Community Commons License

Version: 1.0-DRAFT Effective Date: [DATE]

NOTICE: This document is a draft for discussion purposes and has not been reviewed by legal counsel. It should not be used as a binding legal agreement until reviewed and finalized by a qualified attorney.

Preamble

This license is designed to foster collaborative development of creative and technical projects while protecting the intellectual property of contributors from exploitation in unrelated commercial contexts. It aims to balance openness for personal use, creative expansion, and community contribution with reasonable restrictions on purely extractive commercial use.

Article I: Definitions

1.1 Core Parties

"Licensor" means the entity or individual identified as the primary steward of the Project, responsible for maintaining and distributing the Materials under this Agreement.

"Contributor" means any person, entity, or organization that submits a Contribution to the Project.

"Licensee" means any person, entity, or organization that obtains, accesses, or exercises any rights to the Materials under this Agreement.

"Maintainer" means any person or entity authorized by the Licensor to administer, develop, or distribute the Project. Maintainers exercise delegated authority from the Licensor and may act on behalf of the Licensor for purposes specified in Article XI (Project Continuity) and as documented in the Project Information appendix.

1.2 Subject Matter

"Project" means the collaborative work identified by the Licensor, including its associated repositories, documentation, and community resources.

"Materials" means all works of authorship, data, software, images, audio, video, designs, characters, worldbuilding elements, branding, trademarks, and other intellectual property contributed to or licensed under the Project pursuant to this Agreement.

"Contribution" means any Materials submitted to the Project by a Contributor with the intent that it be incorporated into or distributed as part of the Project.

"Proprietary Components" means Materials that are licensed to the Project for use within the Project but are not themselves licensed under this Agreement for independent redistribution.

"Outputs" means content, data, files, or results generated through the execution, operation, or use of software, tools, or other functional Materials—as distinguished from the Materials themselves.

1.3 Use Categories

"Personal Use" means use by an individual primarily for private enjoyment, education, personal creative expression, or non-commercial hobby purposes, regardless of whether such use is shared publicly, provided it is not undertaken for commercial advantage or monetary compensation.

"Commercial Use" means use in connection with any activity intended for or directed toward commercial advantage, monetary compensation, or the promotion of goods, services, or brands—excluding Personal Use and Permitted Project Use as defined herein.

"Permitted Project Use" means Commercial Use that satisfies the criteria in Article IV, Section 4.2.

"Extractive Commercial Use" means Commercial Use that does not qualify as Permitted Project Use—including but not limited to: reproduction of Materials on merchandise, use of Materials in advertising or promotion unrelated to the Project, or distribution of Materials without substantial original contribution or creative expansion.

1.4 Qualitative Standards

"Original Work" means a work of authorship that embodies substantial creative effort and expression independent of the Materials incorporated therein, such that the resulting work is identifiable as a distinct creative endeavor rather than a mere reproduction, compilation, or minor modification of the Materials.

"Project-Relevant Work" means a work that meaningfully engages with, builds upon, or expands the themes, narrative, functionality, or creative universe of the Project in a manner recognizable to a reasonable observer familiar with the Project.

1.5 Shared Repository and Platform Terms

"Shared Repository" means a repository, collection, or distribution channel containing Materials intended for simultaneous contribution to multiple specified Projects, each governed by this Agreement or a compatible license.

"Platform" means any service, website, application, or infrastructure used to host, develop, discuss, or distribute Project Materials, including but not limited to wikis, version control systems, forums, issue trackers, and content management systems.

"Platform Contribution" means a Contribution made through a Platform, including commits, edits, uploads, and other submissions made via Platform interfaces.

"Designated Contribution Area" means a specific area of a Platform designated by the Project where submissions are treated as Contributions.

"Contribution Markup" means a notation convention established by the Project allowing users to designate specific content within messages as Contributions.

"Incidental Contribution" means a de minimis contribution such as typographical corrections, formatting fixes, broken link repairs, or similar minor edits that do not constitute substantial creative expression.

"Community Interaction" means participation in Project discussion, feedback, peer review, issue reporting, or similar collaborative activities that do not constitute Contributions under this Agreement.

Article II: Grant of License

2.1 Base License Grant

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Licensor hereby grants to all Licensees a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license to:

Access, view, and study the Materials;
Use the Materials for Personal Use without restriction;
Reproduce, modify, and create derivative works of the Materials for Permitted Project Use;
Distribute the Materials and derivative works in accordance with Article V;
Execute, operate, and use functional Materials (such as software and tools) and freely use, distribute, and commercialize the Outputs thereof.

