Questions, answered.

The HumanHand mark is a trust-based, dependable, and reliable indicator that a work was created through actual and direct human skill, talent, and judgment. It certifies that a specific registered work was formally declared as created without generative or agentic software (GenAI) originating, actualizing, rendering, or otherwise producing its creative elements.

It does not independently verify applicants' information. It relies on the integrity, truthfulness, and honesty of applicants' public declarations, similar to the way copyright status is asserted by creators. It does not certify ownership, copyright or other property rights, the veracity of the work's content, or its provenance.

Highly dependable. Copyright—perhaps the most successful example of a trust-based system—has sustained and underpinned intellectual-property industries for over 500 years. HumanHand® certification, like copyright, is also trust-based. People declare authorship and control the use of their works; those declarations are accepted without verification unless a dispute requires legal action. HumanHand® does not independently verify authorship or the tools used to create a work. It relies on creators' declarations. Disputes and false declarations may be addressed through HumanHand® administration or, if necessary, legal action.

Any human creator who is at least 16 may apply for their work or for a qualifying composite work. Corporations may apply if they are the first owners of a composite work. For composite works, the first owner may apply if each required creative component of the work satisfies the standard.

By identifying works that are the product of actual human skill, judgment, and labour, HumanHand® certification helps preserve and sustain the cultural as well as economic value—and the existential importance—of genuine human creative work. It supports career opportunities for creators, generates trust for developers, producers, aggregators, distributors, financiers, and providers of creative works, and gives consumers the ability to discern and choose the content to which they devote their attention.

HumanHand® certification may be granted to literary, artistic, dramatic, and musical works; live or recorded performances; sound recordings; and communication signals such as broadcasts. Examples include books, scripts, software, databases, educational materials, visual art, photographs, architecture, films, series, choreography, songs, music recordings, podcasts, and other comparable creative works. Composite works (such as videos, movies, record albums, magazines or compilations) may also apply.

A work that has various components each of which is an independent work that can qualify for HumanHand certification. Examples include videos, music records, or portfolios.

Disclosed AI use for research, corrective editing, proofreading, grammar, formatting, mastering, color grading, and similar technical support can be allowed when the human remains the original source of key creative judgment and production.

Generative or agentic text, image, audio, video, music, and code tools (GenAI) may not originate, initiate, actualize, brainstorm, outline, render, generate, or otherwise produce the key creative elements of the work being certified.

Account holders can search by work title, creator name, registration number, work type, date, and status, inspect the public record, and submit an inquiry if details do not match.

HumanHand® or any HumanHand account holder may raise a concern about a certificate. HumanHand® decides whether to open a dispute. If opened, the record can be marked under review, the creator can be asked to respond within 30 days, and final revocation decisions can remain publicly visible.

Applicants who submit false information may face civil and perhaps criminal legal action. Any HumanHand® member may report a questionable registration. HumanHand® will review the report and follow up with the creator. If HumanHand® determines that false information was used, the certification and the connected account will be revoked. The offending applicant's name and the title of the work will remain published and discoverable in the registry. False declarations may also subject the applicant to civil and/or legal action.

No. Certification depends on the honesty, integrity and truthfulness of applicants. It does not verify applicants' information. HumanHand® certification does not signify nor evidence ownership or copyright status of works. It is not a symbol of property rights. The public declaration, registry, audit trail, dispute process, and revocation path make the claim inspectable and accountable.

Opening an account and becoming a member is free. Certification is free for students with approved proof of enrolment. As an introductory benefit, all certifications are free through January 31, 2027. After that date, certification costs CAD $18 per work for non-students, or CAD $36 for a whole composite work. There is no charge for a work that does not qualify and no refund for certifications that are revoked.