Guides
Guides for protecting files, evidence and recordsAgainst AI fakes, forgery and backdating
TimeBinder adds a layer of protection against AI and human fraud and disputes.
TimeBinder adds a layer of protection against AI and human fraud and disputes. A TimeBind records that an exact file existed no later than a recorded time and still matches. The fingerprint is made in your browser and the file stays on your device. It does not detect AI, and it does not show who made a file, who owns it, or that its contents are true.
How to use this hub
These guides are for people who need a clear record of a file: lawyers, architects, inventors, developers, writers, musicians and anyone trying to protect their own records against AI forgery or a backdating dispute. They are practical, kept current, and written to be honest about limits.
Start with one of the two complete AI-forgery guides, or jump to a topic: proving a file existed first, AI forgery and deepfakes, the AI fakes and file-integrity glossary, what AI detectors can and cannot do, timestamping compared with other methods, file integrity checks, or routines by profession. You can also browse Answers, Compare, Free tools and the industry hubs.
Start here: the two complete guides
- How Lawyers Can Prevent AI Forgeries and Backdating: The Complete Guide (2026)Nine kinds of AI forgery, red flags, verified tools, checklists, a sample clause, and a PDF. Written for lawyers in the US, UK, EU, Australia and Canada.
- How to Protect Yourself from AI Forgeries, Deepfakes and Backdating (2026 Guide)A practical public guide: voice-clone calls, deepfakes, fake documents, backdating, phishing and a 60-minute safety checklist, with a PDF.
- Spot AI fakes in 5 short lessonsA free mini-course on image labels, reverse search, voice-clone scams, unreliable video tells, and dated originals. No checker can reliably identify synthetic media.
- Verify a viral video in 5 stepsA free mini-course: claim, earliest upload, context, labels and reports, and a dated record. No checker can reliably identify synthetic media.
- Check a suspicious voice message in 5 stepsA free mini-course: the ask, a pause, a second channel, saved recordings, and a dated record. No checker can reliably identify synthetic audio.
- Verify a screenshot or fake document in 5 stepsA free mini-course: the claim and source, a pause, the original, file clues, and a dated record. No checker can reliably tell a genuine screenshot from a fake.
- Verify an AI-generated photo of an event in 5 stepsA free mini-course: the claim and source, a pause, the original and other evidence, clues, and a dated record. No checker can reliably tell a real photo from an AI-generated one.
- Verify a viral news clip in 5 stepsA free mini-course: the claim and source, a pause, the outlet and original, clues, and a dated record. No checker can reliably tell a real clip from an AI-generated one.
- Verify a leaked-looking chat or email screenshot in 5 stepsA free mini-course: the claim and source, a pause, the original and the people involved, clues, and a dated record. No checker can reliably tell a genuine screenshot from an edited one.
- Verify a fake product review or testimonial in 5 stepsA free mini-course: the claim and source, a pause, the reviewer and independent sources, clues, and a dated record. No checker can reliably tell a genuine review from a fake or machine-written one.
- Verify an AI-generated receipt or invoice in 5 stepsA free mini-course: name the claim and the payee, a pause, confirm with the issuer and your own records, clues, and a decision with notes. No checker can reliably tell a genuine receipt from a generated one.
- Check a suspicious profile photo or dating profile in 5 stepsA free mini-course: the claim and what is asked of you, a pause, checking outside the picture, clues, and a dated record. No checker can reliably tell a real profile photo from a generated one.
- Verify an AI-edited rental or property listing photo in 5 stepsA free mini-course: the listing claim and what you are asked to pay, a pause, confirming the place with the platform or agent and independent views, clues, and a decision with notes. No checker can reliably tell an AI-edited listing photo from an honest one.
- Check a suspicious celebrity or expert video ad in 5 stepsA free mini-course: the claim and the offer, a pause, checking the seller and the offer outside the ad, clues, and a decision with notes. No checker can reliably tell a real video ad from a deepfake.
- Check a photo, video or audio file offered as evidence in 5 stepsA free mini-course: name the claim, ask for the original file, look for support outside the file, weigh clues both ways, then document. No checker can reliably tell an AI-made file from a real one.
