Short answer: Before you send a product design to a manufacturer, save the exact files you’re about to send, such as drawings, CAD, the tech spec and photos of your prototype, and record their fingerprint with a timestamp. A TimeBind records each file’s SHA-256 fingerprint on the Bitcoin blockchain. Later, it shows those exact files existed no later than the recorded time. It’s a dated record, not a patent, design right or contract. It won’t stop a factory copying your product, and it doesn’t show who designed it. If you want legal protection, speak to an IP professional before you share anything. TimeBinder’s Free plan includes 1 Token a month for one Pooled TimeBind of up to 10 files, with no credit card required.
Disclosure: I’m Inna Hall, co-founder of TimeBinder, the file timestamping tool this guide mentions. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Table of Contents
Why the send-out moment matters
Sending files to a factory is often the first time your design leaves your hands. You might be asking for quotes from several suppliers, getting a prototype made, or handing a sourcing agent a full tech pack. If a disagreement comes up later about which design came first, or which version you sent, the question is usually about dates and versions.
Your email or messaging app shows when you sent something, but attachments get re-saved, renamed and re-exported. A dated record of the exact files, made before you send them, gives you a fixed point to compare against.
What to do before you send a product design to a manufacturer
- Decide what you’re sending. Only send what the factory needs for the quote or sample. Keep the rest back until you’re further along.
- Think about legal protection first. IP Australia says “To have the best chance of protecting your design, you should keep it a secret until you’ve applied.” If you need to share it, it suggests: “If you need to talk to others about your idea, get them to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to make sure they won’t disclose it to others.” Outside Australia, check your own country’s IP office.
- Export final versions. Save the drawings as PDF, the CAD in its native format (for example STEP or the file your software uses), the spec sheet, the bill of materials and prototype photos.
- Name files clearly. For example
widget-v3-drawings.pdf,widget-v3.step,widget-v3-spec.xlsx. - Make a TimeBind. Drag up to 10 files into TimeBinder. Each file is hashed in your browser and never uploaded. Only the fingerprints are recorded.
- Keep the originals unchanged. A file matches its fingerprint only if every byte is the same. Store the exact copies somewhere safe, alongside the certificate.
- Send, then record what you sent. Keep the emails or messages with the factory in full, including the attachments.
- Repeat for each new version. Each revision or new supplier is a new send-out, so it’s worth its own TimeBind.
What to include in each record
| File | Why it’s useful |
|---|---|
| Drawings or renders (PDF) | Shows how the product looked at that stage |
| CAD file (native format) | The detailed shape and dimensions |
| Tech spec or tech pack | Materials, sizes, finishes and tolerances |
| Bill of materials | Parts and suppliers you’ve chosen |
| Prototype photos (original files) | What the physical sample looked like |
| Quote request or brief | What you asked the factory to do |
More on format-specific records: the design file timestamping guide and the invention records guide. If you’re a designer sending work to a client rather than a factory, see how to protect your design before sending it to a client.
Pooled or ASAP?
- Pooled (1 Token): Your fingerprint is grouped with other users’ in one shared Bitcoin entry, usually recorded within 24 to 48 hours, and often sooner, depending on Bitcoin network activity. It’s checked through TimeBinder.
- ASAP (3 Tokens): It gets its own Bitcoin transaction, sent straight away, and can be checked independently, without relying on TimeBinder.
If you plan to send files to the factory today, an ASAP TimeBind is broadcast straight away, although that doesn’t mean instant confirmation. If you’re making a record a day or two ahead, Pooled is usually enough. The Pooled vs ASAP explainer covers the difference, and how it works explains fingerprints and certificates.
Design rights, patents and a timestamp are different things
IP Australia describes a design right this way: “A design right protects the overall visual appearance of new and distinctive products.” For “A process or how your product functions”, IP Australia’s guidance says to “apply for a patent”. Both are applied for through an IP office, and a timestamp is neither of them.
A TimeBind can sit alongside those steps as a dated record of your files. It doesn’t replace an application, and IP Australia notes “It’s best practice to file for design protection as soon as possible.” If you’re unsure what to file and when, ask an IP attorney before you send files to anyone.
What a TimeBind does NOT do
- It doesn’t show who designed the product, or who owns it.
- It doesn’t show the contents are true or accurate, or whether AI was used.
- It doesn’t stop a manufacturer copying or changing your design. It shows whether a file still matches its fingerprint.
- A Pooled TimeBind can’t be checked without TimeBinder.
- It can’t say how a court, factory or anyone else will treat it.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your situation, speak to a lawyer or IP attorney in your country. IP Australia pages were checked on 1 November 2026.
When TimeBinder isn’t the right tool
- You want enforceable rights in a design or invention. Apply through your IP office, with advice from an IP professional.
- You need the factory to agree to keep things confidential. That’s an NDA or a manufacturing agreement, drafted for your situation.
- You need to show who designed something. A timestamp doesn’t show that. Keep your working files, notes and messages too.
- The design is already public. A timestamp made now only shows the files existed no later than the time it was made. It doesn’t move the date back.
TimeBinder pricing
- Free: $0. 1 Token every month (1 Pooled TimeBind). No credit card required. The Free plan’s monthly Token doesn’t roll over.
- Essential: $20 a month for 5 Tokens (5 Pooled, or 1 ASAP + 2 Pooled). Unused Tokens roll over. Cancel any time.
- Expert: $50 a month for 15 Tokens (15 Pooled, 5 ASAP, or a mix).
- Extra Tokens: 1 for $5, 3 for $15 or 9 for $40. Tokens you buy never expire.
A paid plan replaces the Free plan’s monthly Token, so Essential gives you 5 Tokens a month in total, not 6.
Enterprise plans have custom Token limits and dedicated support. Service terms for every plan are set out in the TimeBinder Terms and Conditions. If you only send designs out now and then, which plan do I need suggests the Free plan plus Tokens as you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Should I timestamp my design before sending it to a factory?
It’s a simple way to keep a dated record of the exact files you sent. It shows only that those files existed no later than the recorded time. It isn’t a design right, patent or contract.
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Does a timestamp stop a manufacturer copying my product?
No. It doesn’t stop copying. It gives you a dated record of your files to keep alongside your messages, agreements and any IP applications.
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Are my design files uploaded to TimeBinder?
No. Files are hashed in your browser and never uploaded. Only their fingerprints are recorded.
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How many files can I include?
Up to 10 files per TimeBind, of any size or type, so drawings, CAD, the spec and prototype photos can go into one record.
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Should I use an NDA as well?
IP Australia suggests asking people to sign a non-disclosure agreement if you need to talk to them about your idea. A lawyer can advise on one for your situation.
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Is a timestamp the same as a registered design?
No. A design right is applied for through an IP office such as IP Australia. A TimeBind is only a dated record of your files.
TimeBind your files
Before your next send-out, start with a Pooled TimeBind: the Free plan includes 1 Token a month, and no credit card is required. See plans and pricing →
