (manuscript, photo, video...)
• We create a unique digital fingerprint of your file
• This fingerprint is permanently recorded on a blockchain (an unalterable public ledger)
• You receive a certificate proving your file's existence at that date

Result: You have time-stamped technical proof that your creation existed before a certain date—which may be used depending on the legal context.

An email can be easily falsified or contested in court. Digital timestamping uses unalterable and verifiable technology.

Emailing your file to yourself:

• Modifiable date
• Easily contestable
• No technical guarantee
• Limited probative value

Instampy's Blockchain Proof:

• Unalterable date
• Verifiable by all
• Proven technology
• Enhanced probative value

Absolutely no need to be an expert! Instampy is designed to be used by all creators, regardless of their technical level.

Perfect for:

• Authors - Protect your manuscripts, stories, poems
• Content creators - Blog articles, newsletters, videos
• Students - Theses, dissertations, research work
• Artists - Photos, illustrations, visual creations
• Inventors - Innovation descriptions, concepts
• Professionals - Reports, studies, presentations

The process is ultra-simple: Drag your file → Pay €9.90 → Receive your certificate. That's it!

🔧 Technical complexity is our business: Yes, cryptographic fingerprint generation and blockchain writing are very technical subjects. That's exactly what Instampy does for you: we simplify access to this cutting-edge technology so you can benefit from this proof method without worrying about complex technical aspects.

We support all common creation formats:

• All file types accepted
• No size limit

Important: Always timestamp your final version. Once timestamped, the file must never be modified again for the proof to remain valid.

Timestamping proves that a file existed at a specific date, but to prove that you are the author, your file must contain your identity.

We strongly recommend including:

• Your full name
• Your email address
• The creation date

Where to include them:

• On a cover page
• In the file metadata
• In the header or footer
• In the document body

Important:

• An anonymous file will be timestamped but it will be very difficult to demonstrate your authorship in case of dispute
• Make sure your file is in its final version before timestamping
• Any subsequent modification, even minor, would invalidate the proof

Complete guide: How to maximize the probative value of your submissions

Don't panic! Your proof still exists on the blockchain, and we can help you recover your certificate.

If you have an account:

• Log in to your personal space
• Find the timestamp in your history
• Re-download the PDF certificate

If you don't have an account:

• Check your email inbox (and spam) to find the original email
• Contact us via the contact form with the email used during timestamping
• We can regenerate and resend your certificate

A digital fingerprint (also called hash) is like a unique ID card for your file. It's a string of 64 characters (numbers and letters) that uniquely identifies the exact content of your file.

How it works:

• The SHA-256 algorithm analyzes the entirety of your file
• It calculates a unique fingerprint based on all content
• The result is always a 64-character string (ex: a1b2c3d4...)
• This fingerprint is mathematically impossible to falsify

Extreme sensitivity: The slightest modification, even tiny, completely changes the fingerprint:

• Adding a space → different fingerprint
• Changing a comma to a period → different fingerprint
• Modifying an image pixel → different fingerprint
• Saving in another format → different fingerprint

You don't need to understand blockchain to use Instampy, just like you don't need to understand how an engine works to drive a car.

In simple terms: Blockchain is like a public, global, and unalterable ledger where all timestamping proofs are recorded. Once information is written there, it can never be modified or deleted.

Think of it as:

• A global digital vault that no one controls
• A permanent record book accessible to all
• An indestructible proof that will survive even if Instampy stops operating

The advantage for you: Your proofs are guaranteed for life, even if our service disappears one day.

No, your file never leaves your device! This is a crucial point of our technology.

Total confidentiality:

• Your file stays on your computer/phone
• Our system calculates a unique digital fingerprint of your file
• Only this fingerprint is sent for timestamping
• Impossible to retrieve your file from this fingerprint

What is stored:

• Digital fingerprint: Unique identifier of your file
• Date and time of the timestamping
• File name and type: For your personal reference
• Email: For authentication and certificate delivery

What is NOT stored:

• Your file's content - Never stored
• Your personal data - Deleted after 2 years of inactivity
• Your original file - Remains only on your device

Result: No one at Instampy or elsewhere can see your file's content. Your confidentiality is 100% guaranteed.