- Check a suspicious video call or remote job interview in 5 stepsA free mini-course: the claim and what you are asked to do, a pause, confirming the person through a channel you already trust, clues, and a decision with notes. No checker can reliably tell a deepfake video call from a real one.
- Check a suspicious website or login page in 5 stepsA free mini-course: name what the page asks, leave by another route, read the whole address, weigh clues both ways, then document. No tool can reliably tell a clone from the real site.
- Check a map or satellite image that may be AI-made or edited in 5 stepsA free mini-course: name the claim, find the provider original, compare with other imagery and sources, weigh clues both ways, then document. No tool can reliably tell AI from real.
Prove your file or drafts existed first
A dated fingerprint can show that an exact file existed no later than a recorded time, and that a copy shown later still matches. It is not proof of authorship or ownership. Start with the pillar article below, or Answers for short, direct questions.
- How to prove a file existed before a dateThe methods compared, what “existed first” can and cannot mean, and what a dated fingerprint does not show.
- Answers: proving what a file was, and whenShort questions and direct answers.
- Draft historyA simple routine for dating drafts as you work.
- How to timestamp a document for freeYour first Pooled TimeBind is free, with no card.
- How to show a design or drawing existed firstDate the exact file before it leaves your hands.
- How to prove when a photo was takenEXIF Date Taken is a clue; it can be edited.
- Is Protect My Work legit?A real private registry, not the official UK copyright office.
- How much does copyright registration cost?USCO US$45 or US$65; LegalZoom adds a filing fee. The UK has no official register.
- What are the best alternatives to OpenTimestamps?Free command-line proofs, and browser tools that date a fingerprint the same way.
- What is blockchain timestamping?A fingerprint plus a time, usually anchored to Bitcoin.
- How to prove a document existed on a dateFile dates are weak. A fingerprint record shows those exact bytes existed by a time.
- How to prove code existed at a specific timeGit dates can be rewritten. Date a fingerprint of the tree or archive.
- What is a file hash?A short fingerprint of a file’s exact bytes. Not a time or an author.
- Can you copyright a nameWhy names are treated differently from creative works.
- Do you need to register copyrightWhen registration is useful and when it is not.
- Can you copyright a characterCharacter design, names and what to keep.
- How to protect a screenplayCopyright, registration and drafts for screenwriters.
- Can you copyright a chord progressionWhat musicians can and cannot protect.
- How to copyright a photoAutomatic rights, registration and record-keeping for photos.
- Is an email admissible in courtAuthentication, headers and keeping the original.
- How to check PDF metadataWhere to find PDF metadata and what it can tell you.
- Can you copyright codeSource code, AI-generated code and dated records for developers.
- Can you copyright architectureWhat architects can protect, and what to keep.
- What is MD5What MD5 is, why it is weak and what to use instead.
- Are text messages admissible in courtAuthentication, screenshots and preserving the phone.
- How to remove metadata from photosSteps for Windows, Mac and iPhone, and the provenance trade-off.
- Can you use AI-generated images commerciallyTerms, copyright and proving what you made.
- Can you copyright a websiteWhat on a website is protected, and how to keep records.
- Is a voice recording admissible in courtAuthentication, consent and voice cloning.
- What is SynthIDWhat SynthID marks, who can check it, and what it cannot tell you.
- Are deepfakes illegalUS federal and EU rules, in plain words.
- How to report a deepfakeRecords to keep, removal routes and what each one covers.
- Do you have to disclose AI-generated contentEU rules, YouTube and Spotify, with the exceptions.
- Does YouTube demonetize AI contentWhat YouTube says about inauthentic content and AI.
- Does Spotify ban AI musicWhat Spotify said about AI, spam and credits.
- Can lawyers use AIMata v. Avianca, Rule 11 and UK guidance.
- What is chain of custody for digital evidenceNIST’s definition, the NIJ guide and the US evidence rules.
- How to check a SHA-256 checksum on Windows and MacWindows and Mac commands for a SHA-256 checksum.
- What is a hash collisionWhy collisions matter for file fingerprints.
- What is a timestamp authorityHow timestamp authorities work, and how Bitcoin anchoring differs.
