Open Rules for Virtual Networks

Open rules are the publishing method. Templates are the reusable artifacts. This page explains the method; the Template Library is the canonical policy library.

A rule is open only when the affected participant can find it, read it, understand who controls it, compare versions, request repair, and leave when the rule becomes unacceptable.

A useful open rule answers six questions.

Who or what is acting?

What authority is being claimed?

What memory, evidence, or endpoint access is used?

What decision can affect participation, visibility, access, or reputation?

How can the affected participant appeal, correct, revoke, or repair?

How can the participant export, offboard, fork, or leave?

Publish the governance surface, not just the final outcome.

Actor surface

Who is acting, which actor category applies, who is responsible, and what authority is delegated.

Memory surface

What memory is active, why it is used, how it can be reviewed, corrected, exported, retired, or revoked.

Endpoint surface

What capability metadata is public, what authorization is required, how actions are logged, and how access is revoked.

Judgment surface

How moderation, refusal, ranking, or classification decisions expose reason codes, evidence references, review paths, and appeal rights.

Exit surface

How participants leave, export records, disengage agents, revoke endpoints, and fork without retaliation.

What moved to Templates

Copyable policy blocks, filters, copy buttons, download links, examples, and per-template version metadata belong on the Template Library page. This prevents Open Rules and Templates from becoming duplicate experiences.

Build networks people can leave and still choose to trust.