I’m building a tool to prove a file existed at a specific date without storing the original file. What real use cases would you see for this?
Hi,
I am building a small web tool that creates a hash of a file and generates a certificate to prove that the file existed at a specific time.
The file is not stored. The idea is to keep the process simple: upload a file, generate its hash, register the proof, and receive a certificate that can be verified later.
I know this is not the same as notarization or legal certification. My goal is more practical: to create a simple proof of existence that can be useful as supporting evidence in disputes, documentation, insurance cases, creative work, property damage, etc.
I would like to get feedback from people with more experience in digital evidence and forensic workflows.
Main questions:
- Does this approach make sense as a basic proof-of-existence tool?
- What would you expect to see in the certificate?
- What technical or trust problems should I solve first?
- Would blockchain anchoring add real value here, or is a signed timestamp enough?
This is not a finished product. I am mainly looking for technical feedback.
Thanks.