- How to protect an idea without a patentOptions besides a patent, and what dated records can show.
- Does social media remove metadata from photosWhat happens to EXIF data on upload, and how to check.
- How to do a reverse image searchSteps for a reverse image search, and what the results mean.
- Can you copyright a recipeWhat is and is not covered for recipes.
- Can you copyright a fontTypeface design, font software and licences.
- Can you copyright a song titleTitles are usually not protected by copyright. The song is.
- What is a checksumA short value that shows whether data has changed or been corrupted.
- How to verify a downloaded fileCompare your download’s checksum with the publisher’s listed value.
- Is voice cloning legalVoice cloning legality depends on consent and use. Not legal advice.
- What is a deepfakeWhat deepfakes are and how to check one.
- What is a digital signatureDigital signature vs electronic signature, and what each shows.
- What is a Merkle treeHow many hashes roll up into one root value.
- What is prior artWhat counts as prior art and how dated records can help.
- Are screenshots legal evidenceScreenshots can be evidence, but weight varies. Keep context and date the file.
- Can you copyright a logoOriginal logos can be protected, but rules vary. Keep design files and date them.
- Can AI-generated music be copyrightedDepends on human input and country. Keep records of what you made yourself.
- What is SHA-256 used forA fingerprint function used to check that a file is unchanged.
- What is provenanceThe recorded history of a file or work, and what records can and cannot show.
- How to check if a document is authenticConfirm with the issuer, then check the file for edits. No one test proves it.
- What does tamper-evident meanTamper-evident vs tamper-proof, and how a fingerprint makes a file tamper-evident.
- How to check if a text message is genuineCheck the sender through a trusted channel. Keep the original thread.
- How to prove I created a songKeep project files and date the exact audio. A timestamp shows when, not who.
- How to prove I wrote something firstDate the exact version and keep your drafts. A timestamp shows when, not who.
- How to prove ownership of a photoKeep the original and date the exact file. A timestamp shows when, not who owns it.
- What is OpenTimestampsA free, open-source Bitcoin timestamping protocol, and how it differs from TimeBinder.
- How to prove an invention dateKeep dated records and date exact files. Rules differ, so ask a patent attorney.
- Is a timestamp legal proofA timestamp can be evidence, not a guarantee. Ask a lawyer.
- Does Bitcoin timestamping workWorks for dating an exact file, not for authorship or ownership.
- What is proof of existenceEvidence that a file existed by a time, without revealing it.
- How to see when a file was createdUse Get Info, Properties or stat. File dates are easy to change.
- How to date a documentType the date, then add an independent timestamp for proof.
- What is EXIF data in a photoDetails saved inside a photo. Useful, but easy to edit or remove.
- How to prove a video is realNo single test. Trace the source and keep the original file.
- How to tell if a PDF has been editedProperties are clues. Compare with a trusted original.
- How to prove an email was sentUse the message trace and keep the original with headers.
- Can photo metadata be faked?Yes. EXIF can be edited or stripped. A clue, not proof.
- What is a poor man’s copyright?Mailing a copy to yourself. Not a substitute for registration.
- How blockchain timestamping worksWhat is recorded, and how a later check works.
AI forgery and deepfake defence
How to respond when a document, recording, image or piece of evidence may have been faked or backdated, and what a dated original can (and cannot) show.
- How to tell if an image is AI generatedNo single test is reliable. Labels and clues are not proof.
- How to spot a deepfake videoClues and labels help. They are not proof a video is fake or genuine.
- What are Content Credentials (C2PA)?A signed label of how a file was made or edited. It can be stripped.
- Does AI leave a watermark?Sometimes. Marks can be lost. Absence does not prove a file is human-made.
- Are AI detectors accurate?Not reliably. A score is a clue, not a verdict. Keep dated drafts.
- How to tell if audio is AI generatedNo listening test is reliable. Check the source and verify another way.
- How to prove an image is not AI generatedKeep originals and working files, dated. No test proves it from the picture.
- How to tell if a photo has been photoshoppedLook for visual clues, then find the original. No clue is conclusive.
- How to prove a document is not AI generatedDetectors are unreliable. Show your process and keep dated drafts.
