COMMONS Steward Record Specification

Projects using the COMMONS License should include a file named:

COMMONS-STEWARD.md

Recommended format:

Project: Example Project
Steward: Example Foundation
Domiciled: Example Jurisdiction
Contact: stewardship@example.org
Website: https://example.org
License: COMMONS-1.0
Updated: 2026-07-01

Organizational Evaluation (optional)

By default, Organizations have no Evaluation rights. To enable Organizational Evaluation without prior negotiation, the Steward must expressly enable it in the Steward Record and may set Evaluation Terms.

Recommended fields:

Evaluation: enabled
Evaluation-Duration: 90 days
Evaluation-Production-Use-Allowed: no
Evaluation-Max-Per-Organization: 1
Evaluation-Notice: optional

Field meanings:

• Evaluation — enabled or disabled (or omit the field to leave Evaluation disabled).
• Evaluation-Duration — maximum length of one Evaluation (license default if enabled and omitted: 90 days).
• Evaluation-Production-Use-Allowed — whether Production Use is permitted during Evaluation (yes or no; license default: no).
• Evaluation-Max-Per-Organization — maximum number of Evaluations an Organization (with its Controlled Affiliates) may commence (license default: 1).
• Evaluation-Notice — required, optional, or a short description of when and how to notify the Steward.
• Additional Evaluation-* fields may state other permitted or prohibited activities.

Organizational Evaluation is not a general Organizational license. It does not change Natural Person rights or stewardship duties. See the Organizational Evaluation section of the License.

Additional fields may be included.

The Steward Record is the authoritative source for identifying the current Steward, contact information for licensing and stewardship matters, and any Evaluation Terms.