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Attested Convergence Envelope (ACE) License v1.0: Business Strategy Alignment Analysis
======================================================================================

Attested Convergence Envelope (ACE) LICENSE\
Version 1.0, January 2026\
\
Acceptance\
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--\
By using the software, you agree to all of the terms and conditions
below.\
\
Copyright License\
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--\
The licensor grants you a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide,
non-sublicensable, non-transferable license to use, copy, distribute,
make available, and prepare derivative works of the software, in each
case subject to the limitations below.\
\
\
Limitations\
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--\
You may not provide the software to third parties as a hosted or managed
service, where the service provides users with access to any substantial
set of the features or functionality of the software.\
\
You may not alter, remove, or obscure any licensing, copyright, or other
notices of the licensor in the software. Any use of the licensor\'s
trademarks is subject to applicable law.\
\
\
Patents\
\-\-\-\-\-\--\
The licensor grants you a license, under any patent claims the licensor
can license, or becomes able to license, to make, have made, use, sell,
offer for sale, import and have imported the software, in each case
subject to the limitations in this license. This license does not cover
any patent claims that you cause to be infringed by modifications or
additions to the software.\
\
If you or your company make any written claim that the software
infringes or contributes to infringement of any patent, your patent
license for the software granted under these terms ends immediately. If
your company makes such a claim, your patent license ends immediately
for work on behalf of\
your company.\
\
\
Notices\
\-\-\-\-\-\--\
You must ensure that anyone who gets a copy of any part of the software
from you also gets a copy of these terms.\
\
If you modify the software, you must include in any modified copies of
the software prominent notices stating that you have modified the
software.\
\
\
No Other Rights\
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--\
These terms do not imply any licenses other than those expressly granted
in these terms.\
\
\
Termination\
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--\
If you use the software in violation of these terms, such use is not
licensed, and your licenses will automatically terminate. If the
licensor provides you with a notice of your violation, and you cease all
violation of this license no later than 30 days after you receive that
notice, your licenses will be reinstated retroactively. However, if you
violate these terms after such reinstatement, any additional violation
of these terms will cause your licenses to terminate automatically and
permanently.\
\
\
No Liability\
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--\
As far as the law allows, the software comes as is, without any warranty
or condition, and the licensor will not be liable to you for any damages
arising out of these terms or the use or nature of the software, under
any kind of legal claim.\
\
\
Definitions\
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--\
The \"licensor\" is the entity offering these terms, and the
\"software\" is the software the licensor makes available under these
terms, including any portion of it.\
\
\"You\" refers to the individual or entity agreeing to these terms.\
\
\"Your company\" is any legal entity, sole proprietorship, or other kind
of organization that you work for, plus all organizations that have
control over, are under the control of, or are under common control with
that organization.\
\
\"Control\" means ownership of substantially all the assets of an
entity, or the power to direct its management and policies by vote,
contract, or otherwise. Control can be direct or indirect.\
\
\"Your licenses\" are all the licenses granted to you for the software
under these terms.\
\
\"Use\" means anything you do with the software requiring one of your
licenses.\
\
\"Trademark\" means trademarks, service marks, and similar rights.

What\'s Allowed vs. Not Allowed

  Use Case                                                           Allowed?   Notes
  ------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Internal use at your company                                       ✅ Yes      Use freely for any internal purpose [^[\[1\]]{.underline}^](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RGf1GNMa-B3-F1rsTX7FHevkIJ80yarNZ1U7yY8Com4/edit#bookmark=id.n90hznbok4yx)
  Build application on top of Attested Convergence Envelope (ACE)    ✅ Yes      Embed in your SaaS or product
  Modify the source code                                             ✅ Yes      Must include prominent modification notices
  Redistribute with your application                                 ✅ Yes      Must include license terms
  Contractor setting up for clients                                  ✅ Yes      Client operates it, not you as a service
  Show limited dashboards/outputs to users                           ✅ Yes      Not \"substantial functionality\"
  Operate internally to power your services                          ✅ Yes      Users interact with your app, not Attested Convergence Envelope (ACE) directly
  Provide Attested Convergence Envelope (ACE) as a managed service   ❌ No       Users would access substantial functionality
  Remove copyright/license notices                                   ❌ No       Must preserve all notices
  Remove or obscure trademarks                                       ❌ No       \"Attested Convergence Envelope (ACE)\" must remain

