Proof & Verification

How to Prove First Authorship

In a world where content can be copied instantly, proving you created something first is essential. This guide covers the methods for establishing authorship priority.

Summary

Summary: Proving first authorship requires evidence that establishes when you created something. Traditional methods (file dates, screenshots) are easily forged. Strong proof requires: (1) a verifiable timestamp from a trusted third party, (2) a cryptographic fingerprint of your exact content, and (3) immutable storage that can't be backdated. Stelais provides all three through blockchain-anchored proofs.

What This Means

First Authorship (Priority)

The ability to prove that you created a piece of content before anyone else. In legal and practical terms, this often determines who has rights to the work and can take action against copiers.

First authorship matters because copyright disputes often come down to who can prove they created something first. Without strong evidence, you're left with:

"He said, she said" disputes with no clear resolution
Platforms refusing to act because they can't determine the original
Legal cases dismissed for lack of evidence
Lost opportunities when you can't prove you're the creator

Types of Authorship Evidence

Weak Evidence (Easily Forged)

File creation dates

Can be changed with simple tools

Screenshots with timestamps

Trivially edited in image software

Email to yourself

Email dates can be manipulated

Social media posts

Can be deleted, and platforms may not cooperate

EXIF metadata

Easily modified or stripped

Strong Evidence (Hard to Forge)

Official government record, but slow and costly for every piece

Blockchain timestamp

Immutable, third-party verifiable, instant, and permanent

Notarized documents

Legal weight, but impractical for digital content at scale

Published work with witnesses

Third-party verification, but requires cooperation

How Stelais Approaches This

Stelais combines the strongest elements of authorship proof in one system:

1. Cryptographic Hash

A unique fingerprint of your exact content at registration. Even a single pixel change produces a completely different hash, proving what was registered.

2. Blockchain Timestamp

Your hash is anchored to Arweave with a timestamp verified by the network. This can't be backdated—the blockchain proves the exact moment of registration.

3. Permanent Storage

Arweave's permaweb ensures your proof exists forever. Unlike centralized services, there's no company that can lose, delete, or modify your record.

4. Third-Party Verification

Anyone can independently verify your proof against the blockchain—no trust in Stelais required. The math proves itself.

Best Practices

1
Register before publishing
Always create your proof before sharing your work publicly. Once content is online, establishing priority becomes harder.
2
Register early drafts too
A chain of proofs showing your creative process is even stronger than a single final proof.
3
Keep your original files
The hash proves your exact content existed. You need the original file to verify it matches.
4
Combine with watermarking
Hashing proves the original; watermarking traces copies. Use both for complete protection.