Answer: designs, drawings and artwork
How to show a design or drawing existed before someone else’s versionDate the exact file before it leaves your hands
TimeBinder adds a layer of protection against AI and human fraud and disputes.
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.
Short answer
Freeze the exact design or drawing file and record its fingerprint with a time before you send it to a client, enter it in a competition or post it. A TimeBind then shows that exact file existed no later than the recorded time and still matches.
It does not show who made the design, that the other version was copied, or who owns it. Those depend on the facts, any contract, and the law where you work.
Steps: date a design or drawing
- Freeze the file. Export the design as you will keep it: a PDF, DWG, IFC, PSD, PNG or similar. Opening and re-saving a native file can change it, so work from a copy you will not edit.
- Make a TimeBind before it leaves your hands. Do it before you email it, upload it to a client portal, enter a competition or post it online. Your browser makes the fingerprint and the file stays on your device.
- Date the milestones. Concept, issued for review, and each client-approved revision. Each is a separate file with its own fingerprint.
- Keep the Proof of Time Certificate with the file. Store the original unchanged.
- If a dispute comes, show only what it shows. Give the certificate and the exact file, and say it existed no later than the recorded time and still matches.
How a TimeBind compares with other evidence
| Evidence | What it shows | Where it falls short |
|---|---|---|
| File dates and metadata | A date your device or software recorded. | Can be changed in seconds. |
| A post or upload on a platform | That something was posted on the platform at about that date. | Depends on the platform, and posts can be edited, deleted or backdated by an account holder in some cases. See does posting online prove you made it first?. |
| Cloud version history | A saved version inside that platform. | Relies on the platform. See cloud version history as proof. |
| Registered post or sealed envelope | A postmark on a sealed package. | Slow, and does not tie to the exact file. See registered post vs a timestamp. |
| Copyright registration | A public record of a claim to a work. | Not available or needed everywhere, and not a record of every version. See copyright registration vs a timestamp. |
| TimeBind | That the exact file existed no later than a recorded time and still matches. | Does not show who made it or who owns it. |
What a TimeBind shows, and what it does not
- It shows that this exact file existed no later than the recorded time, and that a copy shown later still matches its fingerprint.
- It does not show who made the file, who owns it, that its contents are true, or whether AI was used to make or edit it.
- It does not replace legal advice, a notary where one is required, or a court’s own view of the evidence.
First Pooled TimeBind free, no card, then from US$5. An ASAP TimeBind is US$15.
For a commission already in hand, the free illustration commission AI brief checklist looks at the exact brief, including any generated reference images, and the files you will deliver. It cannot show who holds the rights, and it is not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Does a TimeBind prove I own the design?
No. It shows that an exact file existed no later than a recorded time. Ownership depends on who created the work, any employment or commission terms, and the law where you are. A lawyer can advise on your own situation.
Do I still need to register my copyright?
It depends where you are. In the United States, registration is generally needed before you can sue in court over a US work (17 U.S.C. § 411(a)), and it affects remedies. In EU member states copyright generally arises automatically when the work is created. A TimeBind is not a registration. A lawyer can advise on your situation.
What file should I timestamp, the CAD file or a PDF?
Timestamp the file you will actually send or rely on. For many people that is an exported PDF or image of each issue, plus a frozen copy of the native file. A native file can change when it is opened and saved, so keep an untouched copy.
Will a TimeBind show someone copied my design?
No. It can show your file existed no later than a recorded time. Showing copying needs other evidence, such as how the other design came about. See how to prove someone copied your work.
Does it work for drawings, logos and illustrations?
Yes. A TimeBind works for any file type: drawings, BIM exports, logos, artwork, photos, video and code. One TimeBind covers up to 10 files.
How much does it cost?
Your first Pooled TimeBind is free with no card, then from US$5. An ASAP TimeBind is US$15.
Related guides and tools
- Timestamping for designers and architectsThe step-by-step landing page
- Architecture timestampingDrawings, BIM exports and design statements
- Prove a design existed before a UK or EU filingWhat to keep before you file
- Prove a CAD, BIM or Figma file existedFile-type guide
- Client used your design without paying?What to keep and what to do
- All answersShort answers to common file-proof questions
- Can you copyright architecture?Original designs and plans, not standard features.
Date your next design or drawing 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.