Governance, Publication & Rights Policy

Version 2.0 · Publication Date: 2026-09-22 · Status: Published / Effective
Document ID: DV-F-40-v2.0
© 2026 DraftVerify™ Standards Initiative. All rights reserved.

1. Standards authority

DraftVerify Standards Initiative is the publisher and standards authority for the DraftVerify F-Series.

It controls:

• publication of official DraftVerify editions;
• document numbering;
• version status;
• official interpretations;
• revision and withdrawal;
• certification-program rules;
• authorization of DraftVerify certification claims; and
• licensing of DraftVerify-controlled marks and protected materials.

This authority is contractual and proprietary within the DraftVerify system; it is not governmental or regulatory authority.

2. Canonical publication

The canonical version of an F-Series document is the version identified by DraftVerify as current on its controlled publication system.

Unofficial copies, archives, translations, summaries, screenshots, or third-party reproductions do not override the canonical version.

3. Version control

DraftVerify uses controlled edition identifiers.

Major version

Material change to requirements, conformity architecture, or certification model.

Minor version

Backward-compatible clarification or additional requirement that does not justify a major edition.

Editorial revision

Non-substantive correction that does not change conformity meaning.

4. Change record

A material revision shall record:

• document;
• previous version;
• new version;
• effective date;
• summary of change; and
• approval authority.

5. Technical review

DraftVerify may appoint technical reviewers, subject-matter advisers, industry panels, or external counsel.

Their participation does not transfer publication authority unless DraftVerify expressly delegates that authority in writing.

6. Interpretation

Where ambiguity affects a conformity decision, DraftVerify may issue a controlled interpretation.

Interpretations shall not be used to secretly create a material new requirement. Material requirements shall be incorporated through document revision.

7. Emergency action

DraftVerify may issue an interim safety, security, identity-integrity, or certification directive where waiting for a normal revision could materially undermine the DraftVerify system.

An interim directive shall identify:

• affected scope;
• effective time;
• reason;
• temporary requirements; and
• review or expiry condition.

8. Certification-program control

DraftVerify controls its own certification decisions, certificate IDs, status records, and authorization to use DraftVerify certification marks.

No third party may issue a certificate purporting to be a DraftVerify certificate without written authority from DraftVerify.

9. Intellectual property

DraftVerify retains rights available under applicable copyright, trademark, certification-mark, contract, database, software, unfair-competition, passing-off, and other law.

DraftVerify does not claim copyright ownership over abstract ideas, facts, methods, or systems that copyright law does not protect.

The objective is to protect:

• original DraftVerify publications and expression;
• source-identifying marks;
• certification marks and status claims;
• controlled certificate designs and identifiers;
• proprietary software and registry implementation;
• confidential assessment and security materials; and
• contractual rights granted to authorized participants.

10. Public access and licensing

Publication for public reading does not place DraftVerify materials in the public domain.

Except as permitted by law, substantial commercial reproduction, adaptation, translation, redistribution, incorporation into paid training or competing publications, and use of controlled DraftVerify marks require written authorization.

11. Contributions

Unless separate written terms apply, submission of feedback does not transfer ownership of pre-existing rights to DraftVerify.

DraftVerify should obtain appropriate rights or permissions before incorporating third-party protected material into an official publication.

12. Superseded editions

Superseded documents may remain accessible for historical reference but shall be clearly identified as superseded.

A certification decision shall identify the edition against which conformity was assessed.

13. Enforcement

Where DraftVerify rights or certification claims are misused, DraftVerify may use remedies appropriate to the right involved, including correction demands, contractual remedies, certification withdrawal, trademark/certification-mark remedies, copyright remedies concerning protected expression, or other lawful action.