Layer 1: The Network Constitution

What this means

The Network Constitution is the top-level agreement that governs the entire Open Lore Network. It sets the rules that apply everywhere on the platform, defines which decisions belong to the Network as a whole versus which belong to individual Franchises, and lays out how its own rules can be changed over time.

Think of it like a federal constitution in a nation-state: it doesn't try to regulate every local decision, but it establishes the principles and structures within which everything else operates. Franchises have their own constitutions (Layer 2) that work within the boundaries this Layer sets.

Some clauses here are entrenched — they are the foundational commitments that make OLN what it is, and changing them requires either a supermajority plus Franchise ratification, or is not permitted at all. Other clauses are amendable through normal processes.

The Creator is bound by this Constitution just like anyone else.

Formal Text

Article I: Entrenched Clauses

The following clauses are foundational to the Open Lore Network. Amendment requires 90% of total Network Power plus ratification by three-quarters of Franchise Teams. Some clauses are declared unamendable; this is noted where applicable.

1.1 Contribution creates membership. No membership, Team seat, role, or Power on the Network may be obtained except through contribution, as defined in Layer 7. There is no purchase path, no appointment path, and no inheritance path. This clause is unamendable.

1.2 Power decays with disuse. No contributor — including the Creator — may hold Power without continued contribution. Decay mechanisms are defined in Layer 3.

1.3 Transparency of the scoring system. The rules converting Contribution → Credits → Power must be public and legible to all contributors. Algorithmic details must be documented and open to audit.

1.4 Creator power parity. The Creator is subject to the same Power caps, decay rules, role ceilings, voting limits, and conduct standards as any other contributor. No Constitutional amendment may grant the Creator exemption from any rule applicable to others. This clause is unamendable.

1.5 Separation of Network and Franchise jurisdiction. Powers not explicitly delegated to the Network are reserved to Franchise Teams. When jurisdiction is ambiguous, Franchise sovereignty is the default.

1.6 Egress rights. Contributors own their contributions under the terms in effect at the time of contribution. These terms cannot be retroactively changed by Network vote. If the Network changes contribution terms going forward, past contributions remain governed by their original terms.

Article II: Amendable Clauses

The following clauses may be amended by two-thirds of total Network Power plus ratification by a simple majority of Franchise Teams.

2.1 Power curve parameters. The specific threshold values (T₁, T₂), the soft cap curve shape, role-gated ceiling values, and the absolute Power cap, as defined in Layer 3.

2.2 Decay rates and grace periods. The specific rate at which Power decays during inactivity, the length of grace periods before decay begins, and the reactivation boost for returning contributors.

2.3 Kudos flow caps. The percentage and absolute ceilings on Credits transferable via Kudos per period, and the lock-up duration on received Kudos.

2.4 Jurisdictional definitions. The specific list of decisions considered Network-level versus Franchise-level. Neither category may be enlarged to trivialize the other.

2.5 The Judicial body's composition and term length. The number of Arbiters, their term duration, eligibility requirements, and rotation schedule as defined in Layer 4.

2.6 Advertising and revenue policy details. The specific caps, opt-out mechanisms, and revenue share percentages defined in Layer 11.

2.7 Content attribute definitions. The specific set of metadata attributes applied to content as defined in Layer 9 (e.g., Fact-grounding status, spoiler markers, dispute flags).

2.8 Fact lifecycle grace periods. The specific time windows before Provisional Facts become Canonical, per source type, as defined in Layer 10.

Article III: Standard Clauses

All other Network-level rules, policies, and operational standards may be amended by simple majority of total Network Power, with minimum quorum requirements as specified in Layer 5.

Article IV: Network-Level Jurisdiction

Decisions reserved to the Network include:

• Platform technology, infrastructure, and security
• The economic system: Credit issuance rules, conversion rates, treasury operations, advertising caps
• Cross-Franchise canon coordination and crossover rules
• Contributor rights and platform-wide codes of conduct
• External partnerships and revenue-sharing agreements
• Creation of new Franchises and retirement of existing ones
• The Constitution itself and its amendments
• API and data access policy
• The Arbiters as a body

Article V: Franchise-Level Jurisdiction

Decisions reserved to Franchises include:

• Internal canon decisions within the Franchise's scope
• Franchise-specific contribution weighting within Network guardrails (Layer 7)
• Team membership criteria above the Network minimum
• Franchise-internal budget allocation
• Franchise-specific rules, culture, and norms
• Fact lifecycle decisions within the Franchise's material
• Canonical tier structure (whether the Franchise operates single-canon or multi-tier)

Franchise Constitutions (Layer 2) operate within this jurisdiction and cannot contradict Network-level rules.

Article VI: Amendment Procedures

6.1 Entrenched clauses: Require 90% of total Network Power voting in favor, plus ratification by three-quarters of Franchise Teams, within a single 30-day voting window. Some clauses are declared unamendable.

6.2 Amendable clauses: Require two-thirds of total Network Power voting in favor, plus ratification by a simple majority of Franchise Teams, within a single 30-day voting window.

6.3 Standard clauses: Require simple majority of total Network Power voting in favor, with minimum quorum as defined in Layer 5.

6.4 All amendments: Must be proposed at least 14 days before vote opens, must include a full diff against current text, and must include a plain-English summary of the change and its intended effect.

6.5 Frivolous amendments: The Arbiters may decline to place a proposed amendment on the ballot if it is substantially identical to an amendment rejected within the previous 180 days, or if it is facially incompatible with entrenched clauses.

Article VII: Supremacy

Where Network-level rules and Franchise-level rules conflict within the Network's jurisdiction, Network rules prevail. Within Franchise-level jurisdiction, Franchise rules prevail. Disputes about which jurisdiction a decision falls in are resolved by the Arbiters (Layer 4).

Article VIII: Continuity

This Constitution takes effect upon ratification per Layer 6. It remains in force until formally amended per Article VI. No clause, including entrenched clauses, is self-executing in a way that contradicts the ratification process — changes to the Constitution only occur through the procedures defined herein.