Exact file — recommended
Protects the exact bytes of any file through FRS-01. If a single byte changes, the source no longer matches.
Help
The essentials for creating, preserving, sharing and verifying a PTC declaration.
Basic flow
- 1
Select the file or reference
- 2
Choose what you want to protect
- 3
Declare AI involvement
- 4
Generate and preserve the package
- 5
Verify it later
Three ways to protect an object
Textual content
Protects canonical content under R-01. Some normalised physical differences can preserve the same textual identity.
Official document reference
Protects a normalised official reference when the source file is unavailable.
All three modes are valid; they protect different objects.
What to preserve
Exact file
Preferably keep the complete generated ZIP.
Textual content
Preferably keep the package; the canonical textual artefact with PTC can also verify the declaration.
Official reference
Keep the package and the reference used.
Practical rule: whenever possible, send or archive the complete package.
Frequently asked questions
Use
What does Validator verify?
The integrity of a PTC declaration and its cryptographic correspondence with the protected object. In a package it can also check the source, package structure and, where present, public disclosure.
Which mode should I choose?
Exact file is recommended when you want to protect the complete file as it exists. Textual content is for canonical text. Official reference is used when the source file is unavailable.
Which files are supported in exact-file mode?
Any finite byte sequence that the browser can process within its operational limits: images, audio, video, ZIP, spreadsheets, code, datasets and other formats.
Can I still use TXT, MD, DOCX or PDF?
Yes. TXT and Markdown provide the most reproducible textual route. DOCX and PDF remain supported through document adapters, subject to the extraction limitations reported by the verifier.
Integrity and limits
Does it check whether the declaration is true?
No. PTC is declarative. Validator detects technical inconsistencies; it is not a lie detector. Provenance, date or priority may require external anchors.
What happens if I modify an exact file?
In exact-file mode, any byte change causes the source to stop matching the protected reference.
Can a textual file change and still verify?
Yes, when physical differences disappear under the R-01 normalisation rules. Textual mode protects the canonical object, not every byte of the physical file.
Does it prove authorship?
No. It records declared authorship but does not prove identity, originality or legal authorship.
Sharing and verification
What should I send to someone else?
Whenever possible, the complete package. This keeps together the pieces needed to verify each applicable axis.
Is the source file required for verification?
It depends on the mode. In exact-file mode, without the source the declaration and descriptor can be checked, but the verifier cannot state that a particular file matches them.
What does Package Format 2.0 check?
It separates the results for the PTC declaration, source file, package structure and, where present, public disclosure. An issue in one axis should not hide the status of the others.
Are older artefacts still supported?
Yes. The verifier retains compatibility routes for earlier PTC distributions and for textual or document artefacts that remain supported. The current flow is recommended for new declarations.
Privacy
Is my file uploaded to a server?
No. Content processing takes place locally in the browser. Validator does not require an account to create or verify.
Do I need Portable for privacy?
No. The website also processes locally. Portable is for working without depending on access to validator.es, for example in isolated or offline environments.
Publication
What is DCL-03?
An optional profile that can bind a disclosure declaration to the same protected object and derive a public notice. It does not replace PTC.
Does DCL-03 prove that the notice was shown to the public?
No. It can verify correspondence between the included notice and the protected declaration, but it does not prove actual public display or, by itself, satisfaction of a specific legal obligation.