2.2 Limitations on Grant

This license does not grant:

Any right to Extractive Commercial Use of the Materials;
Any right to sublicense the Materials except as part of a work distributed under this Agreement or a compatible license;
Any right to use Proprietary Components outside the scope authorized by their respective license terms;
Any trademark, patent, or other intellectual property rights beyond the copyright license expressly granted herein, except as specified in Article VIII.

2.3 Perpetuity and Irrevocability

The license granted under this Agreement is perpetual and irrevocable, except as provided in Article XII (Revocation). No future version of this Agreement, change in Licensor, or discontinuation of the Project shall revoke or diminish the rights granted to Licensees who have complied with this Agreement.

Article III: Personal Use

3.1 Scope of Personal Use

Licensees may freely use the Materials for Personal Use, including but not limited to:

Private study, enjoyment, and education;
Personal creative projects, fan works, and artistic expression;
Sharing and displaying personal works publicly (e.g., on social media, personal websites, or community forums);
Commissioning original works from artists or creators that incorporate the Materials, provided the commissioned work is for the commissioner's Personal Use.

3.2 Personal Use Boundaries

Personal Use does not include:

Sale of works incorporating the Materials, except as permitted under Article IV;
Use in advertising, promotion, or endorsement of commercial products, services, or brands;
Distribution at scale that would substitute for obtaining the Materials from the Project.

Article IV: Commercial Use

4.1 General Restriction

Extractive Commercial Use of the Materials is prohibited without separate written authorization from the Contributor(s) of the specific Materials involved.

4.2 Permitted Project Use

Commercial Use is permitted without separate authorization when the use satisfies all of the following criteria:

Originality: The work constitutes an Original Work incorporating substantial creative contribution beyond the Materials used;
Relevance: The work is a Project-Relevant Work that engages meaningfully with the Project's themes, narrative, or creative universe;
Integration: The Materials are incorporated into the work rather than being the primary subject of commercialization (e.g., a game using Project assets versus merchandise reproducing Project art);
Attribution: The work complies with the attribution requirements in Article V.

4.3 Contributor Works

Contributors who have made Contributions to the Project may engage in Commercial Use of their own Contributions and other Materials in connection with works that themselves constitute Contributions or are distributed alongside Contributions, subject to the attribution and distribution requirements of this Agreement.

4.4 Illustrative Examples

For clarity, the following are examples of use under this Agreement (these are illustrative, not exhaustive):

Use Case	Classification	Reasoning
Printing a contributed image on merchandise for sale	Prohibited (Extractive)	Materials are the primary commercial subject
Creating and selling a game incorporating Project assets and lore	Permitted (if Original + Relevant)	Original Work engaging with Project
Illustrating a Project character for personal display	Permitted (Personal Use)	Non-commercial creative expression
Selling commissioned art of Project characters	Permitted (Personal Use)	Commissioned for commissioner's personal use
Using Project art to promote an unrelated brand	Prohibited (Extractive)	No relevance; promotional use
Hosting a commercial game server running Project software	Permitted (Outputs)	Commercializing Outputs, not Materials
Selling maps created using Project mapping tools	Permitted (Outputs)	Commercializing Outputs, not Materials
Including Project content in a published book expanding the lore	Permitted (if Original + Relevant)	Original Work engaging with Project

4.5 Determination of Permitted Use

In cases of ambiguity regarding whether a use qualifies as Permitted Project Use, Licensees are encouraged to seek clarification from the Licensor or relevant Contributors before proceeding. The Licensor may publish guidelines, FAQs, or advisory opinions to assist Licensees in understanding the scope of Permitted Project Use.

Article V: Distribution Requirements

5.1 License Retention

All distributions of the Materials or works incorporating the Materials must:

Include a copy of this Agreement or a prominent link to it;
Retain all copyright notices, attribution information, and license notices present in the Materials;
Clearly identify any Materials that are Proprietary Components subject to separate license terms.

5.2 Attribution

Distributions must provide reasonable attribution to the Project and, where practicable, to the Contributors of specific Materials used. Attribution should include:

The name of the Project;
A link to the Project's primary repository or website (if available);
Identification of specific Contributors if their Materials are prominently featured.

5.3 Modifications

Distributions of modified Materials must clearly indicate that modifications have been made and must not misrepresent the modified work as the original or as endorsed by the original Contributors.

5.4 Proprietary Components

Proprietary Components may be distributed only as integrated parts of the Project or works derived from the Project, and only in accordance with the terms specified by the owner of the Proprietary Component. Licensees may not extract, redistribute, or sublicense Proprietary Components independently.

