Copyright registration with the U.S. Copyright Office costs $35-85 and can take 1-6 months to process. In the UK, private services like the UK Copyright Service charge £45+. ProofStamper creates a certified proof that your file existed at a specific date in 30 seconds — free, using the RFC 3161 international standard. It doesn't replace registration, but it provides immediate, independently verifiable proof while you wait — or as a standalone alternative for everyday creative work.
In most countries, copyright is automatic — you don't need to register anything. But proving when you created something is a different story. Traditional registration is slow, expensive, and limited in scope. Here's how ProofStamper compares to official copyright registration services.
| ProofStamper | Copyright Registration | |
|---|---|---|
| What it proves | A file existed at a certified date | Official copyright registration with government |
| Organization | Independent Timestamp Authority (FreeTSA) | U.S. Copyright Office / UK Copyright Service |
| Technical standard | RFC 3161 (international IETF standard) + SHA-256 | U.S. Copyright Act (Title 17) / Private certification |
| Price | Free (watermarked certificate) · Pro: $9/month | $35-85 (U.S.) / £45+ (UK) |
| Processing time | 30 seconds | 1-6 months (U.S.) / Days (UK) |
| File formats | Any format (PDF, images, video, code, audio, archives…) | Specific form + deposit copy |
| Geographic scope | International (eIDAS + worldwide) | U.S. primarily (Berne Convention for basic rights) |
| Confidentiality | Zero-knowledge — your file never leaves your device | Deposit copy kept by Library of Congress / private company |
| Independent verification | By anyone, using open source tools (OpenSSL) | Via Copyright Office / company records |
| Account required | No | Yes |
No. In the U.S., registration provides additional legal benefits (statutory damages, attorney's fees). A timestamp provides immediate proof of creation date, which registration does not provide quickly. They serve complementary purposes.
RFC 3161 timestamps are admissible as evidence. Their probative value is assessed by the court. They are not a government registration, but they are strong technical evidence of when a file existed.
Copyright is automatic under the Berne Convention (180+ countries). You don't need to register anywhere. A certified timestamp gives you proof of date regardless of your country.