FAQ: Attested Convergence Envelope (ACE) License Examples

I\'m using Attested Convergence Envelope (ACE) internally to audit my AI
systems.\
✅ Permitted. Internal use is always allowed.

I\'m a consultant implementing Attested Convergence Envelope (ACE) for
my clients.\
✅ Permitted. Your client installs and operates the software, you don\'t
provide it as a service.

My SaaS product uses Attested Convergence Envelope (ACE) to generate
governance reports for users.\
✅ Permitted. Users interact with your application, not Attested
Convergence Envelope (ACE) directly. The output (reports) is your
product.

I\'m building a plugin that extends Attested Convergence Envelope (ACE)
functionality.\
✅ Permitted. Derivative works are allowed under the same license terms.

I want to offer \"Attested Convergence Envelope (ACE) as a Service\"
where customers log in and run dissonance checks.\
❌ Not permitted. This provides users direct access to substantial
Attested Convergence Envelope (ACE) functionality. Contact us for a
commercial license.

I\'m a cloud provider and want to offer a managed Attested Convergence
Envelope (ACE) instance.\
❌ Not permitted without a commercial agreement.

Summary Assessment
------------------

The Attested Convergence Envelope (ACE) License v1.0 is well-aligned
with the four-pillar business strategy. The license follows the Elastic
License 2.0 pattern discussed in the strategy documents and provides the
legal foundation necessary to monetize each revenue stream while
maintaining adoption-friendly terms for the community tier.

Alignment Matrix
----------------

  Business Strategy Element          License Support                                                           Status
  ---------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
  Open-Core SaaS (Self-Hosted)       Free use, modification, distribution permitted                            ✅ Aligned
  Open-Core SaaS (Managed Service)   Managed service restriction protects this revenue                         ✅ Aligned
  Enterprise Seats                   Internal use \"always allowed\"                                           ✅ Aligned
  Support Contracts                  License provides base; support is separate service agreement              ✅ Aligned
  Certification Revenue              Derivative works permitted; trademark use \"subject to applicable law\"   ⚠️ Needs Supplement
  Consulting Services                Consultants can implement for clients (FAQ confirms)                      ✅ Aligned
  Compliance Packs                   Can be proprietary add-ons under separate license                         ✅ Aligned

Detailed Analysis
-----------------

What the License Enables
------------------------

Community & Developer Adoption

-   Internal use at any company: permitted without restriction

-   Build applications on top of Attested Convergence Envelope (ACE):
    > permitted (embed in SaaS products)

-   Modify source code: permitted (with modification notice requirement)

-   Redistribute with applications: permitted (must include license
    > terms)

This structure supports the Community Tier (free, self-hosted) and
drives adoption that converts to paid tiers.

Consulting Revenue

-   Consultants implementing for clients: explicitly permitted

-   Contractors setting up Attested Convergence Envelope (ACE):
    > permitted (client operates, not contractor)

This protects the professional services revenue stream without friction.

What the License Restricts
--------------------------

Managed Service Protection

> \"You may not provide the software to third parties as a hosted or
> managed service, where the service provides users with access to any
> substantial set of the features or functionality of the software.\"

This restriction is the core monetization lever---it ensures:

-   Only Attested Convergence Envelope (ACE) LLC can offer \"Attested
    > Convergence Envelope (ACE) as a Service\"

-   Cloud providers (AWS, Azure, GCP) must negotiate commercial
    > agreements

-   Competitors cannot commoditize the managed offering

Gaps Requiring Supplemental Agreements
--------------------------------------

1. Certification Program (Trademark-Based)
------------------------------------------

The license states: *\"Any use of the licensor\'s trademarks is subject
to applicable law.\"*

