The Poor Man's Patent Is Dead.
Here's What Actually Works.
Timestamp your inventions on the Cardano blockchain - cheaper than a provisional patent, stronger than a sealed envelope. Your idea text never leaves your browser.
The Problem With Protecting Inventions
The "Poor Man's Patent" Is a Myth
You've probably heard the advice: "Mail yourself a sealed envelope with your invention description." This is called the poor man's patent - and it offers no recognized legal protection in the U.S., UK, or most major jurisdictions. Envelopes can be steamed open, resealed, and lack any verifiable chain of custody. Even where postal-based systems once existed - like France's Soleau envelope - they've been replaced by digital alternatives. CommitProof is that digital alternative, done right.
Real Patents Are Expensive and Slow
A provisional patent application costs $1,500–$15,000 in legal fees and takes months to prepare. A full utility patent can cost $10,000–$50,000+ and takes 2–3 years to process. For solo inventors and small teams, that's prohibitively expensive - especially in the early stages when you're still validating the idea.
First-to-File Doesn't Mean First-to-Invent Doesn't Matter
Since 2013, the US uses a first-to-file system. But prior art still matters. If you can prove your invention existed before someone else filed a patent, you can challenge their patent or defend yourself against infringement claims. The problem: you need reliable evidence of the date.
A Better Way to Establish Prior Art
Cardano Blockchain Timestamps
CommitProof creates a cryptographic fingerprint (SHA-256 hash) of your invention description and writes it to the Cardano blockchain. The blockchain provides an immutable, publicly verifiable timestamp - no company, government, or individual can alter it after the fact.
Unlike the poor man's patent, this is based on mathematics and a decentralized network with thousands of validators. Anyone can independently verify when your hash was recorded, without trusting any single authority.
Your Text Never Leaves Your Browser
CommitProof hashes your invention description entirely client-side using the Web Crypto API. Your original text never touches a server, is never transmitted over the network, and is never stored anywhere except your own device. Only the hash - a 64-character string that cannot be reverse-engineered - goes on-chain.
How It Works
Enter your text or upload a file - a description of your invention, your creative work, or your startup idea.
Your browser computes a SHA-256 hash with a random salt. Your original text never leaves the device.
The hash is written to the Cardano blockchain as transaction metadata - timestamped, permanent, tamper-proof.
Download your proof file (PDF or JSON). Share it later to prove what you knew and when.
Cost Comparison
| Method | Cost | Time | Verifiable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provisional Patent (US) | $1,500–$15,000 | Weeks to months | Yes (USPTO) |
| Notarized Document | $50–$200 | Hours (in-person) | Limited |
| Sealed Envelope ("Poor Man's Patent") | ~$1 | Minutes | No |
| CommitProof (Blockchain Timestamp) | 3 ada | < 1 minute | Yes (Cardano blockchain) |
When to Timestamp Inventions on Cardano
Before filing a patent
Timestamp your invention description before engaging a patent attorney. This creates a dated record of your concept in case someone else files first while you're preparing your application. The cost is negligible compared to the protection it provides.
When a patent isn't worth it (yet)
Most inventions never justify the cost of a patent. If you're still validating your idea, testing the market, or working on an incremental improvement, a Cardano blockchain timestamp gives you documented prior art at a fraction of the cost. You can always file a patent later.
To protect open-source innovations
If you publish your invention as open source, a Cardano blockchain timestamp prevents others from patenting your work. Without dated proof, a bad actor could file a patent on your publicly shared invention and attempt to enforce it against you.
For team documentation
In research labs and engineering teams, timestamp invention disclosures as they happen. This creates an audit trail of who came up with what and when - useful for internal records, investor due diligence, and potential licensing discussions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a blockchain timestamp the same as a patent?
No. A blockchain timestamp proves that your idea existed at a specific point in time (prior art), but it does not grant patent rights. Patents require filing with a patent office. However, a timestamped proof can serve as evidence of prior art in disputes - and it costs a fraction of what a patent filing does.
Will this hold up in court?
Blockchain timestamps are increasingly accepted as evidence. The Cardano blockchain is a public, immutable ledger - anyone can independently verify when your hash was recorded. While no evidence is guaranteed to be accepted, a cryptographic proof anchored to a decentralized blockchain is significantly stronger than a sealed envelope, email, or screenshot.
What should I include in my invention description?
Be as specific as possible: describe the problem your invention solves, your solution, how it works, and what makes it novel. Include technical details, describe any diagrams or schematics in words, and list potential applications. The more detailed your description, the stronger your proof of prior art.
Why is the "poor man's patent" worthless?
Sealed envelopes offer no recognized legal protection in the U.S., UK, or most major jurisdictions. They can be steamed open, resealed, and lack a verifiable chain of custody. Even where postal-based systems once existed - like France's Soleau envelope - they've been replaced by digital alternatives. A blockchain timestamp is cryptographically verifiable and tamper-proof - the math works regardless of who you trust.
Ready to Timestamp Your Proof?
Create a blockchain-anchored timestamp in under a minute. Your text never leaves your browser.
3 ada per proof . No subscription, no account.