Blockchain stamping can certify the existence of an electronic documents’s content at a particular point in time.

When a user stamps a document, the document’s imprint (i.e. the SHA256 hash of the document) is publicly linked with a certain date & time.

As the document’s hash digest can be easily derived from the document itself, the user is able to prove that his/her document existed at that point in time because its hash digest is publicly linked to that particular point in time. The publicly announced hash cannot be used to derive the document itself thus it depends on the user when to disclose the relation between his document and the publicly timestamped document hash imprint.

If the user blockchain timestamps the hash digest of authentic original work which includes a detailed ownership statement or signature, then this publicly timestamped statement can be used in the future by the user to justify that the content was in his possession at that particular time.

Therefore, if the blockchain stamped document is indeed original authentic non-stolen & non-copied work signed by the user and if no other previous public statement on the stamped content may be found anywhere (including mass media, public authorities, agencies, companies etc) then the user has a very strong argument to support being the author/creator of the content. Of course, if a third party can actually prove theft of the content prior to the time of stamping, then the ownership justification is discounted.

Thus, blockchain timestamp certification of ownership may be justified for content which is properly signed and is the result of original authentic work not having previously existed.