Gap: The license alone does not establish certification requirements.
Certified implementation revenue requires a separate Certification
Agreement that:

-   Defines what \"Attested Convergence Envelope (ACE) Certified\" means

-   Establishes compliance test suite requirements

-   Sets certification fees and renewal terms

-   Grants trademark usage rights conditional on certification status

Recommendation: Create a Attested Convergence Envelope (ACE)
Certification Program Agreement as a companion document. This aligns
with the CNCF model where the open-source license is separate from the
Kubernetes Certified conformance
program.[[cncf+2]{.underline}](https://www.cncf.io/training/certification/)

2. Enterprise Support Contracts
-------------------------------

The license provides \"as is, without any warranty\"---standard for
source-available licenses.

Gap: Enterprise seats with SLA guarantees (response times, uptime
commitments) require a separate Enterprise Support Agreement that:

-   Defines support tiers (24hr, 4hr, 1hr response)

-   Establishes uptime SLAs (99.5%, 99.9%)

-   Specifies dedicated support channels

-   Includes escalation procedures

Recommendation: The license correctly stays silent on support; create
tiered Enterprise Support Agreements as service contracts layered on
top.

3. Compliance Packs (Proprietary Extensions)
--------------------------------------------

The license covers the core software but does not address proprietary
add-ons.

Gap: Compliance packs (AI governance rule sets, industry-specific
modules) can be:

-   Licensed under proprietary terms (not Attested Convergence Envelope
    > (ACE) License)

-   Sold separately from the open-core

-   Bundled into Enterprise tier pricing

Recommendation: Develop compliance packs under a separate proprietary
license, sold as subscription add-ons. This is the open-core \"premium
features\" pattern used by GitLab (Ultimate tier features) and Elastic
(Platinum/Enterprise
features).[[wikipedia+1]{.underline}](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-core_model)

Structural Comparison: License vs. Strategy
-------------------------------------------

  Strategy Document Requirement                       License Implementation
  --------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
  \"Apache 2.0 with managed service restriction\"     ✅ Elastic-style with managed service clause
  \"Self-hosting permitted"                           ✅ Explicitly allowed
  \"Modification permitted\"                          ✅ With notice requirement
  \"Managed service requires commercial agreement\"   ✅ Enforced via limitation clause
  \"Patent grant\"​                                   ✅ Included with defensive termination
  \"30-day cure period\"                              ✅ Included in Termination section
  \"Trademark protection\"​                           ⚠️ Referenced but not detailed

Recommended Document Stack
--------------------------

To fully operationalize the business strategy, the Attested Convergence
Envelope (ACE) License v1.0 should be supplemented with:

  Document                                           Purpose                                Revenue Stream Supported
  -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ---------------------------
  Attested Convergence Envelope (ACE) License v1.0   Core software rights                   Open-core adoption
  Enterprise Support Agreement                       SLA, response times, uptime            Support contracts
  Certification Program Agreement                    Trademark rights, compliance testing   Certified implementations
  Compliance Pack License                            Proprietary rule sets                  Enterprise seats
  Managed Service Agreement                          Commercial terms for cloud providers   Partner revenue
  Professional Services Agreement                    Consulting engagement terms            Consulting revenue

Conclusion
----------

The Attested Convergence Envelope (ACE) License v1.0 provides a solid
legal foundation for the business strategy. It correctly implements the
source-available pattern with managed service restriction, enabling:

-   ✅ Free community adoption (self-hosted)

-   ✅ Protected managed service revenue

-   ✅ Consulting without friction

-   ✅ Patent protection with defensive termination

Action items to complete the legal architecture:

  Owner   Lever                                                                  Metric                        Horizon
  ------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------- ---------
  Legal   Draft Certification Program Agreement                                  Agreement template complete   14 days
  Legal   Draft Enterprise Support Agreement (3 tiers)                           Tiered SLA terms defined      14 days
  Legal   Draft Compliance Pack proprietary license                              License template complete     21 days
  You     Register \"Attested Convergence Envelope (ACE) Certified\" trademark   Application submitted         21 days
  You     Define certification test suite requirements                           Test suite documented         30 days

The license is ready for deployment. The supplemental agreements should
be drafted before launching enterprise sales and certification programs.