No, your proofs remain secure even if Instampy stops operating! That's precisely the advantage of blockchain technology.

Permanent protection:

• Your proofs are stored on the public blockchain (decentralized global network)
• No company controls this blockchain
• Even if Instampy stops operating, proofs remain accessible for life
• Your certificate contains all information to verify your proofs independently

Redundant protection: To guarantee maximum protection, Instampy records your proofs on multiple independent public registries. Thus, even if one of them were to encounter technical difficulties in the future, your proofs would remain accessible and verifiable on the others. Your certificate contains all the information needed to verify your proofs on each of these registries.

If Instampy stops operating:

• Carefully keep your PDF certificate
• It contains all information to allow an expert to retrieve your proofs directly on the blockchain
• Your rights remain perfectly protected

Blockchain timestamping has technical characteristics that can constitute evidence elements in certain legal contexts.

Examples of favorable elements:

• European Union: Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 of 11 April 2024 (eIDAS 2.0) integrating electronic registers (blockchain) as qualified trust services
• European Union: Regulation (EU) 2025/2531 of 16 December 2025 opening eIDAS regulation to new blockchain technologies
• France: Decree No. 2018-1226 of 24 December 2018 relating to the use of a shared electronic recording device (DEEP) for financial securities
• Italy: Law No. 12 of 11 February 2019 recognizing the probative value of blockchain timestamping
• Monaco: Bill No. 237 of 21 December 2017 qualifying blockchain records as faithful and opposable copy
• United States (Arizona): House Bill 2417 of 29 March 2017 recognizing blockchain signatures and secure records
• United States (Tennessee): Senate Bill 1662 of 22 March 2018 recognizing blockchain records as legal electronic documents
• China: Decision of the Hangzhou Internet Court of 27 June 2018 admitting blockchain evidence in court

Why it's recognized:

• Technical unalterability: Impossible to falsify retroactively
• Transparency: Verifiable by all, even by the opposing party
• Neutrality: No central authority controls the proof
• Permanence: The proof cannot "disappear"

Important: Timestamping doesn't automatically create copyright, but it can provide evidence of prior existence that may be useful depending on the legal context. Consult a legal specialist for your specific situation.

Digital timestamping is complementary to traditional deposits, with unique advantages.

Comparison:

• Cost: Instampy €9.90 vs Traditional deposits €15-300
• Protection duration: Instampy for life vs Traditional deposits 5 years renewable
• Speed: Instampy less than 10 seconds vs Traditional deposits several days
• Accessibility: Instampy 24/7 vs Traditional deposits business hours
• Permanence: Proof remains verifiable if Instampy stops operating vs Traditional deposits depend on the service

When to prefer traditional deposits:

• Musical/audiovisual works: SACD/SACEM recommended for collective rights management
• Published literary works: SGDL for collective management
• Complex litigation: Notary for judicial expertise
• Traditional sectors: Some domains prefer classical methods

Our recommendation: Use Instampy for rapid and economical protection of all your creations, then complete with a traditional deposit if your sector requires it or if you commercialize the work.

The Instampy certificate can serve as technical evidence of prior existence and integrity—subject to the judge's assessment.

How to use your certificate:

• Keep the original file exactly as timestamped
• Present the PDF certificate as supporting evidence
• Demonstrate integrity by recalculating the file's fingerprint
• Verify on blockchain (an expert can perform this verification)

Probative force:

• Proof of prior existence: Your creation existed before a certain date
• Proof of integrity: The file hasn't been modified since
• Technical proof: Independent verification possible
• Permanent proof: Cannot be "lost" or "destroyed"

Important for court:

• Inform your lawyer about blockchain usage
• Keep the original file in its exact state
• Contact us for support if necessary

If you have purchased an Instampy certificate and need technical assistance to defend your case in a dispute, you can contact us via our contact form specifying your need and your certificate number.

Important: For specific legal advice, consult a specialized lawyer. Technical assistance to support your proof of prior existence is included in the certificate price.

