| Internet-Draft | REM Protocol | September 2025 |
| Reilly | Expires 24 March 2026 | [Page] |
The Reilly EternaMark (REM) Protocol defines a dual-layer method for digital permanence through the integration of Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) and blockchain timestamping. The protocol ensures digital artifacts are permanently identifiable, immutable, and verifiable for both present and future use.¶
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Existing digital preservation methods are centralized and vulnerable to alteration, corruption, or loss. The REM Protocol addresses these issues by combining DOI persistence with blockchain immutability.¶
DOI ensures discoverability, persistence, and interoperability. Blockchain timestamping ensures immutability and tamper-proof verification. This creates a dual-layer permanence system suitable for academia, compliance, intellectual property, and AI data governance.¶
DOI: Digital Object Identifier, a globally unique and resolvable identifier.¶
Timestamp: A blockchain-anchored proof of existence and creation time.¶
Artifact: Any digital object (paper, dataset, contract, etc.) preserved via REM Protocol.¶
The REM Protocol consists of four steps:¶
1. Hashing — Compute SHA-256 hash of the digital artifact. Example: 02439f01ba0b805ba3011aaeb2783ffb096c1c6ad847876e75...¶
2. Blockchain Timestamping — Submit the hash to a blockchain timestamping service. Example: Bitcoin block 914168 attests existence as of 2025-09-10 EST.¶
3. DOI Assignment — Register the artifact with a DOI system (e.g., Zenodo). Example: https://zenodo.org/records/17096230¶
4. Archival Integration — Publish DOI, blockchain TXID, and hash together as the permanent record.¶
Inputs: Digital artifact.¶
Process: SHA-256 hash -> Blockchain timestamp -> DOI registration -> Publication.¶
Outputs: A permanent, verifiable record consisting of: DOI (discoverability), Blockchain TXID (immutability), Hash (integrity proof).¶
Integrity: Provided by SHA-256 hashing.¶
Immutability: Guaranteed by blockchain consensus.¶
Persistence: Ensured by DOI federation and global resolution.¶
This document has no IANA actions.¶
Academic publishing and research archiving.¶
Compliance (finance, healthcare, logistics).¶
Intellectual property (true prior art, permanent alternative to patents).¶
AI and ML datasets (trustworthy sources).¶
Lawrence John Reilly Jr.¶
Email: lawrencejohnreilly@gmail.com¶