- Can you copyright AI generated artDepends on country and human input. Check local rules.
- How to protect my art from AINo method fully blocks AI. Reduce exposure and keep dated originals.
- How to prove a screenshot is realA screenshot is easy to edit. Confirm with the source and keep the original.
- The lawyers’ complete guide (PDF)Deepfakes, forged documents, fake evidence and backdating.
- The public guide (PDF)What to do if you are targeted, and how to keep your own records.
- Deepfake or genuine? What the new push on AI evidence rules meansWhat a dated file can show when authenticity is disputed.
- If the other side says your evidence is a deepfakeA practical response, without overclaiming.
- How to reply to an AI accusationA calm template and a checklist.
- AI Accusation CasebookSourced write-ups of public cases.
- Deepfake job interviews: what hiring teams and candidates should keepWhat official alerts say, and what to keep around a hire.
- AI victim impact statements in sentencingAn AI-made victim-impact video at sentencing.
- Someone ran your photo through AIA German appeal court and an AI version of a photo.
- A viral illustration offer was called AIA commission called AI: what artists can keep.
- Can you ask a chatbot whether an image or video is real?Why a chatbot answer is not a check.
- When a lawyer’s voice is clonedVerify payment and deal instructions.
- Audio evidence and voice cloning: what lawyers and clients should preservePreserve the original; what a dated copy can show.
- Real or AI? Photo QuizTen rounds of real photos against AI images, with what gave each one away.
- Real or AI? food ads quizSix rounds of menu-style food photographs. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Real or AI? interiors quizSix rounds of listing-style room photographs. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Could you spot these viral AI fakes?A ten-question quiz on recent AI fakes, with links to the reporting.
- AI Voice Scam Red-Flags CheckerA checklist for suspicious calls and video calls, with next steps and where to report.
- Viral product-video red-flags checkerA checklist for viral product clips, before you share or buy. It does not identify generated media.
- AI watermark and label decoderWhat a SynthID result, a C2PA manifest or a platform AI label can and cannot show.
- YouTube Music AI-label decoderWhat Fully, Partly and No Gen AI labels mean, and what musicians should keep.
- Vibe-coding review checklistA checklist before you merge or ship code an assistant helped write. It does not scan the repository.
- Marketplace listing-photo checklistA checklist before you publish a product listing. It is not an official marketplace tool, and it does not identify generated media.
- Real or AI? product-photos quizSix rounds of marketplace-style object photographs. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Real or AI? pets quizSix rounds of cat and dog photographs. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Real or AI? architecture quizSix rounds of building exteriors. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Real or AI? night-sky quizSix rounds of night-sky photographs. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Real or AI? skylines quizSix rounds of city-skyline photographs. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Is this person real? quizFive rounds of portraits, real adults against AI faces. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Real old photo or AI? quizFour rounds of black-and-white archive photographs against AI. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Real train photo or AI? quizSix rounds of railway photographs, real against AI. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Strange animals: real or AI? quizSix rounds of odd animals, real against invented AI creatures. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Real sign photo or AI? quizSix rounds of signs and lettering, real against AI. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Musical instruments: real or AI? quizThree rounds of instrument photographs, real against AI. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Mushrooms: real or AI? quizSix rounds of mushroom photographs, real against invented AI mushrooms. Never forage or eat anything based on a photo. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Underwater photos: real or AI? quizSix rounds of underwater photographs, real against AI. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Real cake or AI? quizFour rounds of cake photographs, real against AI. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Abandoned places: real or AI? quizSix rounds of abandoned-place photographs, real against AI. Photos only: do not enter derelict buildings. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Real crystal or AI? quizSix rounds of crystal and mineral photographs, real against AI. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Real or AI? plants quizSix rounds of plant and flower photographs. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Real or AI? cars quizSix rounds of parked-car photographs. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Real or AI? weather quizSix rounds of landscape weather photographs. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Real or AI? art quizSix rounds of paintings. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Real or AI? wildlife quizSix rounds of wild-animal photographs. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Real or AI? travel quizSix rounds of holiday-style photographs. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Treehouses: real or AI? quizFour rounds of treehouse photographs, real against AI. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Earth and turf houses: real or AI? quizFive rounds of turf and earth house photographs, real against AI. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Miniatures and scale models: real or AI? quizFive rounds of miniature and diorama photographs, real against AI. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Swimming pools: real or AI? quizSix rounds of swimming pool photographs, real against AI. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Blown glass and glass ornaments: real or AI? quizSix rounds of blown glass and glass ornament photographs, real against AI. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Volcanoes and lava: real or AI? quizSix rounds of volcano and lava pictures, real against AI. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Giant vegetables: real or AI? quizFive rounds of giant pumpkin and vegetable pictures, real against AI. Spotting by eye is unreliable. It is not a tool for identifying generated media.
