This policy defines eligibility, wording, display, publication, misuse, suspension, withdrawal and revocation for institutional conformance marks. Marks communicate bounded facts and do not create Recognition, Registry standing or reliance authority.
1. Scope
This policy governs use of protected textual and visual conformance designations. No mark may communicate more authority than the evidence supports.
2. Permitted Designations
| Designation | Meaning | Minimum basis |
|---|---|---|
| Draft | An implementation is being developed against a named Protocol draft. | Named version and public limitation. |
| Validated | Specified tests were completed by an identified evaluator. | Published test record; does not by itself mean conformant. |
| Independent Implementation | An implementation was produced without privileged implementation assistance under a documented independence method. | Independence statement and build evidence. |
| Protocol Conformant | Every applicable RI-CONF-001 requirement passed for the identified version. | Conformant determination and accessible declaration. |
| Future Registry Eligible | Defined submission prerequisites are satisfied. | Eligibility decision; not Recognition or Registry standing. |
3. Eligibility
The claimant MUST identify the organisation, implementation and version, Protocol and test-suite versions, outcome, evaluator, determination date, declaration URL and material limitations. “Protocol Conformant” MUST NOT be used for an Indeterminate or Non-conformant result.
4. Display
A mark MUST appear with its exact designation, version scope and a resolvable evidence link. It MUST NOT be modified to resemble a governmental approval, accreditation, certification or Registry Standing mark. A mark MUST NOT appear alone where a viewer could reasonably infer current standing.
5. Publication
Self-declared and independently evaluated claims MUST be labelled differently. Listing a claim records the claim; it does not convert it into Verification, Recognition or Registry publication.
6. Misuse
Misuse includes use without eligibility, use for an untested version, concealment of limitations, false independence, continued use after withdrawal, or language implying endorsement, Recognition, standing or reliance authority.
7. Suspension, Withdrawal and Revocation
Use MUST cease when supporting evidence expires, becomes materially unreliable, no longer covers the displayed version or is withdrawn. Administrative suspension preserves history pending review. Withdrawal ends voluntary use. Revocation records an authoritative termination for material breach or false claim. None may be performed through silent deletion.
8. No Reliance Warranty
A conformance mark describes a bounded protocol claim. It is not a warranty of safety, legality, performance, fitness, outcome, Recognition or current Registry standing.
- 2026-08-03Drafted · Version 0.1 Working Draft prepared