How do I prove I own IP in a copyright dispute?

To prove IP ownership in a copyright dispute: (1) Establish that the work is original and you created it: qualified electronic timestamps on your creative work establish creation date with a legal presumption under eIDAS Art. 41(2); (2) Show the chain from creator to current rights-holder: if the IP was assigned, show dated and signed IP assignment agreements (also timestamped for evidentiary value); (3) Demonstrate the defendant copied: show substantial similarity plus that the defendant had access to your work; (4) Quantify damages: registration (e.g., US Copyright Office for US claims) affects the damages available. The combination of a qualified timestamp, version history, and internal documentation creates a compelling evidential package.

What is the difference between copyright registration and a qualified electronic timestamp for IP protection?

Copyright registration (e.g., with the US Copyright Office) is a formal administrative step that creates a public record of your copyright claim and is required to sue for statutory damages in the US. However, most countries, including Switzerland and all EU member states, do not require registration; copyright arises automatically at creation under the Berne Convention Art. 5(2). A qualified electronic timestamp under eIDAS Art. 41 proves creation date without registration. It is legally presumed accurate in all EU and Swiss courts. For disputes in Europe: a qualified timestamp is legally more powerful than self-registration because it carries a rebuttable legal presumption. For US claims: US Copyright Office registration is required to sue for statutory damages; a qualified timestamp complements registration by proving the exact creation date.

Can I use email and messaging records to prove IP ownership?

Email and messaging records can support IP ownership claims as circumstantial evidence: they show the work was discussed, shared, or developed at a specific time. However, email timestamps are controlled by email servers that can be incorrect or manipulated; messaging records are stored by third-party platforms that may not preserve records indefinitely; and neither creates a legal presumption in EU or Swiss courts. A qualified electronic timestamp from an eIDAS QTSP creates a legal presumption of accuracy (Art. 41(2)). This is a different class of evidence. Best practice: keep emails and messaging records as contextual evidence, and apply qualified timestamps to the actual creative work at each milestone for the primary evidential foundation.

What should I do immediately if I discover my IP has been infringed?

Act immediately: (1) Document the infringement: screenshot the infringing content with timestamps, record the URL, note the date of discovery; (2) Apply a qualified electronic timestamp to your documentation of the infringement: proving when you became aware matters for notice periods and limitation periods; (3) Gather your ownership evidence: qualified timestamps on your original work, version history, IP assignment records; (4) Send a cease and desist letter: document this with a qualified timestamp and track delivery; (5) Contact an IP lawyer specialising in copyright: the strategy depends on jurisdiction, scale of infringement, and available remedies; (6) Do not alter or delete any records related to the dispute. In Switzerland, the 3-year limitation period (Art. 60 OR) runs from knowledge of infringement.

How do I prove IP ownership if my records are stored in cloud services?

Cloud service records (Google Drive version history, GitHub commit logs, Dropbox timestamps) are useful circumstantial evidence but are not qualified evidence: they are controlled by third-party platforms that could alter records, may not preserve them indefinitely, and do not carry a legal presumption under EU or Swiss law. To strengthen cloud-based evidence: (1) Export and apply qualified electronic timestamps to important document versions: this creates an independent, legally presumed record of the document at a specific date; (2) Maintain git commit logs with signed commits for code; (3) Keep a project diary with sequential entries, each timestamped; (4) Store a timestamped copy of your work outside the cloud platform you use for development. Cloud records corroborate; qualified timestamps establish the legal foundation.

Legal Compliance

Comment prouver la propriété intellectuelle dans un litige de droit d'auteur (2026)

Swiss Trust Layer Legal Team · Trust & Compliance

16 juin 2026 9 min de lectureDernière mise à jour 8 septembre 2026

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In short

Dans un litige de droit d'auteur, l'issue dépend de celui qui peut prouver la date de création. Voici exactement ce qu'acceptent les tribunaux de l'UE et suisses — et comment constituer une preuve recevable avant qu'un litige survienne.

En fevrier 2026, un studio de design de marque a Geneve a livre une identite visuelle complete a une startup SaaS trois jours avant la contresignature du contrat de service. La startup a ete mise en liquidation quatre mois plus tard. Les liquidateurs ont transfere tous les droits de propriete intellectuelle developpes par l'entreprise a un acheteur, y compris le systeme de logo du studio. Le studio disposait de fichiers de version, de fils de discussion Slack et d'une facture PDF. Les avocats de l'acheteur ont pose une seule question: prouvez que le studio a cree ce travail avant la date du contrat. Le studio n'a pas pu le faire. Le litige a coute CHF 210.000 pour etre regle.

Si vous devez prouver la propriete intellectuelle dans le cadre d'un litige sur le droit d'auteur, tout se joue sur une question: pouvez-vous prouver quand vous avez cree l'oeuvre, et ce qu'elle contenait exactement a ce moment precis? Ce guide explique quelles preuves les tribunaux de l'UE et de la Suisse acceptent, pourquoi les horodatages numeriques sont determinants et quelle est la facon la plus rapide de creer une preuve de creation juridiquement admissible.

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