Legal and practical comparison
Non-qualified timestamp, qualified timestamp or official report: which one?
Three tools can date a piece of evidence. They differ in cost, in evidential weight and in use. Here are the differences, so you can choose according to the situation. Proov-It provides the first of these tools.
By Cyril Caturani, CTO of Proov-It · Updated
A non-qualified timestamp, such as Proov-It's (RFC 3161, anchored on a blockchain), links a file's fingerprint to a date. Under the eIDAS Regulation, it cannot be denied legal effect solely because it is not qualified (Article 41): it can be submitted as evidence, and the court assesses its weight. It is the everyday tool, fast and inexpensive.
A qualified timestamp is issued by a qualified trust service provider listed on the EU trusted lists. It enjoys a presumption of the accuracy of the date and time and of the integrity of the data (Article 41, paragraph 2, of eIDAS), which the other party may rebut. It is mostly used for high-stakes document flows.
A report by a public officer (a bailiff, a notary or a court-appointed expert, depending on the country) describes what the officer observes. It is stronger evidence, more expensive, and often requested once the dispute has started. These tools do not compete: you document day to day, and call on an officer when the stakes justify it.
The three tools side by side
| Non-qualified timestamp | Qualified timestamp | Report by a public officer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who issues it | A timestamping service such as Proov-It (RFC 3161, anchored on a blockchain) | A qualified trust service provider listed on the EU trusted lists | A bailiff, a notary or a court-appointed expert, depending on the country |
| Legal weight | Cannot be denied legal effect solely because it is not qualified (eIDAS, Art. 41); the court assesses its weight | Presumption of the accuracy of the date and time and of data integrity, which the other party may rebut (eIDAS, Art. 41(2)) | Stronger evidence: the officer describes what they observe |
| Cost | Under €2 per deposit for individuals, a few tens of cents on a business plan | Varies by provider | Charged per report, more expensive |
| How it works | Immediate, from a smartphone or a browser | Depends on the provider | Depends on the officer and the country |
| Typical use | Everyday documentation, before any dispute | High-stakes document flows | Dispute already started or high stakes |
Use cases
Which tool for which situation.
Day-to-day site records
Progress photos, snags, concealed work: a non-qualified timestamp at each stage, at negligible cost.
Property condition reports
Dated, geolocated photos alongside the signed condition report.
Dispute already under way
When the other side contests everything, an official report adds weight.
Sensitive document flows
When a legal presumption on the date matters, a qualified timestamp from a trust provider fits.
Web page or listing
Freeze a page before it changes; for high stakes, an official online report remains an option.
Creations to protect
A timestamp for each version, supplemented where needed by an official registration.
Why Proov-It
Why start with a non-qualified timestamp.
It happens before the dispute
An official report often comes late. Timestamped proof is created while the facts still exist.
It costs little
A proof for under €2, with no appointment, compared with a report billed per visit.
It combines with the rest
Your dated proofs form a file that a lawyer, expert or public officer can use later.
How it works
A proof in three steps.
No jargon, no technical skills. You submit or you capture, we certify.
Choose or capture
Documents, photos, videos. Or take a photo or video directly in the app.
Add the context
A comment, tags, a folder. To organise your proofs and find them easily.
Submit
You receive a PDF certificate attesting to the file's existence and integrity on the anchoring date and, for a capture made in the app, the geolocation recorded at that moment.
Does it hold up in court?
In France, where Proov-It is based, evidence may be brought by any means unless the law requires a specific form of proof (Article 1358 of the French Civil Code). The EU eIDAS Regulation, which applies in every Member State, adds a non-discrimination principle: an electronic timestamp cannot be denied legal effect solely because it is not qualified (Article 41). In 2025, the Marseille judicial court (20 March 2025, RG 23/00046) relied on blockchain timestamps, recorded by a bailiff and supported by other evidence, to establish the prior existence of creations. It is a first-instance decision: it does not make a blockchain anchor sufficient evidence on its own.
A Proov-It certificate can be produced as evidence; the court assesses its weight. We attest to the anchoring date, the integrity of the file and, for a capture made in the app, the recorded geolocation, not the truth of its content.
Frequently asked questions
What we are often asked.
What is the difference between a qualified and a non-qualified timestamp?
A qualified timestamp enjoys a rebuttable legal presumption on date and integrity (Article 41, paragraph 2, of eIDAS). A non-qualified timestamp does not, but it cannot be dismissed solely because it is not qualified (Article 41, paragraph 1): the court assesses its weight.
Does Proov-It provide a qualified timestamp?
No. Proov-It provides a non-qualified RFC 3161 timestamp anchored on a blockchain. We are not a qualified trust service provider and do not claim to be.
Has a court ever recognised a blockchain timestamp?
In 2025, the Marseille judicial court (20 March 2025, RG 23/00046) relied on blockchain timestamps, recorded by a bailiff and supported by other evidence, to establish the prior existence of creations. It is a first-instance decision: it does not make a blockchain anchor sufficient evidence on its own.
When should I call a bailiff or notary?
When the stakes are high, the dispute has started, or you want a description by a public officer. Your earlier timestamped proofs remain useful to establish the timeline.
Keep reading
Related pages
Timestamped photo evidence
eIDAS Article 41, national rules of evidence, the court's assessment: what gives a photo weight as evidence, and how a timestamp makes it stronger.
Prove prior creation
Drawings, texts, logos, mock-ups, code: prove a creation existed on a given date with a blockchain-anchored timestamp, alongside official filings.
Digital evidence for lawyers
Help your clients build dated evidence before litigation.
Court experts and loss adjusters
Timestamped, geolocated, anchored inspection photos, with integrity the parties can check themselves.
Also see: Features · How it works · Pricing · FAQ