1.  White Paper\_ The Attested Convergence Envelope (ACE) for Agentic
    > Domain-Specific Reasoning.pdf

2.  Understanding Attested Convergence Envelope (ACE) Dissonance\_ A
    > Beginner\'s Guide.pdf

3.  Implementation Guide\_ Applying Attested Convergence Envelope (ACE)
    > Dissonance.pdf

4.  [[https://market.us/report/ai-compliance-saas-market/]{.underline}](https://market.us/report/ai-compliance-saas-market/)

5.  [[https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/ai-governance-market-report]{.underline}](https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/ai-governance-market-report)

6.  [[https://www.precedenceresearch.com/ai-governance-market]{.underline}](https://www.precedenceresearch.com/ai-governance-market)

7.  [[https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/ai-consulting-services-market]{.underline}](https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/ai-consulting-services-market)

8.  [[yes-if-mirror-dissonance-is-yo-vtZAAPZ3QamZaFcNJAm2Lw.md]{.underline}](http://yes-if-mirror-dissonance-is-yo-vtzaapz3qamzafcnjam2lw.md)

9.  Policy Memo\_ Managing Agentic AI Liability with the Attested
    > Convergence Envelope (ACE) Framework.pdf

10. [[https://www.bettercloud.com/monitor/saas-industry/]{.underline}](https://www.bettercloud.com/monitor/saas-industry/)

11. The Phase to Mirror Dissonance.pdf

12. [[https://revopsassociates.com/revenue-operations-certification]{.underline}](https://revopsassociates.com/revenue-operations-certification)

13. [[https://vocal.media/education/best-practices-for-managing-software-license-costs]{.underline}](https://vocal.media/education/best-practices-for-managing-software-license-costs)

14. [[https://saleshood.com/blog/revenue-enablement-maturity-model/]{.underline}](https://saleshood.com/blog/revenue-enablement-maturity-model/)

15. [[https://www.ratiotech.com/blog/seven-b2b-saas-pricing-models-and-how-to-choose-the-right-one]{.underline}](https://www.ratiotech.com/blog/seven-b2b-saas-pricing-models-and-how-to-choose-the-right-one)

16. [[https://www.solvimon.com/glossary/seat-based-pricing]{.underline}](https://www.solvimon.com/glossary/seat-based-pricing)

17. [[https://www.kryterion.com/blog/certification-combats-customer-churn/]{.underline}](https://www.kryterion.com/blog/certification-combats-customer-churn/)

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19. [[https://www.subscriptionflow.com/2025/02/seat-based-pricing-model/]{.underline}](https://www.subscriptionflow.com/2025/02/seat-based-pricing-model/)

20. [[https://winningbydesign.com/certified-partner-program/]{.underline}](https://winningbydesign.com/certified-partner-program/)

21. [[https://cpl.thalesgroup.com/software-monetization/saas-pricing-models]{.underline}](https://cpl.thalesgroup.com/software-monetization/saas-pricing-models)

22. [[https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/revenue/]{.underline}](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/revenue/)

23. [[https://wise.com/us/blog/b2b-saas-pricing-models]{.underline}](https://wise.com/us/blog/b2b-saas-pricing-models)

24. [[https://newrelic.com/blog/news/kubernetes-certifications-explained]{.underline}](https://newrelic.com/blog/news/kubernetes-certifications-explained)

25. [[https://www.accorian.com/multi-compliance-bundle]{.underline}](https://www.accorian.com/multi-compliance-bundle)