Article VI: Contributions

6.1 License Grant to Project

By submitting a Contribution to the Project, the Contributor grants:

To all Licensees: a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable license to use, reproduce, modify, distribute, display, perform, and create derivative works of the Contribution, subject to the terms of this Agreement;
To the Licensor: a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable license to use, reproduce, modify, distribute, display, perform, sublicense, and create derivative works of the Contribution for purposes of developing, maintaining, promoting, and distributing the Project.

6.2 Contribution Cooling-Off Period

Contributors may withdraw a Contribution within ten (10) days of its initial submission (or such longer period as the Licensor may specify) by providing written notice to the Licensor. Upon valid withdrawal:

The licenses granted under Section 6.1 are void with respect to the withdrawn Contribution;
The Licensor shall make reasonable efforts to remove the withdrawn Contribution from Project repositories;
Licensees who incorporated the withdrawn Contribution prior to withdrawal notice may continue to use it, but may not make further distributions incorporating the withdrawn Contribution.

After the cooling-off period expires, the licenses granted under Section 6.1 become irrevocable except as provided in Article XVI (License Versioning).

6.3 Retained Rights

Contributors retain all rights to their Contributions not expressly granted herein, including:

The right to use their Contributions independently of the Project;
The right to license their Contributions under different terms to third parties;
The right to require separate authorization for Extractive Commercial Use of their Contributions by others.

6.4 Contributor Representations

Each Contributor represents and warrants that:

They have the legal right and authority to grant the licenses set forth in this Agreement;
Their Contributions do not infringe upon the intellectual property rights or other rights of any third party;
Their Contributions do not violate applicable laws or regulations;
Their Contributions do not contain malicious code, malware, or other harmful elements.

6.5 Contributor Approval for External Use

Use of Contributions outside the scope of this Agreement—including Extractive Commercial Use—requires separate written authorization from the Contributor, which may be granted or withheld at the Contributor's sole discretion.

Article VII: Shared Repositories

7.1 Purpose

A Shared Repository enables Contributors to submit Materials to multiple specified Projects simultaneously, without requiring separate submissions to each Project.

7.2 Designation

A Shared Repository must clearly identify in its documentation (see Appendix H):

All Projects to which Contributions will be licensed;
The version(s) of this Agreement applicable to each Project;
Any scope limitations on which Materials apply to which Projects.

7.3 Effect of Contribution

By submitting a Contribution to a Shared Repository, the Contributor:

Grants the licenses specified in Article VI to each listed Project independently;
Grants each listed Project's Licensor the rights specified in Section 6.1(2) with respect to that Project;
Retains all rights specified in Section 6.3 with respect to all Projects.

7.4 Addition of Projects

If a new Project is added to a Shared Repository:

The Licensor shall provide notice to Contributors of the addition;
Contributors may withdraw their existing Contributions from the new Project within the cooling-off period specified in Section 6.2;
Contributions made after the addition are automatically licensed to the new Project.

7.5 Scope Limitations

Materials contributed to a Shared Repository are licensed only to the Projects listed in the repository's documentation. This Agreement does not grant any automatic license to Projects not explicitly listed, regardless of whether those Projects are also governed by this Agreement.

Article VIII: Platform Contributions

8.1 Platform Terms of Contribution

Projects may designate Platforms through which Contributions may be submitted. By using a designated Platform to submit Materials to a Project, the submitter:

Agrees to the terms of this Agreement with respect to the submitted Materials;
Grants the licenses specified in Article VI;
Makes the representations and warranties specified in Section 6.4;
Acknowledges that the submission constitutes a Contribution governed by this Agreement.

8.2 Platform Acknowledgment

Designated Platforms shall provide clear notice to users that:

Submissions to the Project constitute Contributions under this Agreement;
Contributors are bound by the terms of this Agreement;
A copy of or link to this Agreement is accessible prior to submission.

Such notice may be provided through account registration, repository documentation, contribution guidelines, or prominent notice at the point of submission. Template acknowledgments are provided in Appendix I.

8.3 Contribution Channels

The following Platform activities constitute Contributions and are subject to this Agreement:

Code commits, pull requests, and merge requests;
Wiki page creation and substantive edits;
Asset uploads (images, audio, models, data files);
Documentation authorship and substantive revisions;
Submissions to Designated Contribution Areas as defined in Section 8.6;
Content marked with Contribution Markup as defined in Section 8.7;
Any submission explicitly identified as a Contribution by the Platform or Project.

