The highest security grade formally provable for any distributed system. A network is aBFT if it reaches correct consensus even when malicious nodes are present and messages are delayed — with no assumptions about timing or network reliability. Hedera's hashgraph is the only public ledger with mathematically proven aBFT, meaning your timestamp cannot be manipulated by any node, coalition of nodes, or network condition.

A type of distributed ledger where transactions are grouped into sequential blocks, each cryptographically linked to the previous one. Bitcoin and Ethereum are blockchains. Hedera is not a blockchain — it uses hashgraph consensus, which achieves higher throughput, lower cost, and mathematically provable (aBFT) security that blockchain architectures cannot guarantee. PriorMark uses the word "blockchain" colloquially because it is widely understood, but Hedera is technically a superior alternative.

The process by which a distributed network of independent nodes agrees on the order and exact timestamp of every transaction. On Hedera, consensus is achieved through the hashgraph algorithm — no single node controls ordering, and the result is mathematically fair. The timestamp assigned to your PriorMark record is derived from this consensus process, not from any server PriorMark controls.

The data structure underlying Hedera's hashgraph. Unlike a blockchain — which links transactions into a single linear chain of blocks — a DAG allows multiple events to be recorded simultaneously, each referencing multiple prior events. In Hedera, every node's gossip event cryptographically links to two prior events it knows about, building a web of interconnected records. This structure is what enables Hedera to achieve much higher throughput and mathematically provable aBFT consensus without a leader or sequential bottleneck.

An umbrella term for any record-keeping system maintained by a distributed network of independent computers rather than a single central authority. Blockchain and hashgraph are both types of DLT — they differ in how they reach consensus and order transactions. PriorMark uses Hedera, a public DLT powered by hashgraph consensus.

The digital signature scheme used by Hedera to sign and verify all transactions on the network. ED25519 is based on elliptic curve cryptography and is considered more quantum-resistant than the RSA or ECDSA schemes used by most other blockchains. Hedera has a protocol-level migration path to NIST post-quantum signature standards (ML-DSA) without requiring users to re-submit existing claims.

Whether a confirmed transaction can be reversed. Bitcoin and Ethereum have probabilistic finality — a record is "probably" permanent after enough blocks are added, but in theory could be reversed by a network reorganization. Hedera has ABSOLUTE Finality: once the network reaches consensus, the record is mathematically permanent and cannot be reversed. For IP timestamping, this distinction matters — your record is not probably on the ledger; it is permanently and irreversibly there.

The protocol Hedera's hashgraph uses to reach consensus without a leader or central coordinator. Each node periodically picks another node at random and shares everything it knows — including what other nodes have already told it. Over multiple rounds, every node rapidly learns the full history of what every other node knows and when. The hashgraph DAG is built from these gossip records, and consensus on transaction order and timestamp is derived mathematically from this shared history — no voting, no leader election, no single point of control. This is how your PriorMark timestamp gets its mathematical fairness: no node, including Hedera itself, controls when your record lands.

Cannot be changed, altered, or deleted after the fact. On a public distributed ledger like Hedera, once a record is written and the network reaches consensus, it is permanent. No single party — including the company that submitted the record — can go back and modify or erase it. This is the property that makes a PriorMark timestamp meaningful as evidence: it reflects what existed at that moment, and that moment cannot be rewritten.

A record book that anyone can read and verify, maintained by a distributed network of independent computers rather than a single company. Entries are permanent and cannot be altered retroactively — not even by the people who run the network. PriorMark uses the Hedera public ledger to record forensic timestamps and content fingerprints.

The encryption algorithm used to protect idea content before upload to secure cloud storage. AES-256-GCM is a global standard used by governments, banks, and militaries. GCM (Galois/Counter Mode) adds authentication: each encrypted file carries a 128-bit authentication tag that detects any tampering — if anyone modifies the file in storage, decryption fails rather than silently returning corrupted data.

A 128-bit value produced by AES-256-GCM alongside the encrypted content. It mathematically covers the entire ciphertext. If anyone modifies the encrypted file after it is stored, the authentication tag will not match and decryption will fail with an explicit error — silent corruption is not possible.

A two-way transformation that scrambles data so only someone with the correct key can read it. Unlike hashing, encryption is reversible — the right key decrypts the data back to its original form. PriorMark uses AES-256-GCM encryption to protect idea content in secure cloud storage. Important: encryption and hashing are not the same thing. We use both, for different purposes.

A one-way mathematical transformation that converts any input (a document, a piece of text) into a fixed-length string called a hash or fingerprint. It is one-way: you cannot reverse a hash back to the original content. Even a single character change produces a completely different hash. This makes hashing ideal for proving that a document hasn't changed without revealing its contents.

The degree to which a cryptographic algorithm can withstand attacks from quantum computers. Quantum computers can theoretically run algorithms (like Grover's) that weaken symmetric encryption and hashing by halving their effective bit strength. SHA-3/512 retains ~256-bit security; AES-256 retains ~128-bit — both considered safe for the foreseeable future. PriorMark monitors NIST's post-quantum standards (ML-KEM, ML-DSA) and has migration paths for all layers of the stack.

