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docs(licence): update PMPL policy — MPL-2.0 is automatic legal fallback
Three changes: - PALIMPSEST.adoc: rewrite — PMPL-1.0-or-later is stated primary; MPL-2.0 is automatic legal fallback until PMPL achieves formal legal recognition (lawyer-confirmed); AGPL-3.0 exception for IDApTIK + ASS (son co-dev) - LICENCE-POLICY.adoc: new canonical policy document — three rules, SPDX header table, enforcement references - rhodium-standard-repositories/PALIMPSEST.adoc: update legal status section to capture the MPL-2.0 fallback and AGPL exceptions Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>
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‎LICENCE-POLICY.adoc‎

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// SPDX-License-Identifier: PMPL-1.0-or-later
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= Hyperpolymath Licence Policy
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Jonathan D.A. Jewell <j.d.a.jewell@open.ac.uk>
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:toc:
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:toc-placement: preamble
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Canonical licence policy for all hyperpolymath repositories and code.
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All contributors and AI agents must follow this document.
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== Three Rules
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=== Rule 1 — PMPL-1.0-or-later Is the Stated Licence
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All hyperpolymath original code carries:
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```
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SPDX-License-Identifier: PMPL-1.0-or-later
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```
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This applies everywhere — source files, docs, config, scripts — unless
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Rule 2 or Rule 3 applies.
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=== Rule 2 — MPL-2.0 Is the Automatic Legal Fallback
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PMPL does not yet have formal legal standing as a standalone licence.
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A lawyer has confirmed: until PMPL is formally recognised, *MPL-2.0 is the
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automatically operative legal fallback* for all code marked
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`PMPL-1.0-or-later`. No additional declaration is needed.
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This means:
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* SPDX headers say `PMPL-1.0-or-later` — this is correct and intentional
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* Legally, the enforceable text today is MPL-2.0
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* When PMPL achieves legal recognition, existing headers take full effect
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without any re-labelling
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*Platform registries* (crates.io, Hackage, npm) that require OSI-approved
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licences need an explicit MPL-2.0 declaration:
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```
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SPDX-License-Identifier: MPL-2.0
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// (PMPL-1.0-or-later preferred; MPL-2.0 required for [platform])
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```
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This is distinct from the automatic fallback — it is a platform-compliance
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declaration, not a signal of preference.
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=== Rule 3 — AGPL-3.0 for Co-Developed Projects
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Two projects are co-developed with Jonathan's son and use AGPL-3.0:
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* **IDApTIK** — adaptive tutoring game
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* **Airborne Submarine Squadron (ASS)** — aerial combat game
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These use `SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later`. This exception is
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permanent. All other hyperpolymath original code follows Rule 1 + Rule 2.
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== SPDX Header Quick Reference
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[cols="2,3,2"]
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|===
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| Situation | Header | Notes
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| Standard hyperpolymath code
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| `PMPL-1.0-or-later`
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| MPL-2.0 is automatic legal fallback
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| crates.io / Hackage / npm package
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| `MPL-2.0` + comment
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| Add: `(PMPL-1.0-or-later preferred; MPL-2.0 required for [platform])`
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| IDApTIK or Airborne Submarine Squadron
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| `AGPL-3.0-or-later`
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| Permanent exception — co-developed with son
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| Third-party code
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| Original SPDX (e.g. `MIT`, `Apache-2.0`)
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| Never relicense; preserve original header exactly
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|===
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== What PMPL Adds Over MPL-2.0
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Once PMPL has legal standing, it adds:
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* *Emotional Lineage* — preserve narrative intent and cultural context
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* *Provenance Integrity* — retain attribution and lineage metadata
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* *Ethical Use Constraints* — explicit consent for non-interpretive AI training
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* *Quantum-Safe Provenance (optional)* — post-quantum signature support
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MPL-2.0 provides the legal foundation: file-level copyleft, patent grants,
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compatibility with other licences, clear modern language.
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== Enforcement
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* CI: `hypatia-scan.yml` checks SPDX headers on all files
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* Pre-commit: `panic-attack assail` catches missing or wrong SPDX identifiers
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* New repos: rsr-template-repo defaults to `PMPL-1.0-or-later`
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== See Also
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* `PALIMPSEST.adoc` (this directory) — full narrative
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* `rhodium-standard-repositories/PALIMPSEST.adoc` — RSR integration
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* link:https://github.com/hyperpolymath/palimpsest-license[palimpsest-license] — PMPL licence text
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* link:https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/MPL/2.0/[MPL-2.0] — legal fallback text