26. [[https://pricinglink.com/knowledge-base/professional-certification-exam-prep/how-much-to-charge-for-professional-certification-exam-prep/]{.underline}](https://pricinglink.com/knowledge-base/professional-certification-exam-prep/how-much-to-charge-for-professional-certification-exam-prep/)

27. [[https://www.cncf.io/training/certification/]{.underline}](https://www.cncf.io/training/certification/)

28. [[https://www.sai360.com/plans]{.underline}](https://www.sai360.com/plans)

29. [[https://www.cbtnuggets.com/blog/career/career-progression/how-much-do-it-certifications-cost]{.underline}](https://www.cbtnuggets.com/blog/career/career-progression/how-much-do-it-certifications-cost)

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31. [[https://www.logicmanager.com/solutions/financial-controls/sox-compliance-bundle/]{.underline}](https://www.logicmanager.com/solutions/financial-controls/sox-compliance-bundle/)

32. [[https://www.iiba.org/business-analysis-certifications/certification-fees/]{.underline}](https://www.iiba.org/business-analysis-certifications/certification-fees/)

33. [[https://www.spectrocloud.com/blog/cncf-certifications-do-you-need-the-cka-for-k8s-operations]{.underline}](https://www.spectrocloud.com/blog/cncf-certifications-do-you-need-the-cka-for-k8s-operations)

34. [[https://www.navex.com/en-us/small-business/compliance-essentials/]{.underline}](https://www.navex.com/en-us/small-business/compliance-essentials/)

35. [[https://worldatwork.org/certifications/bundles/ccp-course-bundle]{.underline}](https://worldatwork.org/certifications/bundles/ccp-course-bundle)

36. [[https://www.cncf.io/training/certification/software-conformance/]{.underline}](https://www.cncf.io/training/certification/software-conformance/)

37. [[https://www.lansweeper.com/blog/partners-and-integrations/5-reasons-you-need-the-lansweeper-licenseware-integration-bundle/]{.underline}](https://www.lansweeper.com/blog/partners-and-integrations/5-reasons-you-need-the-lansweeper-licenseware-integration-bundle/)

38. [[https://learnexperts.ai/blog/implementing-certification-program-best-practices-strategies/]{.underline}](https://learnexperts.ai/blog/implementing-certification-program-best-practices-strategies/)

39. [[https://www.myshyft.com/blog/service-level-agreement-tiers/]{.underline}](https://www.myshyft.com/blog/service-level-agreement-tiers/)

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41. [[https://power3.com/shop/employee-compliance-bundle/]{.underline}](https://power3.com/shop/employee-compliance-bundle/)

42. [[https://www.cloudkeeper.com/insights/blog/how-aws-enterprise-support-pricing-works-comprehensive-guide-businesses]{.underline}](https://www.cloudkeeper.com/insights/blog/how-aws-enterprise-support-pricing-works-comprehensive-guide-businesses)

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44. [[https://www.hipaatraining.com/pricing]{.underline}](https://www.hipaatraining.com/pricing)

45. [[https://www.uscloud.com/microsoft-unified-support-sla-service-level-agreement/]{.underline}](https://www.uscloud.com/microsoft-unified-support-sla-service-level-agreement/)

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47. [[https://evolveelearning.com/product/healthcare-compliance-complete/]{.underline}](https://evolveelearning.com/product/healthcare-compliance-complete/)

48. [[https://www.easyedge.io/sla-pricing/]{.underline}](https://www.easyedge.io/sla-pricing/)

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50. [[https://compliancelearningsolutions.com/cls-course-library/]{.underline}](https://compliancelearningsolutions.com/cls-course-library/)

51. [[https://aws.amazon.com/premiumsupport/pricing/]{.underline}](https://aws.amazon.com/premiumsupport/pricing/)

52. [[https://palark.com/blog/open-source-business-models/]{.underline}](https://palark.com/blog/open-source-business-models/)

53. [[https://www.gammacompliance.com/training-bundle-for-california-medical-offices.html]{.underline}](https://www.gammacompliance.com/training-bundle-for-california-medical-offices.html)

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