Alternative to the Soleau envelope
The INPI Soleau envelope has long been the reference for proving prior authorship in France. Today, online copyright registration offers a free, instant alternative recognised in 181 countries.
What is the Soleau envelope?
The Soleau envelope is a service offered by the INPI (French National Institute of Industrial Property) since 1910. It allows you to establish the date of creation of an invention or idea by sending a document in a sealed envelope.
In 2020, the INPI digitised the service via e-Soleau, but the principle remains the same: you deposit a file and the INPI timestamps the receipt.
Limitations of the Soleau envelope
Paid
e-Soleau costs EUR 15 per deposit. For creators who produce regularly (photographers, developers, designers), costs add up quickly.
Limited to France
The Soleau envelope only has probative value under French law. It is not recognised as evidence abroad.
Processing time
e-Soleau requires an INPI account and processing is not instant. The certificate can take several days.
Limited duration
The Soleau envelope is kept for 5 years, renewable once (10 years max). After that, the proof disappears.
Restricted formats
e-Soleau only accepts certain file formats and does not handle online content (websites, YouTube videos, GitHub repos).
Comparison: Soleau envelope vs Copyright01
| Feature | e-Soleau (INPI) | Copyright01 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | EUR 15 / deposit | Free |
| Speed | Several days | Instant (2 min) |
| Geographic scope | France only | 181 countries (Berne Conv.) |
| Retention period | 5 years (renewable once) | Unlimited |
| Cryptographic timestamping | No | SHA-512 + RFC 3161 |
| Online content (URL) | No | Sites, YouTube, GitHub... |
| Public verification | No | QR code + public page |
| PDF certificate | Yes | Yes (with QR code) |
How does it work?
Replacing the Soleau envelope with Copyright01 takes less than 3 minutes:
Create your free account
Email and password, that's it. No identity verification, no INPI account needed.
Deposit your creation
Upload a file (photo, music, code, PDF) or paste a URL (website, GitHub, YouTube, Instagram).
Get your certificate
In seconds: SHA-512 fingerprint, RFC 3161 timestamp, PDF certificate with public verification QR code.
What legal value does it have?
The Copyright01 certificate constitutes proof of prior existence just like the Soleau envelope. It attests that a file existed at a specific date through cryptographic timestamping compliant with the RFC 3161 standard.
Thanks to the Berne Convention, this proof is recognised in 181 countries - whereas the Soleau envelope is limited to France. In the event of a dispute, the certificate can be produced as evidence in any court of the signatory countries.
Who is it for?
Photographers
Protect your photos against theft and unauthorised use.
Musicians & composers
Register your compositions, lyrics and recordings.
Developers
Protect your source code, algorithms and GitHub repos.
Designers & graphic artists
Secure your visual creations, logos and mockups.
Authors & writers
Register your manuscripts, articles, scripts and screenplays.
Content creators
Protect your YouTube videos, Instagram posts and online content.
Switch to the modern alternative
Free · Instant · Recognised in 181 countries
Register my copyright for free