How to Notarize a File with CZone

Protecting your ideas and works with CZone is simple, fast, and secure. By notarizing/registering a file, you create an immutable blockchain record with a legal timestamp and receive a copyright certificate that proves authorship and ownership worldwide.

This guide will walk you through every step — from accessing your account to downloading your certificate.

What it means to notarize/register a file in CZone

When you notarize/register a file with CZone, you create irrefutable proof of authorship and ownership on blockchain.

Each notarization process:

Generates a cryptographic hash (a digital fingerprint) of your file.
Registers it with a legal timestamp on blockchain.
Issues a blockchain certificate with QR code, metadata, and digital signature.

👉 Important: Only the hash and metadata are stored on blockchain. Your original file stays safe in your account and is not made public unless you decide to share it.

Before you start (requirements & best practices)

LutinX account: sign in or create a free account.
Free quotas:
- Private users: 10 free registrations.
- With completed KYC: up to 30 registrations.
- Businesses & professionals: purchase a license (👉 go to licenses page).
Prepare your file: upload the final version, check the supported file format.
Cover image: prepare a 600×600 px cover (JPG/PNG). This will appear on your certificate and QR preview. If you skip it, the system default will be used.
File limits: maximum 10 MB per file (up to 2 files per upload).
Prohibited content: do not upload illegal materials or works that infringe third-party rights.

Follow the steps below carefully and use the screenshots as a reference:

Step 1 — Create or access your account

Log into your LutinX account, or register for free if you don’t have one.
Private users start with 10 registrations, which can be upgraded to 30 by completing KYC.
If you are a business or professional, you will need to purchase a license suitable for your usage.
(👉 go to licenses page).

👉 Tip: completing KYC unlocks more registrations and speeds up access to advanced features.

Step 2 — Open CZone from your dashboard

From your main dashboard, click the app menu and select CZone.

CZone is the app where you register and notarize your files.
Certificates that you already created can be managed and accessed later in the Uploads app (see Step 8).

Step 3 — Choose your service: Authorship Certificate

Generates a complete authorship/paternity certificate.
Includes author details, file hash, blockchain ID, digital signature, and legal timestamp.
Recommended for final works, publications, artworks, software, or anything you want to share and officially register under your name.
This certificate will later allow you to transfer ownership or add specific CCommons licenses.

👉 Both options notarize your file on the blockchain, but the Authorship Certificate provides stronger protection and is usually preferred when dealing with creative or intellectual property.

Step 4 — Select the file category

CZone offers a grid of categories to better classify your work (screenshot: Protecting Your Ideas, Works and Styles):

📷 Photos – photographic works, images, visual shots.
🎨 Design & Vectors – illustrations, graphics, vector projects.
🎓 Academic – research papers, theses, educational content.
📑 Docs & Articles – professional documents, reports, articles.
📚 Books – e-books, manuscripts, literary works.
🎶 Music – songs, soundtracks, audio files.
🎬 Videos – films, short videos, creative productions.
💻 Software – applications, programs, executable files.
👨‍💻 Code – source code, scripts, databases.
🗂 Archives – compressed files, grouped projects.
🖼 Logo – personal or corporate logos.
🔗 LGN (LutinX Global Number) – the new ISBN for books and publications (magazines, journals).

👉 Choosing the correct category ensures your certificate displays the work consistently across CZone, and adds clarity when the QR code, blockchain record, or certificate is shared with third parties.

Step 5 — Upload your files

Check the info bar below before uploading:

Uploading Size (10 MB max each)
Timestamps Available (your remaining balance)
Accepted File Types (JPG, PNG, PDF, DOCX, AI, PSD, MP3, MP4, ZIP, etc.)

Drag and drop your files into the upload box, or browse manually.

👉 Best practices:

Always upload the original version .
Notarize each new version of your work for clear history.
If your format is unsupported, compress it into a ZIP archive.

Step 6 — Fill out the metadata

When creating an Authorship Certificate with CZone, the system will guide you through several steps to enter the metadata of your work. This information will appear in your blockchain certificate and ensures that your file is correctly attributed and legally verifiable.

