Progressive Depletion Minting (PDM) Licensing Policy

Mann Mechanics Framework

Effective date: 06 January 2026
Last updated: 24 February 2026

1. Purpose

This document describes the licensing approach relating to Progressive Depletion Minting (“PDM”) methods within the Mann Mechanics framework.

It explains when a patent licence may be required, outlines general licensing categories, and clarifies the relationship between licensing and certification.

This document is provided for informational purposes and does not itself grant any licence or authorisation.

2. Definitions

For the purposes of this policy:

  • PDM Methods means mechanisms, processes, or models implementing depletion-gated issuance or allocation logic as described within the Mann Mechanics framework.

  • Protected Methods means elements of PDM that are subject to intellectual property protection, including patent protection where applicable.

  • Licence means a written agreement granting defined implementation rights.

  • Implementation means any system, process, or deployment that applies PDM Methods in practice.

  • Certification means conformity assessment conducted by MannCert under separate rules.

3. General Principle

Where an Implementation practices Protected Methods, a Licence may be required prior to deployment.

The determination of whether a licence is required depends on the specific technical and operational characteristics of the Implementation.

4. Indicators That a Licence May Be Required

Without limitation, an Implementation may fall within the scope of Protected Methods where it performs functions such as:

  • computing a depletion metric derived from observed system conditions or reserves;

  • evaluating thresholds that adjust in response to cumulative issuance or utilisation;

  • triggering issuance, allocation, or release events based on depletion measurements;

  • determining quantities subject to bounded safety constraints or issuance limits;

  • enforcing a finite supply, budget, or issuance schedule governed by depletion dynamics.

The presence of one or more such characteristics may indicate that licensing discussions are appropriate.

5. Situations Where Licensing May Not Be Required

A licence is generally not required where activities do not practice Protected Methods, including where systems:

  • use heuristic or discretionary controls unrelated to depletion-gated logic;

  • apply fixed or local corrective mechanisms without cumulative issuance scheduling;

  • operate purely for personal, educational, research, or community experimentation;

  • do not implement depletion-triggered issuance behaviour.

Examples may include educational models, simulations, analytical tools, or exploratory research.

6. Licensing Categories

Licensing is structured to reflect deployment context and scale.

Categories may include:

  • Community or non-profit use;

  • Commercial or enterprise deployment;

  • Institutional or public sector implementation.

Specific terms are determined through individual licensing agreements based on scope, risk, and operational characteristics.

7. Relationship to Certification

Certification by MannCert provides independent assessment of conformity with applicable standards.

Certification:

  • does not grant implementation rights;

  • does not replace licensing obligations;

  • may be required for certain production deployments.

Licensing and certification operate independently.

8. No Implied Licence

Nothing in this policy, or in any discussion or documentation, grants any licence or permission by implication.

Implementation rights arise only through a formally executed Licence.

9. Reservation of Rights

All intellectual property rights relating to PDM Methods are reserved.

The rights holder retains the ability to determine licensing terms, conditions, and eligibility consistent with applicable law.

10. Amendments

This policy may be updated to reflect legal developments, technical evolution, or governance considerations.

Updates take effect upon publication.

11. Licensing Enquiries

Institutions and organisations considering implementation are invited to contact the licensing office to discuss scope, context, and requirements.

Initial discussions are conducted on a confidential basis and do not create obligations for either party.

To support an efficient initial review, enquiries may include:

  • A brief description of the intended use or domain

  • The anticipated scale or user base

  • Whether the implementation is commercial, institutional, or nonprofit

  • Any relevant regulatory or governance context

This information helps determine the appropriate licensing category and ensures discussions are focused and productive.

12. Contact

For licensing enquiries:

Mann Mechanics
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://mannmechanics.com

Clarification

This document is intended as a high-level policy statement and does not constitute legal advice or a binding licence agreement.