To be able to exercise its right on a creation it is essential to give it a certain date. For more information, refer to the article on the importance of the certain date. Blockchain technology allows this at a lower cost by anchoring the proof of your creations in its distributed ledger. 

What is blockchain?

It’s a ledger containing any type of information and / or file in digital form simultaneously recorded and shared between all the computers in the same network. When these computers are part of the blockchain network they are called network nodes. The word blockchain initially comes from its algorithm adding the registers linearly so that each computer can have a copy in the same order and on the right date. Thus the more computers are on the network, the less the informations will ba able to be disputed. 

What is the blockchain anchor of a creation?

The blockchain replicates all registers on its network (the nodes) its register and timestamps each modification to ensure that everyone has the same version.

The fact of recording the proof of a creation in the database of a blockchain allows firstly to date the creation of his work and secondly to replicate this proof (of the date and your creation) in the memory of the of all the nodes in the network, which in fact makes any modification after the fact extremely difficult. Even the timestamp service provider is unable to change what they have recorded. This would require controlling all of the computers on the network. This is the added value of this solution compared to many others who control their server. The creator cannot agree with the blockchain to modify a proof. In many other solutions based on centralized systems whose names will not be mentioned, this is possible. Scott Stornetta and Stuart Haber, computer scientists known for their work on time stamping computer systems, even go so far as to describe his old solutions as "naive". Indeed, according to them, in practice, nothing prevents an organization as reputed as it is from agreeing with a client to change its filing date.

Protecting your creation through blockchain in practice ?

There are several ways to register a work in a blockchain. This article only give one. To ensure the protection of his work it is first necessary to obtain a Digital proof of its existence. For example, for software, the following may be retained: preparatory work (eg specifications), source code and object code. For material objects, it will be necessary to take photos or make a 3d model. As long as the data is digital, it can be recorded. Once the proofs of creation is on a digital file it has to be hashed using at least SHA250 hashing algorithm in order to get its digital fingerprint. This system guarantees the integrity of a file by making any modification visible. Indeed, if the file has been modified by a single pixel, the fingerprint will be completely different. Then the fingerprint has to be registered in a robust and immutable blockchain in order to replicate the registration of this fingerprint in a multitude of computers that the author does not control. Each record is dated and then replicated within a multitude of servers keeping the confidential copy of the creation. The date and proof can therefore be attested by every servers of the network.

In this way, neither the author nor anyone will be able to modify this recording afterwards. The author will be able to attest, thanks to the blockchain network, the proof of his anteriority.

Soleauchain use Ethereum blockchain. This choice was made because of the network strength represented by the number of participating nodes. It benefits from around 7665 nodes which record and share the proof of a creation in a confidential manner in order to allow the authors to ensure their authorship. To see the extent of the network and its number of nodes it is here.

In addition to being inexpensive, this solution helps to protect creations on the fly at each stage of its evolution.

Since the nodes only record the fingerprint of the proof of the creations, these remain totally confidential. Only the depositor remains in possession of his proof guaranteed by the blockchain.