8.4 Incidental Contributions

Incidental Contributions (typographical corrections, formatting fixes, broken link repairs, and similar de minimis edits) are subject to this Agreement but:

Are presumed to carry implied consent for incorporation without formal agreement;
Do not require individual attribution unless the Contributor requests it;
May be made without completing a formal Contributor Agreement;
Remain subject to the cooling-off period in Section 6.2.

8.5 Community Interactions

The following Platform activities do not constitute Contributions and are not governed by this Agreement:

Bug reports, feature requests, and issue submissions (absent attached Materials);
Discussion, comments, and forum posts (except as provided in Sections 8.6 and 8.7);
Peer review, code review, and editorial feedback;
Votes, reactions, and similar non-substantive interactions;
Questions, answers, and support requests.

Content shared in Community Interactions that does not constitute protectable creative expression—including abstract ideas, concepts, suggestions, methods, and discoveries—is not subject to intellectual property protection and may be freely implemented, developed, or formalized by any party without requiring authorization from the original author.

8.6 Designated Contribution Areas

Projects may designate specific areas of a Platform as Designated Contribution Areas, where submissions are treated as Contributions. When using Designated Contribution Areas:

The Platform shall clearly indicate that submissions to the area constitute Contributions;
Users submitting to the area agree to the terms of this Agreement with respect to their submissions;
Creative expression within submissions is licensed to the Project per Article VI;
Non-protectable content (ideas, methods, factual information) remains outside the scope of this Agreement.

8.7 Contribution Markup

Projects may establish a Contribution Markup convention allowing users to designate specific content within messages as Contributions. When using Contribution Markup:

The Project shall document the markup format and its effect (see Appendix I);
Only content within the markup is treated as a Contribution;
Content outside the markup remains a Community Interaction;
The cooling-off period in Section 6.2 applies to marked content.

Example markup formats include but are not limited to:

Delimiters: [CONTRIBUTION] ... [/CONTRIBUTION]
Tags: <contribution> ... </contribution>
Prefixes: Lines beginning with CONTRIB: or similar indicators

8.8 Formalizing Ideas from Interactions

When a Contributor creates a formal Contribution that implements, develops, or builds upon ideas, concepts, or suggestions shared in Community Interactions:

The formal Contribution is governed by this Agreement;
The original author of the Community Interaction has no claim to the formal Contribution unless the Contribution incorporates protectable creative expression from the Interaction;
Attribution to the original author is encouraged as a matter of courtesy but is not required by this Agreement;
The original author retains the right to create their own formal Contribution based on the same ideas.

8.9 Disputed Contributions

If a dispute arises regarding whether a Platform submission constitutes a Contribution or incorporates another party's protectable expression:

The disputing party may raise the issue with the Licensor within sixty (60) days of becoming aware of the incorporation;
The Licensor shall make reasonable efforts to mediate or resolve the dispute;
If unresolved, the allegedly infringing content may be removed or replaced pending resolution;
Removal does not affect licenses already granted with respect to distributions made prior to the dispute.

Article IX: Outputs and Execution

9.1 Unrestricted Outputs

The execution, operation, or use of functional Materials (including software, tools, game engines, generators, and similar works) produces Outputs that are not subject to the restrictions of this Agreement. Licensees may freely use, modify, distribute, sell, or otherwise commercialize such Outputs without restriction, regardless of whether the underlying Materials are subject to this Agreement.

9.2 Examples

For clarity, the following constitute Outputs and are unrestricted:

Files, images, or data generated by software tools included in the Project;
Game saves, replays, recordings, or content created within a game implemented in the Project;
Services, hosting, or server operations using Project software;
Compiled binaries or executables produced from Project source code (though the source code itself remains subject to this Agreement).

Article X: Use of Names and Marks

10.1 Project Identity

Licensees may use the name, logo, and marks of the Project to:

Indicate association with or compatibility with the Project;
Attribute the source of Materials used in accordance with this Agreement;
Describe the nature of works that constitute Permitted Project Use.

10.2 Contributor and Licensor Identity

Licensees may not use the names, logos, or marks of Contributors or the Licensor in any manner that suggests endorsement, sponsorship, or official affiliation without prior written consent from the relevant party.

10.3 No Implied Endorsement

Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to grant any right to suggest that any work or activity is endorsed, sponsored, or approved by the Licensor or any Contributor, except as explicitly authorized in writing.

