LICENSE — The ARX Foundation Public Pact (AFPP)
Version 1.2
Last updated: April 24, 2026
Applies to: All contents of this repository, including but not limited to source code, documentation, creative works, research notes, designs, and concepts.
I. PREAMBLE
The ARX Foundation Public Pact (AFPP) is a values-based license designed to promote creative survival, transparency, and mutual care. It serves not only as a legal instrument but also a moral compass. Where enforceable by copyright and contract law, this license asserts the terms below. Where not enforceable, it calls upon collective moral and community action. This license may be interpreted in harmony with permissive or copyleft licenses (e.g., MIT, GPL) so long as such integration does not violate AFPP’s ethical stipulations.
This edition is aligned with The Meridian: a shared, indefinite public knowledge map under The ARX Foundation.
II. PURPOSE
This license governs the use of all materials within this repository (“the Project” — also referred to in public materials as The Meridian) and any direct or indirect derivatives. It is a protective declaration for contributors and community members co-developing a transparent, non-exploitative system of creative survival and public empowerment.
This is not merely an open-source license — it is a public pact built on radical transparency, mutual trust, and equitable contribution.
III. RIGHTS GRANTED
You are free to:
- Use the contents for personal, educational, or commercial purposes that align with the core values of this project.
- Modify the materials to build derivative works.
- Share and distribute your modifications, provided they remain under this license.
- Attribute the original contributors with credit and clarity.
These rights are irrevocable provided the stated conditions are met.
IV. CORE CONDITIONS
1. Transparency and documentation
You must:
- Clearly disclose source attribution (link to the original repository and author).
- Describe modifications or uses.
- State intent behind use or deployment.
2. No patents without consent
- Patents on any invention, process, or system derived from this work may not be filed without express, written consent from Landon Dahle or an elected body of The ARX Foundation.
- Patents filed in violation of this clause are considered invalid and unenforceable.
3. No exploitation
You may not:
- Build closed-source systems that rely on public contributions without return.
- Participate in extractive labor practices.
- Obscure authorship or deny access to future contributors.
- Contribute to surveillance, misinformation, or oppressive structures.
4. DAO and stewardship transition
As the work matures and foundational goals advance (e.g., durable housing, creator-owned income, sustainable operations, and community trust):
- Major tools and services should be prepared for handoff to community-stewarded governance (including, where appropriate, a community-owned DAO or equivalent structure).
- An audit or independent evaluation may be used to verify readiness for transition.
- This clause does not require the project to “finish” by a specific calendar date; it requires intentional stewardship as impact and risk grow.
V. OPTIONAL MODULES AND EXTENSIONS
1. Fair use commercial trial
You may use this project and its outputs for commercial purposes for up to thirty (30) days to evaluate alignment with your goals. Beyond that period, continued commercial use requires adherence to all conditions of this license — particularly Sections III, IV, and V.
Commercial trials apply per organization, not per individual.
2. Definitions of personal and noncommercial use
The following do not constitute commercial use:
- Personal research, study, or hobby projects
- Religious observance or artistic experimentation
- Academic or public-interest research
- Use by nonprofits, cooperatives, educational institutions, or public service organizations, regardless of funding source
3. Patent shield clause
You agree not to initiate legal claims against any contributor or user alleging that this project, in part or whole, infringes on any patent. Doing so voids your rights under this license until such legal proceedings are concluded — and may result in indefinite revocation depending on the outcome.
4. Attribution grace period
If you fail to provide appropriate attribution or licensing notices, but do so within thirty (30) days of being notified, you will be considered in compliance retroactively. This does not apply to willful concealment or bad-faith actions.
VI. ATTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS
Any derivative work must include:
Built with and inspired by The Meridian // The ARX Foundation — founded by Landon Dahle
https://github.com/Mapmakers-Tech-Guild/The-Meridian
Visible attribution is required:
- On your website or documentation
- In any product README or About page
- Where legal or licensing information is typically displayed
VII. COMPENSATION AND FAIRNESS
- If you adopt the impact/time-based equity model from this project, you must honor its intention: reward effort over ownership.
- Contributions by others must be acknowledged; do not absorb them into a singular narrative.
- You are welcome to profit — but hoarding is discouraged. Take what you need, give when you can.
VIII. ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY ACTION
Violations include:
- Breaching ethical core values
- Attempting privatization of shared tools
- Sabotage or unethical leveraging of visibility
In such cases, The ARX Foundation or its proxy community reserves the right to:
- Revoke usage privileges
- Issue takedown requests
- Organize public response or legal action
Community enforcement is our first line of defense. Legal mechanisms may follow if necessary.
IX. DISCLAIMER
This project is provided “as is,” without warranty of any kind. Contributors are not liable for damages from use, misuse, or interpretation.
X. FINAL NOTE FROM THE FOUNDER
This project is about survival through creativity — and the belief that mutual care can outperform systems built solely for profit.
If your goals align: welcome. If they do not: respectfully step aside.
Let’s build something new — together, in the open, for the long run.
— Landon Dahle // Elryan the Explorer
Founder, The ARX Foundation
themeridian@hopefullyabysmal.com