Protect My Work

Protect My Work: copyright certification for creators and authors

Protect My Work is a UK-based copyright registration and protection service operating since 2002. The platform allows creators, authors, and businesses to certify the authorship and date of their works through a digital certificate with a unique reference number, designed as independent proof of intellectual property. The service is aimed at those who publish or distribute creative material and need to prove its originality to third parties, publishing platforms, or in potential litigation.

How registration and the digital certificate work

The process begins with creating an account, which the company describes as taking about two minutes and with encrypted data. From the members' area, the user uploads their files to a secure vault or sends them by email. Upon receipt, the system records and certifies the date and time, the hash code of the files, the IP address, and, for email submissions, the sender, recipient, and message body. A digital certificate with a unique reference number is then generated immediately and can be shared online. The company emphasizes that data and files digitally sealed cannot be altered by anyone in their system.

What works can be protected

The catalogue of accepted works covers a broad spectrum of original creations:

• Logos, web design and content, and packaging.
• Music, songs, sounds, and lyrics.
• Course materials, diagrams, audio, and video.
• Designs, 3D models, drawings, illustrations, photographs, paintings, and sculptures.
• Videos, film, television, and dramatic works.
• Books, audiobooks, blogs, poems, articles, stories, screenplays, and scripts.
• Apps, websites, code, and databases.

The company recommends registering the work before releasing it into the public domain or on social media, although it notes that already published material can also be protected.

International coverage and legal basis

Protect My Work states that the protection it offers is valid in 182 countries, including the United States, EU member states, and the United Kingdom. The company cites the Berne Convention and the 2025 World Intellectual Property Organization signatory list as references. The service is presented as proof of authorship under the copyright legislation of the subscriber's country and European Union guidelines.

Pricing and subscription terms

The site indicates an annual subscription of £44.15 (approximately $58.72 USD) plus VAT. Subscribers outside the UK are not charged VAT. Each registered work requires a certificate token of £1, also VAT-free, and each certificate supports up to five files. The account can store unlimited certificates. The company offers five free certificate tokens upon registration, equivalent to protecting up to 25 files, and a 14-day money-back guarantee. Registration of joint copyright holders is free.

Infringement support and additional services

Protect My Work assists its members in cases of copyright infringement. The service includes guidance by phone and email on the most effective steps, from initial contact with the infringing party using template letters to filing a claim with the platform where the infringement occurred. The company provides a free affidavit if the case goes to court. It also offers free guidance for content takedowns, DMCA notices, and cease-and-desist letters. According to its presentation, since 2002 all known disputes involving works registered with its support have been resolved outside of court.

User profile and cited cases

Among the users the company mentions are self-published authors, musicians, and designers. The site includes testimonials from clients describing the resolution of manuscript blocks on Amazon KDP and ACX review, the removal of infringing designs on three occasions, and the removal of eBay seller listings that were profiting from their work. The company states that its certificates are accepted as proof of authorship by publishing portals such as Amazon KDP, ACX, Etsy, and Soundcloud.

Company background and track record

Protect My Work was founded by two web designers who, when pitching graphic design proposals to potential clients, found that some would steal them and commission them from other agencies. The company presents itself as a deterrent against unauthorized use of creative works and claims to have protected 591,331 pieces of original work since 2002. The site shows a five-star rating with over a thousand reviews. The company declares itself registered for VAT with HMRC and with the ICO, with VAT number 314566507.