Short answers
Answers: proving what a file was, and whenQuestions people ask, answered plainly
TimeBinder adds a layer of protection against AI and human fraud and disputes. Each answer starts with the short version, then the steps, a comparison where it helps, and an FAQ.
The file stays on your device. Your browser makes a digital fingerprint of the file. TimeBinder records the fingerprint and the time, not the file.
The short version
A TimeBind is a dated, checkable record that an exact file existed no later than a recorded time and still matches. It does not show who made the file, who owns it, that its contents are true, or whether AI was used.
Start with the question closest to yours. Your first Pooled TimeBind is free, with no card, then from US$5.
Pick your question
- Free file comparison checkerWas this file changed? Drop two files and see if they are identical.
- How to prove a file existed before a certain dateEvery method compared, with a four-step answer.
- How to prove a contract wasn’t edited after signingKeep the signed file, record its fingerprint, compare later.
- How to show a design or drawing existed before someone else’s versionDate the exact file before it leaves your hands.
- How to protect yourself from AI forgeries, deepfakes and backdatingThe complete public guide, with a PDF and a 60-minute checklist.
- How to prove a photo or video isn’t AI-editedHonest answer: a timestamp does not detect AI.
- How to timestamp a document for freeYour first Pooled TimeBind is free, with no card.
- What is a hash timestamp, and how is it different from notarisation?Fingerprint plus time, versus a notary confirming who signed.
- How to tell if a file has been changedCompare with a trusted copy or a recorded fingerprint.
- How to prove when a photo was takenEXIF Date Taken can be edited. Cross-check copies, logs and a dated original.
- Is Protect My Work legit?A real UK private registry. It is not an official copyright office.
- How much does copyright registration cost?USCO US$45 or US$65. LegalZoom is US$114 plus those fees. The UK has no official register.
- What are the best alternatives to OpenTimestamps?OpenTimestamps is free and open source. Common alternatives date a fingerprint in a browser or via an API.
- How to tell if an image is AI generatedNo test reliably detects AI. Credentials and earlier copies are clues, not proof.
- How to spot a deepfake videoVisual and audio clues can help, but they are not proof. A dated original shows existence, not authenticity.
- What is blockchain timestamping?A fingerprint of the file, plus a time, recorded on a public chain such as Bitcoin.
- How to prove a document existed on a dateFile dates and email-to-self are weak. A hash timestamp dates the exact file.
- How to prove code existed at a specific timeGit dates can be rewritten. A dated fingerprint shows those exact bytes existed by a time.
- What are Content Credentials (C2PA)?A signed C2PA label of how a file was made or edited. It can be stripped.
- Does AI leave a watermark?Some tools attach a mark or credentials. Many do not, and marks can be lost.
- Are AI detectors accurate?Not reliably. Detectors can flag human work. A dated draft trail answers a different question.
- How to tell if audio is AI generatedNo listening test is reliable. Check the source and confirm with the person another way.
- How to tell if a PDF has been editedProperties and dates are clues. Compare with a trusted original or check a signature.
- How to prove a screenshot is realA screenshot is easy to edit. Confirm with the source and keep the original file.
- How to prove an email was sentUse the provider’s message trace and keep the original with headers. Receipts do not show reading.
- Can photo metadata be faked?Yes. EXIF dates and locations can be edited or stripped. Treat them as clues.
- What is a file hash?A short fingerprint of a file’s exact bytes. Same file, same hash; any change, new hash.
- What is a poor man’s copyright?Mailing a copy to yourself. The US Copyright Office says it is not a substitute for registration.
- How to prove an image is not AI generatedNo test proves it from the picture. Keep originals and working files, dated.
- Can you copyright a nameA name is usually a trade mark question, not a copyright one.
- Do you need to register copyrightCopyright is automatic. In the US, registration matters when you need to enforce.
- Can you copyright a characterDeveloped characters can be protected. Names and stock types usually are not.
- How to protect a screenplayAutomatic copyright, US registration before wide sharing, dated drafts.
- Can you copyright a chord progressionChords are free to use. Melody, lyrics and recordings are not.
- How to copyright a photoCopyright is automatic. Registration is optional but useful in the US.
- Is an email admissible in courtOften admissible if relevant and shown to be genuine. Authenticity is the usual issue.
- How to check PDF metadataDocument properties in Acrobat or Preview, or ExifTool for more detail.
- Can you copyright codeYour code is protected as written. The ideas and functions behind it are not.
- Can you copyright architectureOriginal designs and plans are protected. Standard features and engineering functions are not.
- What is MD5MD5 is an old 128-bit hash. Fine for spotting accidental changes, weak against deliberate ones.
- Are text messages admissible in courtOften admissible if relevant and authenticated. A screenshot alone is weaker.
- How to remove metadata from photosRemove location from a copy before sharing, and keep your original.
- Can you use AI-generated images commerciallyTerms of use decide whether you may use it. Copyright law decides whether you can stop others.
- Can you copyright a websiteProtect the content and code. Ideas, layouts and domain names usually fall outside copyright.
- Is a voice recording admissible in courtOften admissible if lawful, relevant and authenticated. AI voice cloning raises the bar.
- What is SynthIDAn invisible watermark added at creation. It only covers tools that use it.
- Are deepfakes illegalIntimate deepfakes made without consent are covered by US federal law. Other fakes depend on the place and the use.