- Assignment AI-use checklistA checklist before you submit an assessment or a paper. It cannot tell whether text was written with an assistant.
- GitHub Actions workflow lockfile checklistA checklist of the current lockfile docs, the actions you will lock, and the exact workflow and lockfile to keep before you merge a workflow that calls third-party actions. Locking does not show that an action is safe.
- npm trusted publishing checklistA checklist of the workflow and package settings that must match, the 2-day first-publish window, old tokens and the exact files to keep. It is not a security audit.
- PyPI trusted publishing checklistA checklist of what you trust, who can change the publish workflow, old API tokens and the exact files to keep. It is not a security audit.
- Open-source license change record checklistA checklist of which releases stay put, who has to agree, copied-code notes and the dated copies to keep. It cannot show that code was copied.
- AI-assisted song royalty registration checklistA checklist of what to record and check before registering a song that used AI tools with a society. It is not legal advice.
- AI text watermark writing record checklistA checklist of what to record when AI tools mark their text, for writers, lawyers and creators. It is not legal advice and cannot detect a mark.
- Wrong AI label dispute record checklistA checklist of what to save before you report an AI label you think is wrong on a platform. It cannot make a platform remove a label.
- GitHub Actions secret exposure response checklistA checklist of what to look for, save and rotate after a hijacked-account CI attack on GitHub Actions. It cannot tell you whether a secret was stolen.
- AI clause creative contract checklistA checklist of AI training, output, voice and likeness wording to check before signing a creative contract. It is not legal advice.
- AI agent instruction file review checklistA checklist to review AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md and rules files, who can change them and what the agent can reach, before an AI coding agent reads them. It cannot scan files.
- YouTube inauthentic content record checklistA checklist for the YouTube inauthentic content policy and the notice, originals and notes to keep if monetization is questioned. It cannot tell you what YouTube will decide.
- AI coding extension install checklistA checklist of the publisher, update path, built-in browser access and secrets to check before installing an AI coding extension. It cannot scan extensions.
- deepfake evidence authentication record checklistA checklist of the original file, chain of handling, metadata and dated copies to gather about a recording that may be challenged as AI-made. It is not legal advice.
- song credits and metadata record checklistA checklist of splits, embedded credits, distributor metadata and dated copies to keep for each song you release. It is not legal advice.
- Instagram AI label checklistA checklist for whether an Instagram post or profile may need an AI label, and the originals to keep if a label looks wrong. It cannot tell you what Instagram will label.
- MCP server install checklistA checklist of the source, owner, launch command, token scope and dated copies to check before adding an MCP server to an AI client. It cannot scan servers.
- AI image training dispute record checklistA checklist of originals, rights, terms and dated captures to keep if you think your images were used to train an AI model. It is not legal advice.
- npm package compromise response checklistA checklist of lockfiles, CI logs, exposure, secret rotation and dated copies if a compromised npm package version may have been installed. It cannot scan projects.
- AI filing court order response record checklistA checklist of the order, drafts, tool history, corrections and dated copies to gather if a court asks about AI use in a filing. It is not legal advice.
- AI music sound-alike release checklistA checklist of prompts, borrowed lyrics, voice consent, output terms and dated copies before you release AI-made music. It cannot tell you whether a track infringes.
- BIM AI assistant model-edit checklistA checklist of the model copy, approvals, data terms and dated copies before an assistant edits a live BIM model. It cannot inspect a model.
- AI coding assistant settings file secrets checklistA checklist of settings files, git history, rotation and the dated copies to keep if an assistant may have saved a secret. It cannot scan repositories or show whether a key was used.