‎PALIMPSEST.adoc‎

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// SPDX-License-Identifier: PMPL-1.0-or-later
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= Palimpsest Licence
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Jonathan D.A. Jewell <j.d.a.jewell@open.ac.uk>
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:toc:
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:toc-placement!:
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:toc-placement: preamble
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image:https://img.shields.io/badge/license-MPL--2.0-blue.svg[MPL-2.0,link="https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/MPL/2.0/"]
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image:https://img.shields.io/badge/philosophy-Palimpsest-purple.svg[Palimpsest,link="https://github.com/hyperpolymath/palimpsest-licence"]
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image:https://img.shields.io/badge/License-PMPL--1.0--or--later-blue.svg[PMPL-1.0-or-later,link="https://github.com/hyperpolymath/palimpsest-license"]
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image:https://img.shields.io/badge/Legal_fallback-MPL--2.0-orange.svg[MPL-2.0 fallback,link="https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/MPL/2.0/"]
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toc::[]
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== Licence Summary
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== Legal Status
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This project is legally licensed under the **Mozilla Public License 2.0 (MPL-2.0)**.
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The Palimpsest Licence is a philosophical and ethical framework that accompanies the legal license. **Palimpsest does not currently provide legal protections** - it is a manifesto and a set of principles that we encourage adopters to embrace alongside the MPL-2.0.
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== Why MPL-2.0 + Palimpsest?
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=== The Legal Foundation: MPL-2.0
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The Mozilla Public License 2.0 provides:
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* **File-level copyleft** - modifications to MPL-licensed files must remain open
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* **Compatibility** - can be combined with proprietary code and other open source licenses
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* **Patent protection** - includes explicit patent grants
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* **Clear, modern language** - well-drafted and widely understood
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=== The Philosophical Layer: Palimpsest
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[cols="1,2"]
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|===
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| | Status
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Palimpsest adds an ethical dimension that legal licenses cannot capture:
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| *Stated SPDX licence* | `PMPL-1.0-or-later`
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| *Legal operative fallback* | MPL-2.0 (automatic, until PMPL achieves formal legal recognition)
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| *Exception — IDApTIK + Airborne Submarine Squadron* | AGPL-3.0 (co-developed projects, see below)
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|===
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* **Layered contribution** - like a palimpsest manuscript, each contributor adds to what came before
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* **Transparent provenance** - clear attribution of ideas, not just code
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* **Collaborative evolution** - encouraging forks that improve rather than fragment
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* **Ethical use guidelines** - principles beyond what law can enforce
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== PMPL-1.0-or-later
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== Future Direction
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The **Palimpsest-MPL License 1.0 (PMPL-1.0)** is the intended primary licence
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for all hyperpolymath original code. It incorporates the Mozilla Public
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License 2.0 by reference and adds:
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**Palimpsest v0.5** will integrate MPL-2.0 and Palimpsest principles into a single, legally recognized license. This work is ongoing.
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* **Emotional Lineage** — preserve narrative intent and cultural context
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* **Provenance Integrity** — retain attribution and lineage metadata
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* **Ethical Use Constraints** — explicit consent for non-interpretive AI training
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* **Quantum-Safe Provenance (optional)** — post-quantum signature support
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Until then:
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SPDX identifier used in all source files: `PMPL-1.0-or-later`
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1. **MPL-2.0** is the legally binding license for this project
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2. **Palimpsest** is the philosophical framework we encourage you to adopt
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3. Distributing Palimpsest alongside your use of this code is encouraged but not required
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== Legal Status and MPL-2.0 Fallback
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== Get Involved
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PMPL does not yet have formal legal standing as a standalone licence.
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Until it achieves that status:
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We are actively developing Palimpsest as a real, legally recognized license that captures both the legal and ethical dimensions of open source collaboration.
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* All code labelled `PMPL-1.0-or-later` is **legally operative under
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MPL-2.0** terms automatically — no additional declaration is required.
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* If a legal dispute arose today, MPL-2.0 would be the enforced text.
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* This is **not a dual-licence** — PMPL-1.0-or-later is the stated form;
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MPL-2.0 is the automatic fallback, not a separate grant.
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If you are interested in:
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When PMPL achieves formal recognition, the fallback becomes unnecessary and
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all existing `PMPL-1.0-or-later` declarations take full legal effect without
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any re-labelling.
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* Contributing to the Palimpsest license design
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* Adopting Palimpsest for your own projects
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* Providing legal expertise on open source licensing
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* Discussing the philosophy behind Palimpsest
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== Platform Fallback (MPL-2.0 Explicit)
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**Please get in touch:**
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For distribution on registries that require an OSI-approved licence
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(crates.io, Hackage, npm), use:
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* GitHub: https://github.com/hyperpolymath
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* Palimpsest Licence repo: https://github.com/hyperpolymath/palimpsest-licence
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```
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SPDX-License-Identifier: MPL-2.0
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// (PMPL-1.0-or-later preferred; MPL-2.0 required for [platform])
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```
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== Signing Up to Palimpsest
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This is distinct from the automatic legal fallback above — it is an explicit
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declaration for platform compliance, not a signal that PMPL is not preferred.
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While Palimpsest is not yet legally formalized, you can signal your support by:
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== Exception: AGPL-3.0 Projects
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1. Adding the Palimpsest badge to your project README
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2. Including `PALIMPSEST.adoc` in your repository
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3. Mentioning Palimpsest in your LICENSE file
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4. Joining discussions about the license's development
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**IDApTIK** and **Airborne Submarine Squadron** are co-developed with
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Jonathan's son. These projects use AGPL-3.0, not PMPL-1.0-or-later.
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== Summary
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This exception is permanent for those two projects. All other hyperpolymath
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original code uses PMPL-1.0-or-later (falling back to MPL-2.0).
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[cols="1,2"]
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|===
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|Aspect |Status
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== SPDX Header Summary
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|**Legal License**
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|MPL-2.0 (Mozilla Public License 2.0)
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[source]
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----
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# Hyperpolymath original code — standard:
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# SPDX-License-Identifier: PMPL-1.0-or-later
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|**Philosophical Framework**
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|Palimpsest (encouraged, not legally binding)
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# Platform-required fallback (crates.io, Hackage, etc.):
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# SPDX-License-Identifier: MPL-2.0
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# (PMPL-1.0-or-later preferred; MPL-2.0 required for [platform])
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|**SPDX Identifier**
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|`MPL-2.0`
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# Co-developed projects (IDApTIK, Airborne Submarine Squadron):
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# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
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|**Future License**
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|Palimpsest v0.5+ (MPL-2.0 integrated, legally recognized)
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|===
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# Third-party code — preserve original:
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# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT (or whatever the original is)
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----
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---
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== Further Reading
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_This project uses MPL-2.0 for legal licensing and encourages adoption of the Palimpsest philosophy. See link:LICENSE[LICENSE] for the full legal text._
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* `LICENCE-POLICY.adoc` — canonical policy statement (this directory)
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* `rhodium-standard-repositories/PALIMPSEST.adoc` — RSR integration
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* link:https://github.com/hyperpolymath/palimpsest-license[palimpsest-license repo] — PMPL licence text