- How to report a deepfakeKeep the links and a copy, then use the platform’s report tool or the removal routes below.
- Do you have to disclose AI-generated contentRealistic AI content usually needs a label on YouTube and in the EU. Unrealistic content and small edits usually do not.
- Does YouTube demonetize AI contentAI is not the problem on its own. Mass-produced, generic content is.
- Does Spotify ban AI musicUsing AI is not banned in that post. Impersonating an artist without permission and spamming are the targets.
- Can lawyers use AIAI is allowed as a tool. Filing unchecked AI output is what has led to sanctions.
- What is chain of custody for digital evidenceA log of every handler, date and reason. A hash of the original helps show it stayed the same.
- How to check a SHA-256 checksum on Windows and MacBuilt-in commands on Windows and macOS, then compare the value.
- What is a hash collisionTwo different inputs with the same hash. Practical for MD5 and SHA-1, none known for SHA-256.
- What is a timestamp authorityA trusted third party that signs a fingerprint with a time (RFC 3161).
- How to protect an idea without a patentConfidentiality, NDAs, trade secrets and dated records. Ideas alone are not copyrighted.
- Does social media remove metadata from photosOften stripped or altered, but it varies by platform and over time.
- How to do a reverse image searchUse Google Lens or similar to find where else an image appears.
- Can you copyright a recipeA bare ingredient list and method usually is not. Your writing and photos can be.
- Can you copyright a fontUS typeface designs usually no, font software yes. Check the licence.
- Can you copyright a song titleUsually not on its own. The song itself is protected; trade marks may cover a name.
- What is a checksumA value calculated from data to detect changes or corruption.
- How to verify a downloaded fileCompare the file’s SHA-256 with the value the publisher lists.
- Is voice cloning legalDepends on country, consent and use. Fraud and impersonation can be unlawful.
- What is a deepfakeAI-made or altered media that can show real people doing things they did not.
- What is a digital signatureA cryptographic check of who signed a file and that it has not changed.
- What is a Merkle treeMany hashes combined into one root, so one value covers a whole set.
- What is prior artEarlier public information that can affect whether an invention is new.
- Are screenshots legal evidenceOften admissible, but weight varies. Keep context and the original source.
- Can you copyright a logoOften, if original. Simple or AI-made logos are less clear. Trade marks are separate.
- Can AI-generated music be copyrightedDepends on country and human input. Purely AI output may not be protected.
- What is SHA-256 used forA fingerprint function used to check a file has not changed.
- What is provenanceThe documented history of where something came from and what changed.
- How to check if a document is authenticConfirm with the issuer first, then check the file. No single test is proof.
- What does tamper-evident meanChanges can be detected afterwards, not prevented.
- How to check if a text message is genuineDo not use the message’s links. Check through a channel you trust.
- How to prove I created a songKeep project files and drafts, and date the exact files. A timestamp shows when, not who.
- How to prove I wrote something firstKeep dated drafts and date the exact version. Posting online or emailing yourself is weak alone.
- How to prove ownership of a photoKeep the original and RAW, edits and context, and date the exact file. A timestamp is not ownership.
- What is OpenTimestampsA free, open-source protocol that anchors a file fingerprint to Bitcoin.
- How to prove an invention dateKeep dated notes and files, and date the exact versions. Ask a patent attorney about the rules.
- Is a timestamp legal proofCan be evidence, but acceptance and weight depend on the court and other evidence.
- Does Bitcoin timestamping workYes for showing a file existed by a time. No for authorship or ownership.
- What is proof of existenceEvidence a file existed by a time, using a fingerprint on a ledger.
- How to tell if a photo has been photoshoppedCheck shadows, edges and metadata, then find the original. No single clue is conclusive.
- How to see when a file was createdUse Get Info, Properties or stat. File dates are clues and are easy to change.
- What is EXIF data in a photoDetails a camera saves inside a photo: time, model, settings, sometimes location.
- How to protect my art from AINo method fully blocks AI. Reduce exposure, check platform settings, keep dated originals.
- Can you copyright AI generated artDepends on country and human input. Purely AI output is generally not protected in the US.
- How to prove a document is not AI generatedDetectors are unreliable. Show your process: notes, drafts and version history.
- How to date a documentType the date in the document, then add an independent timestamp for proof.
- How to prove a video is realNo single test proves it. Trace the source and check the original upload.
Answers: FAQ
What is TimeBinder?
TimeBinder is a timestamping service. It shows that an exact digital file existed no later than a recorded time, and that a copy shown later still matches its fingerprint. The fingerprint is made in your browser, the file stays on your device, and the fingerprint is anchored to the Bitcoin blockchain.
Can a timestamp prove a photo or video is not AI-edited?
No. A timestamp shows that an exact file existed no later than a recorded time and has not changed since. It does not detect AI, and it does not show who made the file or that its contents are true.
How much does a TimeBind cost?
Your first Pooled TimeBind is free with no card, then from US$5. An ASAP TimeBind is US$15. Checking a TimeBind is always free.
Date your first file free
Add a layer of protection against AI and human fraud and disputes: a dated, checkable record of the exact file you hold.
- Open the app and sign in with email or Google.
- Add your files. They stay on your computer.
- Seal them and download your Proof of Time certificates.
First Pooled TimeBind free, no card, then from US$5. See pricing.