Swiss IP Protection: Legally Seal Your Ideas
Swiss Trust Layer protects your intellectual property with cryptographic seals under ZertES SR 943.03, Swiss federal law for qualified electronic signatures. Court-admissible, tamper-proof, in under 2 minutes.
Swiss Trust Layer
Sealed Certificate
ZertES SR 943.03
Swiss Federal Law
eIDAS EU 910/2014
27 EU member states
Berne Convention
181 member states
What is Swiss IP Protection?
Intellectual property covers all creations of the human mind: literature, art, music, architecture, software, inventions, and trade secrets. In Switzerland, this protection is governed by the Copyright Act (URG, SR 231.1) and specific laws for patents, trademarks, and designs.
The problem in the digital world: files can be copied, modified and distributed without clearly proving when they were originally created or who created them. Cryptographic sealing solves this.
Swiss Trust Layer uses the Federal Act on Certification Services in the Area of Electronic Signatures (ZertES, SR 943.03) to give your documents an immutable, legally binding timestamp. This digital timestamp serves as court-admissible proof of ownership: it proves who was the creator of a work at what point in time.
Unlike simply storing in the cloud or emailing yourself, both legally contestable, a ZertES seal is cryptographically bound and certified by an accredited Swiss Trust Service Provider. It cannot be backdated or falsified.
ZertES SR 943.03
Swiss Federal Law
Copyright Act URG
SR 231.1 compliant
Berne Convention
181 member states
Who needs Swiss IP Protection?
Legally secure IP protection is not only relevant for large corporations. Every person who creates intellectual property benefits from cryptographic sealing.
Architects & Engineers
Protect BIM models, blueprints, and design concepts from unauthorised use. A cryptographic timestamp proves your design existed at a specific moment, essential in copyright disputes.
Musicians & Composers
Seal compositions, lyrics, and production files before sharing with labels or collaborators. The seal serves as irrefutable proof of ownership.
Startups & Founders
Secure pitch decks, algorithms, and business concepts during development. Show investors that your IP is legally documented.
Lawyers & Legal Professionals
Sign contracts, mandate agreements, and briefs with a qualified electronic signature under ZertES SR 943.03, court-admissible and evidentially valid.
Healthcare & Medical
Seal patient records, research data, and clinical protocols in a GDPR-compliant and audit-proof manner. Cryptographic proof prevents subsequent tampering.
How does sealing work?
Three simple steps to a legally secure document, no technical knowledge, no software installation.
Upload your document
Upload your file to the Swiss Trust Layer platform. Supports PDF, DOCX, ZIP, CAD, Audio, Video, and all common formats, up to 500 MB per file.
Cryptographic sealing
The platform applies a qualified electronic signature under ZertES SR 943.03 within seconds. An immutable cryptographic timestamp is linked to your document.
Receive your certificate
You receive a sealing certificate with timestamp, hash value, and signature proof. This certificate can be publicly verified at any time, no login required.
Sealing in under 2 minutes
From file upload to finished certificate, the entire process takes under 2 minutes. Cryptographic computation and signing is done entirely on secure Swiss infrastructure.
Legal basis: what protects your seal?
The legal basis of the protection rests on three complementary legal frameworks that together provide comprehensive and internationally recognised protection.
ZertES SR 943.03: Swiss Federal Act
The Federal Act on Certification Services (ZertES, SR 943.03) governs the issuance and recognition of qualified electronic signatures in Switzerland. Under ZertES Art. 2, a qualified electronic signature is legally equivalent to a handwritten signature. Swiss Trust Layer uses Swisscom Trust Services as an accredited QTSP. ZertES →
eIDAS (EU Regulation No 910/2014): European framework
For business relationships within the EU, eIDAS applies as a parallel legal framework. Swisscom Trust Services holds both a ZertES accreditation and an eIDAS QTSP certification, meaning a Swiss Trust Layer seal is legally recognised in Switzerland and all 27 EU member states. eIDAS →
Berne Convention: International reach
The Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (1886) obliges all 181 signatory states to recognise each other's copyrights. A cryptographically sealed document with timestamp is accepted as proof of ownership in any of these countries, without separate registration.
Important note: Swiss Trust Layer provides technical sealing services. This page offers general information on legal frameworks but does not replace individual legal advice. For specific legal questions, we recommend consulting a specialist in Swiss intellectual property law.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the most important questions about Swiss IP protection and cryptographic sealing.
What is a ZertES seal?
Is the seal valid before Swiss courts?
How long does sealing take?
Which file formats are supported?
Seal your first document today
Create an account and apply a court-admissible ZertES SR 943.03 seal to your first document in under 2 minutes. Proof of who created a work, and when.
The Swiss IP Proof-of-Creation Checklist
Controls to keep your ideas, files and works provable under Swiss law: dated authorship, ZertES QES sealing and court-admissible evidence in Switzerland. Enter your email to unlock the full list.
Establish dated authorship first
Seal each file the moment it is finalised so a qualified timestamp fixes who created the work and at what point in time.
Use a ZertES QES, not a screenshot
Apply a qualified electronic signature under ZertES SR 943.03 from an accredited Swiss QTSP, legally equivalent to a handwritten signature.
Keep proof court-admissible in Switzerland
Ensure the seal and certificate are accepted by Swiss courts, notaries and authorities without a separate registration.
Get the Full Checklist
3 more items, enter your email to access all 6 points.
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Ready to seal your first document?
eIDAS Art. 41 qualified timestamp, court-admissible across the EU and Switzerland.
Seal Now →Seal your first document now
Create an account on Swiss Trust Layer and seal your first document. No credit card required. Sealing takes less than 2 minutes.
ZertES SR 943.03 compliant · Swiss data centre