You just finished a song you love. Before you send the demo to a collaborator or post a clip online, it’s worth taking five minutes to keep a dated record of your original version.
What a dated record is
A timestamp records a file’s digital fingerprint (a SHA-256 hash) at a specific date and time. If you later need to show when a particular version of your demo existed, you can point to that record. The fingerprint is created in your browser, so your audio file never leaves your device.
What it is not
In Canada, copyright generally exists automatically when you create an original work. A timestamp doesn’t create copyright, doesn’t prove you are the author, and can’t prevent disputes. It is supporting evidence of when a specific file existed. Formal copyright registration is a separate step that gives different evidence.
A simple workflow for songwriters
- Export your demo as a WAV or MP3 and name it clearly, for example
songname_demo_v1. - Register that file with Protect The Content. Your first registration is free.
- Save the certificate and keep it with your project folder.
- Register each new version separately (new mix, new lyrics, new arrangement). Each version gets its own date.
- Share after you register, whether that’s a collaborator, a producer or social media.
When this helps most
- Sending demos to collaborators, labels or producers
- Co-writing sessions where drafts change quickly
- Keeping a version history of lyrics, stems and mixes
- Posting a snippet online before the full release
Keep your other records too
A timestamp works best alongside the rest of your trail: original project files, session recordings, emails and drafts. Together they tell the story of how the song was made.
Try it on your next demo
Your first registration is free, then C$10 per project. Register your first project before you hit upload.