Idea Vault provides document witnessing and registration services useful for firmly establishing the critical: 'date of invention' associated with official conception of a patentable idea. In the United States 'first-to-invent' system, detailed records relating to the date of invention may sometimes make the ultimate difference in deciding a patent priority contest – or 'patent interference proceeding '. Inventors who wish to 'lock-in' their date of invention may register documents at Idea Vault where they will be witnessed by patent and science experts. These registered documents may additionally be stored for a limited time during which an inventor may continue diligent development of the idea. Should it become necessary to establish a true date of invention, Idea Vault will provide testimony to the United States Patent and Trademark office or any United States Federal Court regarding the precise nature of the existence of documents recording the idea.