License

The Variable Design Standard (VDS) Specification is dual-licensed:

  1. CC BY-ND 4.0. Legally recognized base license.
  2. Standards Integrity Addendum. Additional terms for public use.

Part I: Base License (CC BY-ND 4.0)

This Specification is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International.

You are free to:

  • Share. Copy and redistribute in any medium or format.
  • Implement. Build software that conforms to the Specification.

Under these terms:

  • Attribution. You must give appropriate credit and link to the license.
  • NoDerivatives. You may not distribute modified versions of the Specification as an alternative standard.

Part II: Standards Integrity Addendum

Additional terms apply to public-facing uses. These prevent ecosystem fragmentation.

Conformance Tiers

Variable Design Standard (VDS) Conformant requires:

  • Full Variable Anatomy (Base, Alias, Component)
  • Mode resolution and inheritance
  • Reference syntax and resolution
  • Valid DTCG-aligned JSON with references (not flattened values)
  • Naming convention enforcement

Variable Design Standard (VDS) Compatible requires:

  • Data format that does not corrupt Specification-compliant data
  • Attribution to the Canonical Source

Attribution

Public-facing tooling must include:

Built on the Variable Design Standard (VDS) Specification
https://variable-design-standard.vercel.app

JSON files should include:

{
  "$schema": "https://variable-design-standard.vercel.app/assets/schema/v1.json"
}

Prohibited Acts

AI Laundering (Synthetic Derivatives)

You may NOT use the Specification as AI input to:

  • Generate competing standards
  • Produce “original” content replicating the Specification without attribution
  • Create AI training data for standards-related content

PERMITTED: Using AI to write code implementing the Specification.
PROHIBITED: Using AI to rewrite or obscure the Specification’s origin.

False Compatibility Claims

You may NOT claim compatibility if your tool:

  • Omits required structural elements (Anatomy, Modes, References)
  • Outputs non-conformant data (flattened hex values instead of references)
  • Contradicts governance principles

Name Misappropriation

“Variable Design Standard (VDS)” and “VDS” may only be used for truthful conformance statements.

Enforcement

Automatic Termination occurs upon:

  • Creating/distributing Synthetic Derivatives
  • Publishing Competing Standards without permission/attribution
  • Making false conformance claims
  • Misappropriating the name

Upon termination:

  • All rights cease immediately
  • Continued use = copyright infringement
  • Reinstatement requires written permission

Reserved Rights:

  • Publicly identify non-conformant implementations
  • Issue takedown requests
  • Pursue legal remedies
  • Request evidence of independent development

Why This Structure?

CC BY-ND 4.0 is legally recognized and court-tested. It prevents forks of the specification text.

The Addendum adds specific protections against:

  • AI-assisted plagiarism (“laundering”)
  • False compatibility claims from “vibe tools”
  • Name/brand confusion

Full License

The complete license is in the repository LICENSE file.

Contact

For licensing inquiries, conformance certification, or permission requests:
https://variable-design-standard.vercel.app/license

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