# AIEP Canon Rule: Open Use, Certification, and Compliance
Version 1.0

## Open use
AIEP is an open protocol. **Open use is always permitted.**

## Certification
Certification exists solely to protect the meaning of the phrase **“AIEP Certified.”**
If a system claims certification, it must publish machine-verifiable metadata and a valid certificate artefact.

## Compliance scope
Compliance checks apply only to:
- false certification claims
- misuse of certification marks
- redistribution of NDA-restricted materials (where applicable)

Compliance does not police open adoption.

## Principle
**Open adoption, verifiable certification.**