C2PA Alternatives: How Stelais Compares
C2PA (Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity) is an industry standard for content credentials. While promising, it has limitations for individual creators. Stelais offers a creator-first alternative with different tradeoffs.
C2PA is a technical standard backed by major tech companies (Adobe, Microsoft, Google) that embeds provenance data in media files. While powerful for enterprise workflows, it requires specific software support and doesn't provide blockchain permanence. Stelais offers a creator-first approach with invisible watermarking, blockchain timestamps, and no dependency on platform adoption.
What is C2PA?
C2PA works by embedding signed "manifests" into media files that describe the content's provenance chain—from creation through any edits. Viewers can verify this chain using compatible software or web tools.
C2PA Strengths
- Industry backing from major tech companies
- Open standard with growing adoption
- Tracks edit history and tools used
- Distinguishes AI-generated from human content
C2PA Limitations
- Requires software support—useless on platforms that don't adopt it
- Metadata can be stripped when sharing on social media
- No blockchain permanence—centralized verification
- Complex for individual creators to implement without enterprise tools
Stelais vs. C2PA: Feature Comparison
| Feature | Stelais | C2PA |
|---|---|---|
| Blockchain timestamp | ||
| Invisible watermarking | ||
| Survives social media sharing | ||
| No platform dependency | ||
| Edit history tracking | Partial | |
| Industry standard | Growing | |
| Easy for individual creators | ||
| Permanent, immutable records |
Why Creators Choose Stelais
While C2PA is valuable for enterprise workflows and platform-level authenticity, Stelais is designed specifically for individual creators who need:
- 1Platform-independent proof
Your Stelais proof works regardless of which platforms adopt which standards. Invisible watermarks persist through any sharing method.
- 2True permanence
Blockchain anchoring means your proof exists forever—not dependent on any company's continued operation or database.
- 3Simple workflow
No special software or plugins required. Upload your content, receive your proof, and you're protected.
Stelais and C2PA aren't mutually exclusive—they can complement each other. Use Stelais for proof of original creation, and C2PA-enabled tools for tracking subsequent edits in compatible workflows.