Inventors

Document your invention without revealing the secret.

Between the first idea and the patent filing come prototypes, tests and conversations with suppliers and investors. At every step, the invention risks being appropriated. Recording drawings, notebooks and prototypes creates a verifiable timeline — and only the fingerprint becomes public, never the content.

See how it works

The challenge

Where proof usually breaks down

Showing without losing

To manufacture or raise money you must show the invention to others — and hope they don't copy it.

Disclosure that hurts the patent

Publishing details before filing can compromise the novelty a patent requires.

Who invented it?

Former partners, collaborators or suppliers may claim a part in the creation.

How Docmint helps

Technical proof that's simple to create and easy to check

A chronology without disclosure

The record stores only the hash. You document the invention without making it public.

Every prototype version

Record drawings and tests at each iteration. The dates show how development evolved.

Before talking to suppliers

Record what you'll show: if the idea is appropriated, you have proof of what you had.

Support for your patent filing

A well-documented history helps prepare the application and handle disputes.

What to record

Files worth recording

Digitised invention notebooks
Technical drawings and schematics
3D models and CAD files
Prototype photos and videos
Test results and measurements
Draft patent applications
Conversations and quotes with manufacturers
Non-disclosure agreements

Any format works: Docmint records the file's fingerprint, not its content.

In practice: before approaching a manufacturer

You have a working prototype and will request production quotes.

1
Gather the technical drawings, CAD and prototype photos.
2
Record everything as a batch in Docmint, with a generic title.
3
Ask the manufacturer to sign an NDA and record it too.
4
File your patent application as soon as possible; the records document the path to it.

Best practices

Use generic titles and descriptions — never describe the invention.
Record each important iteration of drawings and tests.
Talk to a patent attorney before any public disclosure.
Sign written NDAs with third parties.
File your patent application as soon as possible: most countries are first-to-file.

What the law says

Patents require novelty, and most countries — including Brazil and the US — follow a first-to-file system. Some grant a grace period for the inventor's own disclosures. A Docmint record does not create patent rights; it documents authorship and development chronology, useful in disputes over who created the invention.

Frequently asked questions

Does recording protect my invention like a patent?

No. Exclusive protection comes from a granted patent. The record documents authorship and chronology.

Does recording count as public disclosure?

No, as long as the title and description don't reveal the invention. Only the fingerprint is public.

Is it worth recording if I'll file a patent?

Yes. A recorded history helps demonstrate authorship in disputes with partners, collaborators or suppliers.

Start with your next file.

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