Article XI: Project Continuity and Anti-Closure

11.1 Irrevocable Community Rights

The rights granted under this Agreement are irrevocable (except as provided in Article XII) and shall survive:

Any change in the identity or legal status of the Licensor;
Any discontinuation, abandonment, or cessation of active development of the Project;
Any transfer, sale, or assignment of rights in the Project;
Any attempt by a successor Licensor to impose additional restrictions on Materials previously licensed under this Agreement.

11.2 Successor Obligations

Any person or entity that acquires rights in the Project or assumes the role of Licensor shall be bound by all obligations of the Licensor under this Agreement with respect to Materials previously contributed or licensed.

11.3 Maintainer Authority

Maintainers designated by the Licensor may exercise the following rights on behalf of the Licensor:

Accept, review, and integrate Contributions into the Project;
Administer distribution channels and repositories;
Provide guidance on interpretation of this Agreement (subject to Licensor review);
Issue notices required under this Agreement;
Continue Project operations in the event the Licensor becomes unavailable, subject to the continuity provisions of Section 11.4.

The scope of each Maintainer's authority shall be documented in the Project Information appendix or other official Project documentation.

11.4 Community Continuation

In the event the Licensor abandons, discontinues, or becomes unable to maintain the Project:

All Materials previously licensed under this Agreement remain available under the terms of this Agreement;
Any Licensee in compliance with this Agreement may continue to maintain, distribute, and develop the Project under this Agreement;
Contributors retain all rights specified in Article VI and may designate alternative distribution channels for their Contributions.

11.5 Prohibition on Retroactive Restriction

No amendment, new version, or modification of this Agreement shall retroactively restrict, diminish, or revoke the rights granted to Licensees with respect to Materials licensed under a prior version, except as necessary to comply with applicable law or court order.

Article XII: Revocation

12.1 Grounds for Revocation

The license granted under this Agreement may be revoked with respect to a specific Licensee if that Licensee:

Infringes upon the intellectual property rights of Contributors or the Licensor in connection with the Materials;
Engages in Extractive Commercial Use without authorization;
Violates the distribution requirements of Article V in a material way;
Breaches any other material term of this Agreement.

12.2 Cure Period

Before revocation takes effect, the Licensor or affected Contributor shall provide written notice to the Licensee specifying the alleged violation. The Licensee shall have not less than thirty (30) days from receipt of such notice to cure the violation (the Licensor or affected Contributor may specify a longer period at their discretion). If the violation is cured within this period, the license shall not be revoked.

12.3 Effect of Revocation

Upon revocation, the affected Licensee must:

Cease all use of the Materials that is not authorized under applicable law;
Remove or disable access to any distributions of the Materials under their control;
Destroy any copies of the Materials in their possession, except as required for legal compliance.

12.4 Scope of Revocation

Revocation applies only to the specific Licensee found to be in violation and does not affect the rights of other Licensees or downstream recipients who received the Materials in compliance with this Agreement.

12.5 Restoration of License

A license that has been revoked may be restored at the joint discretion of the Licensor and any Contributors whose Materials were involved in the violation. Restoration may be:

Automatic: If the Licensee cures the violation and the Licensor (with consent of affected Contributors) provides written notice that the license is restored;
Conditional: Subject to additional terms, restrictions, or undertakings specified by the Licensor and affected Contributors;
Partial: Restoring rights to some but not all Materials, as determined by the Licensor and affected Contributors.

The Licensor and affected Contributors are under no obligation to restore a revoked license and may decline to do so for any reason or no reason.

Article XIII: Proprietary Components

13.1 Inclusion of Proprietary Components

The Project may include Proprietary Components that are licensed to the Project under terms different from this Agreement. Such components shall be clearly identified in accompanying documentation or metadata.

13.2 Scope of Use

Licensees may use Proprietary Components only:

As integrated parts of the Project or derivative works of the Project;
In accordance with any additional terms specified by the owner of the Proprietary Component;
Subject to any restrictions on redistribution, modification, or commercial use specified for the Proprietary Component.

13.3 No Expansion of Rights

Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to grant rights in Proprietary Components beyond those explicitly authorized by the owner of such components.

Article XIV: Disclaimer of Warranty

14.1 "As Is" Provision

THE MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

14.2 No Guarantee

THE LICENSOR AND CONTRIBUTORS MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES REGARDING THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, RELIABILITY, OR SUITABILITY OF THE MATERIALS FOR ANY PURPOSE.

Article XV: Limitation of Liability

15.1 Exclusion of Damages

IN NO EVENT SHALL THE LICENSOR OR ANY CONTRIBUTOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES, LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS, OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OF THE MATERIALS, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

15.2 Maximum Liability

TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF THE LICENSOR AND ALL CONTRIBUTORS FOR ANY CLAIMS ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT PAID BY THE LICENSEE FOR THE MATERIALS, IF ANY.

