A Real Alternative to Poor Man's Copyright
Mailing yourself a sealed copy of your work — the 'poor man's copyright' — is supposed to prove you created it by a certain date. It doesn't hold up. A blockchain timestamp is the real alternative: it does what the envelope was meant to, but properly.
Why the envelope trick fails
The poor man's copyright has no basis in copyright law, and a mailed envelope is weak evidence: postmarks can be faked, envelopes can be steamed open and re-stuffed, and at best it shows something was mailed — not what, or that it's unchanged. Courts give it little weight.
The real alternative
A blockchain timestamp delivers the dated proof the envelope only pretended to:
- Tamper-proof — the record can't be altered or back-dated.
- Independently verifiable — anyone can check it on a public blockchain.
- Permanent — it doesn't rely on you keeping a sealed envelope safe for years.
| Poor man's copyright | Blockchain timestamp | |
|---|---|---|
| Recognized as evidence | Weak | Strong, tamper-proof |
| Can be faked | Easily | No |
| Proves contents unchanged | No | Yes |
| Lasts | If envelope survives | Permanent, public |
How to actually protect your work
Own your copyright automatically by creating the work, keep dated proof with a timestamp, and register the important pieces with the Copyright Office. For the full breakdown, read Poor Man's Copyright: Does It Actually Work? — or create a timestamp now.