📌 Step 6.1 — Work Details

Here you need to enter the main information about your creation:

File’s Name – choose a clear and descriptive title for your file.
Author – your full name.
Co-Author – (optional) if the work was created with someone else.
Pseudonym – (optional) the name you want to be recognized with, if different from your real name.

Click Continue to proceed.

📌 Step 6.2 — Description and Tags

In this step, you can enrich your registration with more context:

Description – add a short description (up to 500 characters) that summarizes your work.
Tags – insert relevant keywords (comma separated) to categorize your work.
Creation Date – indicate the date when the work was originally created.

This information helps in cataloguing and makes your certificate easier to identify and search.

📌 Step 6.3 — Visibility and License

Here you define how your work can be shared and used:

Public Visible – choose if your certificate is visible publicly or kept private.
Temporary Item – decide if the registration is temporary.
Language – select the language of your work.
License – choose among different usage rights:
- Deny any use
- Creative Commons – Allow Remixing
- Creative Commons – Allow Remixing + Require Share Alike
- Creative Commons – Prohibit Commercial Use
- Public Domain

👉 This step is crucial to define how others can interact with your creation.

📌 Step 6.4 — Final Review and Signature

The last screen allows you to double-check all your data before finalizing:

Summary – review Author, Co-Author, Description, Tags, Visibility, and License.
Cover Image – upload a cover (600x600px, max 2MB) to visually represent your work. If you don’t, the system will assign a default image.
Signature – add your autograph signature. You can also activate Private Mode if you don’t want the signature and personal details to be visible publicly.
Agreement – confirm you agree with the policy.

Once everything is set, click Deposit to generate your Authorship Certificate on blockchain.

👉 At this point, your certificate will be created, including Blockchain ID, Timestamp, File Hash, Author Information, and Digital Signature. You can find it anytime in your Uploads dashboard.

Step 7 — Blockchain notarization

CZone will:

Generate the hash of your file.
Register the hash and timestamp on blockchain.
Issue your certificate with metadata and QR code.

The process is instant and typically completes in seconds.

Step 8 — Find your certificates in Uploads

To manage or share your certificates:

Open the Uploads app from your dashboard.

2. Browse your list of notarized works.

The Block View:

The List View:

3. Click on a certificate to view:

- QR code (for instant verification)
- PDF certificate (download/print)
- Blockchain hash
- Timestamp
- Digital signature (if applied)
- Metadata and cover image

From here, you can share your work publicly or download the PDF for safe storage.

Creative Commons Licenses – A Quick Overview

When registering your file in CZone, you can associate a Creative Commons license.

It’s important to understand that:

You always remain the author and copyright holder.
A Creative Commons license only defines how others may use your work.
These licenses do not replace authorship proof, they simply clarify permissions.

The main Creative Commons licenses range from the most open (allowing remixing and commercial use with attribution) to the most restrictive (no commercial use, no modifications).

With CZone, you can combine the legal strength of blockchain notarization with a Creative Commons license. This way, your authorship is permanently certified while you decide the conditions of usage.

Security and legal notes

Only the hash is written on blockchain; your file stays private.
Proof is valid internationally in most jurisdictions.
CZone notarization does not replace patents or trademarks, but serves as strong copyright evidence.
Ownership of a work can be transferred via blockchain, fully traceable and immutable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find quick answers to the most common questions.

What should I do if my file is too large or unsupported?

Compress the file, convert it into a supported format, or upload it as a ZIP archive.

What happens if I forget to upload a cover image?

Your certificate remains valid. You can later edit the metadata and upload a custom cover if needed.

Do I need to notarize again if I update my work?

Yes. Each new version of your work should be notarized separately to maintain a clear and verifiable history.

Can the author and the owner be different?

Yes. The author is the person who created the work, while the owner is the rights holder (for example, an employer or a company).

Can I hide my signature on the certificate?

Yes. You can add your digital signature and choose to keep it invisible. The proof of authorship remains valid even if the signature is not displayed.

Where can I find my certificates?

All your notarized files and certificates are available in the Uploads app, including the QR codes, PDF certificate, blockchain hash, and digital signature.