Unqualifizierte Zeitstempel

How can it be proven that a digital document already existed at a particular point in time? What evidentiary value do hash values stored in distributed ledger systems with a non-qualified electronic timestamp have? The author combines the technical foundations of distributed ledger technology (DLT) with a legal analysis. The focus is on the eIDAS Regulation, trust services law and the rules of evidence in civil proceedings. The study demonstrates that non-qualified electronic timestamps can strengthen the evidentiary value of digital records, provided that tamper-resistant DLT and collision-resistant hash functions are used. Data protection constraints and potential applications in copyright law, compliance and contract law round off the analysis.