Our pay-per-use model is more economical and safer than a monthly subscription, because we don't need to store your files long-term.

Why no subscription? Our technical approach:

• No long-term storage: We only keep the fingerprint (hash) of your file, not the file itself
• Reduced costs: No massive storage servers to maintain
• Maximum security: Your file stays on your device, we never store it
• Public blockchain: The proof is stored decentralized, not on our servers
• Lifetime protection: Once timestamped, your proof exists forever

Economic advantages of pay-per-use:

• No commitment: No subscription to manage or cancel
• Fair: You only pay when you timestamp
• Transparent: Fixed price, no hidden fees
• Accessible: No need for recurring monthly budget
• Economical: 5 timestamps/year = €49.50 vs €120/year subscription

Technical and economic comparison:

• Classic subscription: Server storage + maintenance + €120/year
• Instampy (pay-per-use): Local hash + blockchain + €9.90/use

Result: Safer, more economical, simpler

Our philosophy: Protecting your creations must be simple, safe, and economical. No unnecessary storage, no subscription, just a lifetime cryptographic proof.

We accept all common payment methods via our secure partner Stripe.

Accepted payment methods:

• Bank cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express
• Debit cards: Most European debit cards
• PayPal: Payment via your PayPal account
• Apple Pay / Google Pay: Secure mobile payment

Payment security:

• Stripe: World leader in online payments
• PCI DSS certification: International banking standard
• Security: Your banking data is protected
• No storage: We never keep your banking data
• Compliance: Meets applicable European regulations

Invoice: You automatically receive a PDF invoice by email after each payment.

No, no hidden fees! The displayed price (€9.90) is the final price you pay.

What's included in €9.90:

• Digital fingerprint calculation
• Blockchain registration
• PDF certificate generation
• Email delivery
• Customer support
• Access to your history
• Technical assistance to support your proof of prior existence if needed

The timestamping service is provided immediately after payment, making it impossible to apply the 14-day withdrawal period.

Why this request?

• Immediate execution: Your file is timestamped as soon as payment is validated
• Irreversible service: Once timestamping is done, it cannot be "cancelled"
• Proof created: Your timestamping certificate is generated instantly
• Legal compliance: Compliance with Article L221-28 of the French Consumer Code

Article L221-28 of the French Consumer Code: "The right of withdrawal does not apply to services fully executed before the end of the withdrawal period and whose execution began after express prior agreement of the consumer and express waiver of their right of withdrawal."

We are currently working on subscription and group pricing features to meet the needs of users with many files to timestamp.

In the meantime, contact us if you need to timestamp a large number of files—we can often arrange personalized pricing manually depending on your needs.

The difference? Your proof remains usable, even without us.

Some timestamping services reduce their costs by grouping hundreds of proofs into a single line of the public ledger. The problem? To find your proof in this batch, you need to know their internal classification system. These systems sometimes use very complex techniques (Merkle trees, proprietary formats) and provide you with a technical file essential for verification. If you lose this file, your proof becomes unverifiable. And since it's an unreadable format, you cannot show it directly to a lawyer or judge.

This is not a hypothesis: several timestamping services have already closed, leaving their clients with certificates that have become unusable.

At Instampy, each timestamp is individually recorded on the public ledger. We prohibit ourselves from grouping entries to guarantee your access even without us, but this prevents us from reducing our writing costs. Instampy provides the "coordinates" of your proof on the ledger and allows anyone who knows how to use this ledger to read it, for example a commissioned expert. Even if Instampy disappears tomorrow, your certificate remains independently verifiable.

Furthermore, Instampy allows you to retrieve your PDF certificate from your account at any time. Losing your certificate is never a disaster: we can regenerate it for you. Some services do not offer this possibility, leaving you with no recourse in case of loss.

The safe analogy: Economical solutions make you share a large safe with 1000 other people. You have the key to your small compartment, but without the master key of the safe held by the company, your key is useless. If the service closes, it's impossible to access the safe to prove which compartment was yours. Instampy provides you with your own individual vault. Even if we disappear, any independent expert can unlock and verify it.