Article XVI: License Versioning

16.1 New Versions

The Licensor may publish revised versions of this Agreement. Each version shall be identified by a distinct version number.

16.2 Notice of Changes

The Licensor shall provide notice of any new version at least thirty (30) days before the new version becomes effective for newly contributed Materials. The Licensor may specify a longer notice period at their discretion.

16.3 Applicability

Materials contributed under a specific version of this Agreement remain available under that version;
Materials may additionally be licensed under any later version of this Agreement at the discretion of the Contributor;
Licensees receiving Materials may use them under any version of this Agreement under which they have been licensed.

16.4 Contributor Withdrawal

Contributors may withdraw their Contributions from future versions of this Agreement by providing written notice to the Licensor within sixty (60) days of a new version's publication (or such longer period as the Licensor may specify). Such withdrawal does not affect licenses already granted under prior versions.

Article XVII: Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

17.1 Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction specified in the Project Information appendix, without regard to conflict of law principles. If no jurisdiction is specified, the laws of the State of California, United States, shall apply.

17.2 Jurisdiction

Any legal action or proceeding arising under this Agreement shall be brought exclusively in the courts of the jurisdiction specified in the Project Information appendix, and the parties hereby consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts. If no jurisdiction is specified, the state or federal courts located in California shall have exclusive jurisdiction.

17.3 Alternative Resolution

The parties are encouraged to resolve disputes through good-faith negotiation or mediation before initiating legal proceedings.

Article XVIII: General Provisions

18.1 Entire Agreement

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties concerning the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings, negotiations, and discussions, whether oral or written.

18.2 Severability

If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

18.3 No Waiver

The failure of any party to enforce any provision of this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of that party's right to enforce that provision or any other provision in the future.

18.4 Assignment

The Licensor may assign this Agreement to a successor entity, provided the successor agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement. Licensees may not assign their rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Licensor.

18.5 Notices

All notices required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered to the addresses designated by the parties or published in the Project's official documentation.

Article XIX: License to This Agreement

19.1 Reuse Permitted

The Licensor grants all persons a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual license to use, reproduce, modify, and distribute this Agreement for the purpose of licensing other projects, provided that modified versions are clearly identified as such and do not use the name "Community Commons License" without modification.

Appendix A: Project Information

[To be completed by the Licensor for each Project]

A.1 Project Identity

Project Name:

Project Description:

Primary Repository / Website:

A.2 Licensor Information

Licensor Name:

Licensor Contact:

Licensor Address (optional):

A.3 Governing Law

Jurisdiction (governing law and courts):

If left blank, the laws of the State of California, United States, shall apply.

A.4 Designated Maintainers

Name	Role	Contact	Scope of Authority

A.5 Time Period Extensions

The Licensor may specify extended time periods for the following (leave blank for default minimums):

Provision	Default Minimum	Extended Period
Contribution Cooling-Off (§6.2)	10 days
Cure Period (§12.2)	30 days
Version Notice (§16.2)	30 days
Contributor Withdrawal (§16.4)	60 days

A.6 Additional Terms

[Space for project-specific terms, clarifications, or guidelines that supplement this Agreement]

Appendix B: Quick Reference

Permitted Without Restriction

Personal use, study, and enjoyment
Fan works and personal creative projects
Sharing personal works publicly
Commissioning art for personal use
Using Outputs from tools (maps, generated content, etc.)
Hosting servers running Project software
Indicating association with the Project

Permitted with Conditions

Commercial use in Original, Project-Relevant Works
Distribution of Materials (with attribution and license retention)
Use of Project name and marks (for accurate description)

Prohibited Without Separate Authorization

Merchandise reproducing Materials
Advertising/promotion using Materials for unrelated brands
Extractive commercial use of Contributions
Redistribution of Proprietary Components separately
Implying endorsement by Contributors/Licensor

Appendix C: Contributor Agreement

[To be signed by each Contributor]

I, the undersigned, hereby submit the following Contribution to the Project and agree to the terms set forth in the Community Commons License:

Project Name:

Contribution Description:

Contributor Name:

Preferred Contact (email, URL, or other):

Date:

Signature:

By signing above, I represent and warrant that I have read and understood the Community Commons License and that my Contribution complies with the requirements set forth therein.

Appendix D: Distribution Notice Template

[Include with substantial distributions of the Materials]


x
This [software/work/distribution] includes materials licensed under the 
Community Commons License, Version [X.X].

