WIPO PROOF: WIPO Introduces New Business Service - Tamper-Proof Evidence of an Intellectual Asset&#3

On May 27, 2020, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) launched a new online business service, WIPO PROOF, that provides tamper-proof evidence of the existence at a point in time of any digital file, including data sets, in any format. The said service is aimed at helping innovators and creators take verifiable actions to safeguard the many outputs of their work on the journey from concept to development to commercialization.

It is an easy-to-use global, online service that rapidly generates tamper-proof evidence proving that a digital file existed at a specific point in time, and that it has not been altered since that time. The service creates a WIPO PROOF token, a date- and time-stamped digital fingerprint of the file or data, which can be used as evidence in a legal dispute. WIPO PROOF tokens can be purchased one at a time for a modest fee, or in bundles of multiple tokens at reduced rates valid during a two year period.

The said service comprises of many applications including the following: For trade secret strategies, using WIPO PROOF to certify the existence of a file or data at a specific point in time is a type of concrete action that underscores its value and demonstrates that steps were taken to safeguard it. For creative works, the ability to prove their existence at the time of creation is fundamental to safeguarding them from potential misappropriation or infringement.

How does WIPO PROOF work?

Anyone can access WIPO PROOF’s secure online website to request a WIPO PROOF token for a specific digital file. WIPO does not read the file’s contents or store a copy of it. WIPO PROOF’s secure, one-way algorithm interacts locally with the requestor’s browser to create a unique digital fingerprint of the file. Additionally, anyone - even third parties - can validate WIPO PROOF tokens on the website by following a few easy steps.

WIPO PROOF uses Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) technology to generate WIPO PROOF tokens. PKI technology is a well-established and reliable cryptographic technology that is one of the most internationally accepted and recognized digital certification methods. Additionally, WIPO PROOF has been designed and developed according to eIDAS standards which are among the most robust and stringent in the world. WIPO PROOF tokens deliver the highest level of certainty that the date and time on the token is exact and has not been tampered with.

WIPO PROOF provides reliable and verifiable evidence in case of disputes and litigation over the existence and integrity of the digital file and its related IP rights.