- Spotify AI remix opt-in checklistA checklist of written terms, co-owners, credit and splits, and the dated copies to keep before any decision. It cannot tell you what Spotify will offer.
- ArtStation AI declaration checklistA checklist of the three declaration options, the default filters, reports and the working files to keep. It cannot decide which option fits or whether a project is filtered.
- KDP AI disclosure checklistA checklist of the current KDP wording on AI-generated and AI-assisted content, covers and rights, and the files to keep. It cannot decide what you must tell Amazon.
- YouTube likeness detection setup checklistA checklist of who can enrol, the ID and selfie step, what a match can mean and the copies to keep. It cannot find a deepfake or decide whether YouTube removes a video.
- Bandcamp AI policy upload checklistA checklist of the current Bandcamp AI guidelines, how AI was used and the session files to keep before you upload. It cannot decide whether Bandcamp accepts a release.
- AI notetaker consent checklistA checklist of notice and consent, what the vendor keeps, and the notice and settings to keep before an AI notetaker joins a client call. It cannot decide recording law or privilege.
- Apple Music AI transparency checklistA checklist of current Apple Music Specification AI transparency tags, including Persona, and the exact masters and tag instructions to keep before you deliver a release. It cannot decide a store label.
- Figma AI terms checklistA checklist of the current Figma AI Terms, the Content Training toggle and the exact file and Output to keep before you use a Figma AI feature. It cannot decide ownership, and it is not legal advice.
- Spotify AI Credits release checklistA checklist of current platform rules, AI Credits wording and the exact master to keep before you deliver a track. It cannot decide a platform label, a recommendation or a royalty outcome.
- Cloud coding assistant checklistA checklist of the plan, current terms and exact files to keep before you share a private repo or client code with a cloud coding assistant. It cannot decide a licence, and it cannot show what a vendor did with your code.
- Client-file AI tool checklistA checklist of current terms and exact copies to keep before you put a client file or other protected information into an AI tool. It cannot decide whether privilege was waived, and it is not legal advice.
- Illustration commission AI brief checklistA checklist of the exact brief, commission terms and delivered files to keep when a job involves AI. It cannot decide a commissioning dispute, and it is not legal advice.
- Podcast and video AI disclosure checklistA checklist of current platform rules, the exact episode or video you will upload, and the disclosure wording to keep. It cannot decide a platform label. Platform rules are not the same.
- AI-assisted invention record checklistA checklist of exact files, notes and terms to keep before you put unpublished invention or design details into an AI tool, or file a disclosure. It cannot decide inventorship or patentability, and it is not legal advice.
- Prize and publisher AI declaration checklistA checklist of current rules, declarations and dated drafts to keep before you submit a story or manuscript. It cannot decide authorship, and it cannot decide a detector result.
- AI citation filing checklistA checklist before you file a brief or motion: check citations in the authorities, and keep a dated copy of the exact file. It cannot find a fabricated citation, and it is not legal advice.
- AI planning drawing checklistA checklist of exact planning or permit sheets, source files and terms to keep before you lodge a set. It cannot decide an application, and it cannot show that a drawing is accurate.
- AI music service upload checklistA checklist of current terms and dated copies to keep before you upload stems or references. It cannot show ownership or that a model used your work.
- Published photo record checklistA checklist of camera originals and published files to keep, and if a photograph is questioned. It cannot tell whether a photograph is generated.
- Game clone record checklistA checklist of dated builds, source and listing captures to keep before you ship, and if a clone appears. It cannot show ownership or that another title was copied.
- AI CAD add-in checklistA checklist before you install an AI add-in beside CAD files. It cannot inspect an installer, and it is not legal advice.
- Unexpected track on your artist profile checklistA checklist if a release you did not send appears on your official artist profile. It cannot detect a fake track, and it is not an official platform tool.
- Photo contest entry checklistA checklist before you enter a photo or video contest. It does not identify generated media.
- Chatbot article-reuse checkerA checklist when a chatbot answer looks close to a published article. It cannot show that a chatbot used your work, and it is not legal advice.