‎rhodium-standard-repositories/PALIMPSEST.adoc‎

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// SPDX-License-Identifier: PMPL-1.0-or-later
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= Palimpsest License
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Jonathan D.A. Jewell <j.d.a.jewell@open.ac.uk>
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:toc:
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:toc-placement!:
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:toc-placement: preamble
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image:https://img.shields.io/badge/License-PMPL--1.0-blue.svg[License: PMPL-1.0,link="https://github.com/hyperpolymath/palimpsest-license"]
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image:https://img.shields.io/badge/Philosophy-Palimpsest-indigo.svg[Palimpsest,link="https://github.com/hyperpolymath/palimpsest-license"]
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toc::[]
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image:https://img.shields.io/badge/License-PMPL--1.0--or--later-blue.svg[PMPL-1.0-or-later,link="https://github.com/hyperpolymath/palimpsest-license"]
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image:https://img.shields.io/badge/Legal_fallback-MPL--2.0-orange.svg[MPL-2.0 fallback,link="https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/MPL/2.0/"]
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== Legal Status
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This project is licensed under the **Palimpsest-MPL License 1.0 (PMPL-1.0)**.
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For SPDX and tooling, use **PMPL-1.0-or-later**.
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This project is licensed under **PMPL-1.0-or-later** (Palimpsest-MPL License 1.0).
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PMPL-1.0 incorporates the Mozilla Public License 2.0 by reference and adds
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PMPL incorporates the Mozilla Public License 2.0 by reference and adds
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ethical-use, provenance, and lineage requirements.
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*Legal fallback:* Until PMPL achieves formal legal recognition, all code
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labelled `PMPL-1.0-or-later` is automatically operative under **MPL-2.0**
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terms. No separate declaration is needed — the fallback is unconditional.
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== What PMPL Adds
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* **Emotional Lineage** - preserve narrative intent and cultural context
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* **Provenance Integrity** - retain attribution and lineage metadata
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* **Ethical Use Constraints** - explicit consent for non-interpretive AI training
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* **Quantum-Safe Provenance (optional)** - post-quantum signature support
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* **Emotional Lineage** — preserve narrative intent and cultural context
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* **Provenance Integrity** — retain attribution and lineage metadata
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* **Ethical Use Constraints** — explicit consent for non-interpretive AI training
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* **Quantum-Safe Provenance (optional)** — post-quantum signature support
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== How to Adopt
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1. Include the PMPL-1.0 license text in `LICENSE`.
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2. Add SPDX headers to source files:
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`SPDX-License-Identifier: PMPL-1.0-or-later`
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3. Add a Palimpsest badge to your README (see `assets/badges/` and `embed/license-blocks/`).
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3. Add a Palimpsest badge to your README (see `assets/badges/`).
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For platform registries requiring OSI-approved licences (crates.io, Hackage):
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`SPDX-License-Identifier: MPL-2.0` with a comment explaining the fallback.
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== Exception: AGPL-3.0 Co-Developed Projects
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IDApTIK and Airborne Submarine Squadron use AGPL-3.0 (co-developed). All
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other hyperpolymath original code uses PMPL-1.0-or-later.
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== Versioning
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== References
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* `legal/README.adoc`
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* `assets/badges/README.md`
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* `embed/license-blocks/README.md`
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* `../LICENCE-POLICY.adoc` — canonical estate-wide policy
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* `../PALIMPSEST.adoc` — full policy with platform fallback rules
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* link:https://github.com/hyperpolymath/palimpsest-license[palimpsest-license repo]

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