The hashing algorithm used by PriorMark to fingerprint your idea content and documents. SHA-3 (also called Keccak) is the current NIST standard hash function. We use the 512-bit variant for maximum collision resistance. Even on a quantum computer, SHA-3/512 retains approximately 256-bit effective security — making it among the most quantum-resistant hash functions in common use.

A unique identifier assigned to your encrypted file when it is uploaded. It tells the system precisely where to retrieve your content. This is separate from your proof of claim — the SHA-3/512 hash on the Hedera ledger is your proof, and it is independent of storage entirely.

In PriorMark, storage is where encrypted idea content is kept after submission — separate from the proof of claim. Files are stored in secure, redundant cloud infrastructure and encrypted before upload so only you hold the key. Storage is a convenience layer for content viewing; your proof of claim lives permanently on the Hedera ledger and is entirely independent of storage availability.

The documented, unbroken history of who controlled a piece of evidence and when. In trade secret litigation, establishing chain of custody for confidential information strengthens claims of ownership and prior possession. A PriorMark ledger record — immutable, timestamped, and independently verifiable — creates an auditable starting point in the chain of custody for your IP.

Automatic legal protection that attaches to original creative works the moment they are fixed in a tangible medium — no registration required. Copyright protects the expression of an idea (a specific song, design, or piece of writing), not the underlying concept. A PriorMark forensic timestamp does not replace copyright, but it establishes when a specific version of your work existed — critical evidence in authorship disputes, collaboration disagreements, and cases where multiple parties claim the same creative output.

The patent system used by most of the world, including the US (since 2013 under the America Invents Act). The first person to file a patent application wins the right to the patent — regardless of who invented it first. PriorMark does not grant patent rights, but a timestamped public disclosure can prevent a later filer from obtaining a patent by establishing prior art.

A legal contest over who invented something and when. Timestamped records — emails, lab notebooks, commit logs, and increasingly blockchain timestamps — are admitted as evidence in these disputes. A PriorMark claim provides a cryptographically strong, independently verifiable timestamp that supports your position.

Under the Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA) and Uniform Trade Secrets Act (UTSA), misappropriation is the acquisition, disclosure, or use of a trade secret by someone who knew or should have known it was obtained through improper means. A forensic timestamp establishing prior possession is critical evidence in misappropriation claims — it proves the trade secret existed and was in your control before any alleged theft occurred.

A requirement for patentability. An invention must be new — not already publicly known, used, or described anywhere in the world before the patent filing date. If your public PriorMark disclosure predates someone else's patent application, it may defeat that patent's novelty under 35 U.S.C. § 102(a)(1) ("otherwise available to the public").

Any publicly available evidence — a patent, publication, product, or public disclosure — that an idea existed before a patent's filing date. If prior art predating a patent can be shown, the patent may be invalid for lack of novelty. A PriorMark claim, combined with a publicly accessible disclosure, can constitute prior art under US, European, and Chinese patent law.

In patent law, the date a patent application is filed with a patent office — legally establishing who was first to file. A PriorMark timestamp is not a patent priority date. It is a permanent, independently verifiable proof of prior possession: evidence that you held specific IP at a specific moment, which can support prior art arguments, inventorship disputes, and trade secret claims in legal proceedings.

Evidence that a specific person held specific intellectual property at a specific moment in time — before any competing claim, patent filing, or dispute arose. A PriorMark forensic timestamp establishes proof of prior possession by recording a cryptographic fingerprint of your content on the Hedera public ledger. This is not a patent or copyright registration — it is independently verifiable evidence that you had it first.

A 12-month placeholder patent application that establishes a priority date with a patent office without triggering full examination or public disclosure. It buys time to develop an invention before committing to a full filing. A PriorMark forensic timestamp is not a provisional patent and does not interact with any patent office — but it can establish proof of prior possession before a provisional is filed, and can serve as prior art evidence independently if no patent is ever pursued.

A document or submission held in confidence but with a verifiable creation date — commonly used in patent disputes, trade secret litigation, and inventor priority contests. Courts routinely admit timestamped records as evidence of when information existed. A PriorMark submission functions as a sealed record: the content is encrypted and private, but the ledger timestamp and SHA-3/512 fingerprint are publicly verifiable. If you later need to prove priority, you can decrypt and produce the original content, and any court or third party can independently verify that it matches the fingerprint recorded on the ledger at the stated time.

Confidential business information — a formula, process, design, strategy, or other non-public knowledge — that has commercial value precisely because it is not widely known. Unlike patents, trade secrets are protected indefinitely as long as they remain confidential; disclosure destroys the protection. PriorMark allows you to timestamp and store a trade secret without disclosing it: the content is encrypted and never made public, but the ledger record proves it existed at a specific point in time. This creates a sealed, timestamped record that can be produced in court if ownership or priority is ever challenged — without revealing the secret prematurely.

A legal doctrine under which intellectual property created by an employee within the scope of their employment, or by a contractor under a qualifying written agreement, belongs to the employer or commissioning party — not the creator. Disputes over work-for-hire status are common in music, design, and software. A forensic timestamp establishing when work was created and under what circumstances can be critical evidence in determining ownership.