- AI visualization handoff checkerA checklist before you send a generated or assisted visualization. It does not identify generated media.
- AI agent file-access checklistA checklist of copies, permissions and the task, before an assistant can change work files. It is not a backup and not legal advice.
What AI detectors can and cannot do
Detector scores are not proof that a file was, or was not, made with AI. TimeBinder does not detect AI. These articles explain the limits, and why a trail of dated drafts is often more useful.
- Why working drafts and timestamps matter more than AI detectorsWhat the makers and universities have said, what a detector score is not, and what a dated draft trail can show instead.
- AI text watermarks: what writers should knowWatermarks are not a substitute for a record of your own file.
- An author accused of using AIWhat the Goncourt case shows about detector claims.
Timestamping compared with other methods
Registration, notarisation, email-to-self, git history, cloud versioning, C2PA Content Credentials and trusted time-stamp protocols each show something different. The compare hub sets them side by side.
- Compare ways to prove when a file existedTimestamping next to notarisation, email-to-self, git, cloud history, C2PA and registration.
- C2PA vs SynthID vs a dated file recordContent Credentials, an AI watermark, and a timestamp — what each shows.
- Copyright registration vs a timestampWhat each one does, and when you may want both.
- RFC 3161 trusted timestamps vs blockchain timestampsQualified time-stamp protocols and Bitcoin anchoring.
- Emailing yourself vs a blockchain timestampWhy a mailbox is a weak record of when a file existed.
- Are git commit dates proof of when code existed?What a repository history can and cannot show.
- Blockchain timestamp vs notaryA notary confirms who signed; a timestamp dates an exact file.
- OpenTimestamps vs TimeBinderOTS is free and open; when a certificate is simpler.
- Timestamp vs electronic signatureWho signed, versus when an exact file existed.
- Qualified electronic signature (QES) vs a timestampA QES says who signed; it does not fix when, or cover the drafts.
- Poor man’s copyright vs a dated recordWhy mailing a copy to yourself is a weak record.
- Protect My Work alternativesUK private registries issue their own certificates; a timestamp dates an exact file.
- i-DEPOT vs a timestampOfficial Benelux date-stamped proof, compared with a Bitcoin-anchored file record.
- EXIF and file metadata vs a timestampA date in a photo’s tags can be edited. A timestamp dates the exact bytes you hashed.
- Proof of Existence alternativesThe original Bitcoin document-hash service, OpenTimestamps, and a TimeBind compared.
- WordProof alternativesAutomatic website timestamps versus a dated record of a file you keep.
- LegalZoom copyright vs a timestampLegalZoom helps you file with USCO. A timestamp dates a file. They are not substitutes.
- e-Soleau vs a timestampINPI’s official French deposit, compared with a Bitcoin-anchored file record.
- DigiCert timestamp vs a file timestampA code-signing timestamp dates a signature. A TimeBind dates a file.
- Woleet alternativesAn API-first anchoring service for teams, and a self-serve app for one file.
File integrity and tamper checks
How to tell whether a file still matches a copy or a fingerprint you made earlier. The checkers run in your browser; the file stays on your device.
- Free toolsBrowser tools for hashes, file comparison and metadata. The file stays on your device.
- Free SHA-256 hash checkerMake a fingerprint of a file in your browser.
- Free file comparison checkerDrop two files and see if they are identical.
- File date and metadata inspectorWhat “Date created” and EXIF can and cannot show.
- How to tell if a file has been changedCompare with a trusted copy or a recorded fingerprint.
- How to check a file still matches its fingerprintThe later check, step by step.
- AI fakes and file-integrity glossary50 plain-English terms: deepfake, C2PA, SHA-256, EXIF, liar’s dividend and more.
Industry and profession evidence routines
What to date at each stage of a job, for architects and BIM, law firms, inventors, developers and creators. Browse the hubs for your field.
- Industries we work withThe full industry list.
- Architecture timestampingDrawings, BIM models, issue sets and tenders.
- Legal timestampingMatter files, contracts and evidence routines for law firms.
- Inventor timestampingNotes, CAD and disclosures, kept private.
- Developer timestampingSource code, releases and build artefacts.
- Creator timestampingWriting, music, design and other creative work.