Project: [PROJECT NAME]
License: Community Commons License v[X.X]
Full License: [URL or "see LICENSE file"]

This distribution [does / does not] include modifications to the original 
Materials. [If modified, see MODIFICATIONS file for details.]

This distribution [does / does not] include Proprietary Components subject 
to separate license terms. [If yes, see PROPRIETARY file for details.]

For information about permitted uses, contribution, and licensing, visit:
[PROJECT URL]

Appendix E: Modification Notice Template

[Include when distributing modified Materials]


xxxxxxxxxx
MODIFICATIONS TO [PROJECT NAME] MATERIALS

This distribution contains modifications to Materials originally licensed 
under the Community Commons License.

Original Project: [PROJECT NAME]
Original Source: [URL]
Modified By: [NAME/ORGANIZATION]
Modification Date: [DATE]

Summary of Modifications:
- [Description of change 1]
- [Description of change 2]
- [Description of change 3]

The original Materials and these modifications are provided under the 
Community Commons License, Version [X.X].

This modified version is not endorsed by or affiliated with the original 
Project maintainers unless explicitly stated.

Appendix F: Proprietary Component Notice Template

[Include when distributing Materials containing Proprietary Components]


xxxxxxxxxx
PROPRIETARY COMPONENTS NOTICE

This distribution of [PROJECT NAME] includes the following Proprietary 
Components that are NOT licensed under the Community Commons License:

Component: [COMPONENT NAME]
Owner: [OWNER NAME]
License: [LICENSE NAME or "Proprietary"]
Restrictions: [Brief summary of restrictions]
---

Component: [COMPONENT NAME]
Owner: [OWNER NAME]
License: [LICENSE NAME or "Proprietary"]
Restrictions: [Brief summary of restrictions]
---

These Proprietary Components may only be used as integrated parts of this 
Project and may not be extracted, redistributed, or sublicensed independently.

For permissions beyond those granted here, contact the respective owners.

Appendix G: Permitted Use Determination Checklist

[For Licensees evaluating whether a use qualifies as Permitted Project Use]

Step 1: Is this Personal Use?

Use is primarily for private enjoyment, education, or personal creative expression
Use is not for commercial advantage or monetary compensation
Use is not for advertising or promoting commercial products/services

If all boxes checked → Personal Use is permitted without restriction.

Step 2: Is this an Output?

The subject of commercialization is content generated by Project tools/software
The subject is NOT the tools/software/Materials themselves

If all boxes checked → Output use is permitted without restriction.

Step 3: Does this qualify as Permitted Project Use?

Originality Test:

The work contains substantial creative effort beyond the Materials used
The work is identifiable as a distinct creative endeavor
The Materials are incorporated into the work, not the primary commercial subject

Relevance Test:

The work meaningfully engages with Project themes, narrative, or creative universe
A reasonable observer familiar with the Project would recognize the connection

Compliance:

Attribution requirements will be satisfied
Distribution requirements will be satisfied

If ALL boxes in ALL categories checked → Permitted Project Use.

If any box unchecked → Seek authorization from relevant Contributors.

Appendix H: Shared Repository Documentation Template

[For repositories contributing to multiple Projects]


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SHARED REPOSITORY INFORMATION

Repository Name: [REPOSITORY NAME]
Repository URL: [URL]
Maintained By: [MAINTAINER NAME/ORGANIZATION]
Last Updated: [DATE]

---

PARTICIPATING PROJECTS

This Shared Repository provides Materials to the following Projects, each 
governed by the Community Commons License:

Project: [PROJECT NAME 1]
Licensor: [LICENSOR NAME]
Project URL: [URL]
License Version: [X.X]
---

Project: [PROJECT NAME 2]
Licensor: [LICENSOR NAME]
Project URL: [URL]
License Version: [X.X]
---

[Add additional projects as needed]

---

CONTRIBUTION TERMS

By contributing to this Shared Repository, you grant licenses to ALL 
participating Projects listed above, in accordance with Article VII of the 
Community Commons License.

If new Projects are added to this list, you will be notified and may 
withdraw your contributions from the new Project within the cooling-off 
period specified in Section 6.2.

---

SCOPE LIMITATIONS (if any)

[Describe any limitations on which Materials may be used by which Projects, 
or leave blank if all Materials are available to all Projects]

---

CONTACT

For questions about this Shared Repository or to request addition of a 
new Project: [CONTACT EMAIL/URL]

Appendix I: Platform Acknowledgment Templates

[For designated Platforms accepting contributions]

I.1 Account Registration Acknowledgment


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CONTRIBUTION TERMS ACKNOWLEDGMENT

By creating an account on [PLATFORM NAME], you acknowledge and agree that:

1. Submissions you make to [PROJECT NAME] constitute Contributions under 
   the Community Commons License, Version [X.X].

