Protect Your Designs from Concept to Completion

The Design Protection Gap

Architectural and engineering firms invest thousands of hours in design development. A single commercial building project might involve:

• 200+ architectural drawings
• 50+ structural calculations
• Engineering specifications across multiple disciplines
• 3D models and BIM deliverables
• Hundreds of RFIs, submittals, and change orders
• Thousands of site photographs

All of this represents intellectual property, project documentation, and potential evidence in disputes. And most of it is protected by nothing more than internal file servers and email trails.

Why Existing Methods Fall Short

”We have the original files”

So claims the other party. File metadata is modifiable. “Created” dates prove nothing to a third party.

”It’s in our email”

Email timestamps are useful but circumstantial. Email servers can be compromised, and clients handle data differently. In a dispute, email evidence faces scrutiny about authenticity.

”We have version control”

Great for internal tracking. But SVN, Git, or BIM 360 version histories are controlled by the organization — they can be questioned by opposing counsel as self-serving records.

Copyright and design protection

Architectural works are copyrightable, but registration is expensive and impractical for the volume of documents a firm produces. Design patents take years and cost thousands.

Blockchain Timestamps for A/E Firms

A blockchain timestamp creates independent, tamper-proof evidence of exactly when a specific file existed. For A/E firms, this means:

Pre-design and concepts

Timestamp initial design concepts, feasibility studies, and competition entries before sharing with clients. If the client “goes in another direction” but your concept appears in the final building, your timestamped evidence predates their construction.

Design development

Timestamp key deliverables at each design milestone: schematic design, design development, construction documents. This creates a verifiable evolution of the design — important for disputes about design intent.

Construction documentation

Timestamp specifications, construction drawings, and calculation packages before issuing to contractors. If a contractor claims the documents were modified after issuance, the blockchain proves the original version.

Site documentation

Timestamp daily logs, site photos, and inspection reports at the time of creation. In construction disputes about site conditions, schedule impacts, or quality issues, timestamped documentation creates a credible chronology.

Change orders and RFIs

Timestamp change order records, RFI submissions and responses, and notice documents. Construction claims often hinge on the timing of notices — blockchain proof eliminates ambiguity.

A Real Workflow

Weekly project timestamping

Every Friday, the project manager exports current deliverables and timestamps the batch:

1. Export current drawing set as PDFs
2. Export current BIM model as IFC
3. Collect the week’s RFI responses
4. Gather site photos from the week
5. Batch timestamp via Scheduled (1 credit/file)

Cost for a 100-file weekly batch: 100 scheduled credits. A $15 Micro pack covers one weekly batch, and a $49 Basic pack covers three-plus weeks.

Milestone timestamping

At major project milestones (SD, DD, CD, 50% CD, 100% CD), timestamp the complete deliverable package with Instant timestamps for immediate proof.

Cost for a 200-drawing CD set: 200 scheduled credits or 400 verified instant credits, depending on whether you need batch proof or immediate anchoring.

Dispute-ready timestamping

For projects with known risk (contentious client, aggressive schedule, complex site conditions), add Legal-Grade to key submissions for identity-bound evidence.

Cost: Legal-Grade adds Starter and Pro: 50 credits up to 25 files, then +2/file. Business: 25 credits up to 25 files, then +1/file. Enterprise: included., on top of the timestamp credits in the submission.

Construction Dispute Applications

Delay claims

Contractor claims the design team caused schedule delays by late document delivery. Your timestamped submittal records prove exact delivery dates, independently verifiable on the blockchain.

Differing site conditions

Contractor claims unforeseen conditions. Your timestamped geotechnical reports and site photos document what was known, when it was known, and what was disclosed — all with blockchain-backed dates.

Design deficiency claims

Owner claims the design is deficient. Your timestamped design evolution — from concept through construction documents — shows the approved design progression, with client sign-offs timestamped at each phase.

IP theft

A competing firm uses your design concepts. Your timestamped concept drawings predate their similar design, providing strong evidence of copying.

Cost by Firm Size

For perspective: a single expert witness in a construction dispute costs $300-$500/hour. A year of comprehensive project timestamping costs less than one hour of expert time.