ETcH vs INPI: which solution to protect your creations?
For decades, the Soleau envelope was the go-to for French inventors and creators. Filed with INPI, it proved the existence of an idea at a given date. But the landscape has changed.
A brief history: from the Soleau envelope to e-Soleau
The Soleau envelope (1910-2020)
A simple device: two compartments, two identical copies of your document. INPI kept one, you kept the other. Modest cost, recognized evidential value. But a paper-only format, limited to 7 pages per compartment.
e-Soleau (since 2016)
The digital version, modernized in 2024 with a new portal. It accepts files up to 2 GB, at EUR 15 for 5 years (renewable up to 20 years). A recognized institutional solution.
The limits of e-Soleau
The proof depends entirely on INPI: you cannot verify it independently. Storage is time-limited (5 years, renewable but paid). And INPI remains focused on industrial property — patents, trademarks, designs and models — with heavy and expensive procedures for other needs.
| ETcH | e-Soleau / INPI | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Active | Active (e-Soleau) / Patents |
| Cost | EUR 2 | EUR 15 / EUR 600+ |
| Delay | Immediate | 24-48h / Several months |
| Format | Any digital file | Any file, max 2 GB / Formal dossier |
| Renewal | Not required | Every 5 years (max 20 years) / Annual fees |
| Target audience | Individual creators | Creators / Businesses |
| Independent verification | ✓ | ✗ |
What INPI does well
- Recognized institution, established case law
- Strong legal protection for patents and trademarks
- Point of contact in case of commercial disputes
Limitations for individual creators
- e-Soleau costs EUR 15 with a duration limited to 5 years (renewable)
- Patents protect technical inventions, not creative works
- Design registration (EUR 250+) targets industrial product appearance
- Procedures designed for businesses with legal budgets
Why ETcH takes over
ETcH is not meant to replace a patent. It's a different tool, for a different need: proving that a file existed at a given date, simply and affordably.
- You upload your file (any format)
- ETcH computes its digital fingerprint (SHA-256 hash)
- This fingerprint is anchored on the Ethereum blockchain
- You receive a certificate with everything needed to verify the proof — independently of ETcH
No renewal, no subscription. The proof is recorded in a public, immutable ledger. And verification is free — for you, for a court, forever.
Who is ETcH for?
- Authors who want to timestamp their manuscripts at every stage
- Designers, illustrators, photographers documenting their process
- Independent developers protecting their source code
- Musicians, composers, content creators
- Researchers who want to date their work before publication
- Anyone who creates and wants an objective record
INPI remains the reference for industrial property, and e-Soleau is a recognized solution for proof of prior existence. But its limited duration, higher cost, and the inability to verify proof independently leave a gap. ETcH fills it with a permanent, transparent, and affordable approach.