Proof of Origin

What VerixID proves, and what it does not.

What is Proof of Origin?

Proof of Origin is evidence that a specific cryptographic fingerprint was registered at a particular point in time. It answers a narrow, precise question:

Was this exact file content known at this moment — and can that fact be independently verified?

VerixID records a cryptographic fingerprint and timestamp associated with a digital file. Registration is performed on the VerixID platform, where users can submit a file for fingerprinting and receive a Certificate of Authenticity.

What VerixID proves

That a specific file content — identified by its SHA-256 fingerprint — was registered at a specific time.
That the registration record is cryptographically signed and tamper-evident.
That the fingerprint can be independently recomputed from the file at any later time.
That the same fingerprint was not registered earlier under a different record.

What VerixID does not prove

VerixID does not determine whether a file is legally owned, authentic in the broader sense, or truthful.

It does not establish authorship, ownership, or copyright.
It does not certify that the content of a file is accurate or honest.
It does not prove that the registrant had any particular right to register the file.
It does not replace legal, contractual, or judicial processes.

This distinction matters. Proof of Origin is a cryptographic primitive — not a legal verdict. It produces verifiable evidence; how that evidence is interpreted is a separate matter.

Why this precision matters

Many systems overclaim. They conflate cryptographic registration with legal ownership, or with authenticity of content. That conflation creates false confidence and, eventually, disputes.

VerixID is designed to make a narrow, defensible claim: this fingerprint existed at this time, and this fact is verifiable. Everything else follows from that.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Proof of Origin for digital files?

Proof of Origin is cryptographic evidence that a specific file fingerprint was registered at a particular point in time. It answers whether an exact file content was known at a given moment, and whether that fact can be independently verified. VerixID records a SHA-256 fingerprint and timestamp associated with a digital file, and signs the resulting registration record.

What does VerixID prove?

VerixID proves that a specific file content, identified by its SHA-256 fingerprint, was registered at a specific time. It also proves that the registration record is cryptographically signed and tamper-evident, that the fingerprint can be independently recomputed from the file at any later time, and that the same fingerprint was not registered earlier under a different record.

What does VerixID NOT prove?

VerixID does not determine whether a file is legally owned, authentic in the broader sense, or truthful. It does not establish authorship, ownership, or copyright. It does not certify that the content of a file is accurate or honest. It does not prove that the registrant had any particular right to register the file, and it does not replace legal, contractual, or judicial processes.

Does VerixID prove ownership of a file?

No. VerixID does not establish authorship, ownership, or copyright. It proves that a specific file fingerprint was registered at a specific time, and that the registration record is tamper-evident. Legal ownership is a separate matter and is not determined by cryptographic registration.

Does VerixID store my files?

No. VerixID operates on a zero-custody model. Only the SHA-256 fingerprint and registration metadata are stored. The file itself never leaves your control and is never uploaded to VerixID infrastructure.

How can I verify a file fingerprint?

Recompute the SHA-256 fingerprint of the original file, look up the fingerprint in VerixID, and confirm that the registration record is valid and signed. Verification does not require the original file to be uploaded, and it does not depend on trust in a central authority.

What is the difference between Proof of Origin and Proof of Existence?

Proof of Existence typically refers to proving that some data existed at a point in time, often via blockchain anchoring. Proof of Origin in the VerixID context is narrower: it proves that a specific file fingerprint was registered at a specific time, and that the registration record is cryptographically signed and independently verifiable. VerixID does not use blockchain anchoring; it relies on SHA-256 fingerprinting, timestamps, and cryptographic signatures.

Is Proof of Origin the same as a digital signature?

No. A digital signature proves that a specific party signed a specific message. Proof of Origin proves that a specific file fingerprint was registered at a specific time. VerixID uses digital signatures internally to make registration records tamper-evident, but the concept of Proof of Origin is broader than the signature itself.

Register your file

Registration is performed on the main VerixID platform.