2. You grant the licenses described in Article VI of the Community Commons 
   License with respect to your Contributions.

3. You represent and warrant that your Contributions comply with the 
   requirements of Section 6.4 of the Community Commons License.

4. You may withdraw Contributions within [X] days of submission per 
   Section 6.2 of the Community Commons License.

Full license text: [URL]

[ ] I have read and agree to these terms.

[CONTINUE / CREATE ACCOUNT]

I.2 Repository/Wiki Contribution Notice


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CONTRIBUTION NOTICE

This [repository/wiki/project space] is governed by the Community Commons 
License. By submitting content here, you:

• Grant licenses per Article VI of the Community Commons License
• Represent that you have the right to contribute this content
• May withdraw contributions within [X] days of submission

For details, see: [LICENSE URL]

Submitting indicates agreement with these terms.

I.3 Commit/Upload Confirmation


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You are submitting a Contribution to [PROJECT NAME].

This Contribution will be licensed under the Community Commons License, 
Version [X.X], granting rights to the Project and its Licensees as 
described in Article VI.

By proceeding, you confirm that:
• You have the right to submit this Contribution
• You agree to the terms of the Community Commons License
• You understand you may withdraw within [X] days

[CANCEL]  [CONFIRM SUBMISSION]

I.4 Incidental Contribution Notice (for minor edits)


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Minor Edit Acknowledgment

Small corrections (typos, formatting, broken links) are welcomed and 
appreciated. By submitting this edit, you agree it may be incorporated 
under the Community Commons License without formal attribution, per 
Section 8.4 (Incidental Contributions).

You may still withdraw this edit within [X] days if needed.

[SUBMIT EDIT]

I.5 Community Interaction Disclaimer (for forums/discussion)


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DISCUSSION AREA NOTICE

Posts in this area are Community Interactions, not Contributions, and 
are not governed by the Community Commons License (see Section 8.5).

Ideas, concepts, suggestions, and other non-protectable content shared 
here may be freely implemented or developed by anyone. If you wish to 
formally contribute creative content, use a Designated Contribution Area 
or Contribution Markup as described below.

For formal Contributions, please use [CONTRIBUTION CHANNEL].

I.6 Designated Contribution Area Notice


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DESIGNATED CONTRIBUTION AREA

This area is designated for Contributions under the Community Commons 
License (see Section 8.6).

By posting here, you:
• Agree that your submission is a Contribution under the Community 
  Commons License
• Grant the licenses described in Article VI
• May withdraw your Contribution within [X] days of submission

Creative expression in your submission is licensed to the Project. 
Abstract ideas, methods, and factual information are not subject to 
intellectual property protection and remain freely available.

For general discussion that is NOT a Contribution, use [DISCUSSION AREA].

I.7 Contribution Markup Documentation


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CONTRIBUTION MARKUP GUIDE

[PROJECT NAME] uses Contribution Markup to allow you to designate 
specific content within messages as formal Contributions.

FORMAT:
[CONTRIBUTION]
Your contributed content here...
[/CONTRIBUTION]

EFFECT:
• Content INSIDE the markup is treated as a Contribution under the 
  Community Commons License
• Content OUTSIDE the markup remains a Community Interaction
• You may withdraw marked content within [X] days of posting

EXAMPLE:
"I was thinking about how the magic system could work. Here's my idea:

[CONTRIBUTION]
The Resonance system uses three tiers of power:
- Harmonic: ambient energy manipulation
- Dissonant: forceful energy redirection  
- Null: energy absorption and negation
[/CONTRIBUTION]

What do you all think? Would this fit with the existing lore?"

In this example, only the tiered system description is a Contribution. 
The surrounding discussion is a Community Interaction.

I.8 Alternative Markup Formats

Projects may adopt alternative markup formats. Common options include:

XML-style tags:


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<contribution>
Contributed content here...
</contribution>

Line prefix (for single-line contributions):


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CONTRIB: This line is a contribution.

Block prefix (for multi-line contributions):


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CONTRIB-START
Multiple lines of
contributed content
CONTRIB-END

Shorthand (for inline contributions):


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Regular discussion text {{contributed phrase or sentence}} more discussion.

The Project should document its chosen format in its contribution guidelines and Platform notices.

End of Agreement