What Is WIPO PROOF?
WIPO PROOF is a digital timestamping service operated by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) — the United Nations agency responsible for intellectual property services worldwide. Launched in 2020, it provides creators with a tamper-proof, date-certain evidence token that proves a digital file existed at a specific point in time.
For filmmakers, screenwriters, and content creators, WIPO PROOF represents the most internationally credible form of digital timestamping currently available.
How WIPO PROOF Works
The process is straightforward:
- Upload your file — a screenplay PDF, pitch deck, treatment, storyboard package, or any digital document — to the WIPO PROOF portal.
- WIPO generates a fingerprint using cryptographic hashing (SHA-256). The hash is a unique mathematical representation of your file. WIPO does not store your file — only the hash.
- The hash is timestamped using a Qualified Timestamp Token conforming to the ISO/IEC 18014 standard and the RFC 3161 protocol.
- You receive a WIPO PROOF token — a digitally signed certificate that links your file's hash to a precise date and time, verified by WIPO's Timestamping Authority.
Legal Recognition
WIPO PROOF tokens carry significant legal weight for several reasons:
- Issued by a UN agency: WIPO is recognized by 193 member states. A WIPO PROOF token carries the institutional credibility of the United Nations system.
- Compliant with international standards: The service adheres to ISO/IEC 18014 (timestamping), RFC 3161 (time-stamp protocol), and eIDAS (European electronic identification).
- Jurisdiction-neutral: Unlike national copyright registrations, a WIPO PROOF token is not tied to any single country's legal system. It provides evidence that is relevant in any jurisdiction.
- Tamper-evident: The token uses public key infrastructure (PKI) that makes any alteration immediately detectable.
WIPO PROOF vs. Blockchain Timestamping
| Aspect | WIPO PROOF | Blockchain (e.g., OpenTimestamps) |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing authority | WIPO (UN agency) | Decentralized network |
| Legal precedent | High — institutional backing | Growing — varies by jurisdiction |
| Cost | Paid service (per token) | Free to very low cost |
| Standard | ISO/IEC 18014, RFC 3161 | Platform-specific |
| Privacy | File not stored by WIPO | Hash publicly visible on chain |
| Verification | Via WIPO verification portal | Via blockchain explorer |
| Longevity | Depends on WIPO operations | As long as blockchain exists |
Best Practice: Use Both
The strongest protection strategy combines institutional and decentralized timestamping:
- Generate a SHA-256 hash of your document locally.
- Anchor the hash to a public blockchain using OpenTimestamps or a similar protocol. This gives you decentralized, tamper-proof evidence that persists regardless of any institution.
- Obtain a WIPO PROOF token for the same document. This gives you institutionally backed evidence that courts recognize immediately.
Together, you have two independent sources of timestamped evidence — one decentralized and censorship-resistant, one institutionally endorsed and legally streamlined.
When to Timestamp with WIPO PROOF
For film industry professionals, key moments to create WIPO PROOF tokens include:
- Screenplay completion: Each major draft (first draft, production draft, final draft)
- Before submission: Before sending a script to any production company, agent, or festival
- Pitch materials: Before sharing pitch decks, treatments, or lookbooks with potential partners
- Co-production documents: Before entering co-production discussions that require sharing creative materials
- Funding applications: Before submitting to film funds, commissions, or grants
- Development bible: Character bibles, world-building documents, series bibles for TV projects
The Berne Convention Connection
Under the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (1886, updated regularly), copyright protection is automatic upon creation. You do not need to register to own your copyright. However, the practical challenge has always been proving when creation occurred.
WIPO PROOF addresses this gap directly. It does not grant or register copyright — it provides evidence of when a work existed, which is precisely what you need when the creation date is disputed.
In a world where a screenplay can be conceived in Algiers, written in Paris, financed from Berlin, and produced in Casablanca, having internationally recognized proof of creation is not a luxury — it is a necessity.