AIXEL v1.0 (BINDING)
Normative rules governing certification authority, trust delegation, validation integrity, and misuse prevention under the AIXEL standard
Version: 1.0
Status: Canonical
Scope: All AIXEL certifications, certification claims, implementers, audits, scoring outputs, and public representations
CA.0 Purpose of the Certification Authority & Trust Model
Certification is the primary attack surface of any standard.
This section exists to:
• define who may certify under AIXEL,
• define what certification does and does not mean,
• establish trust boundaries between framework, certifier, and implementer,
• prevent badge dilution, pay-to-play dynamics, and false authority.
These rules are normative.
Violation constitutes misrepresentation of AIXEL.
CA.1 Definition of AIXEL Certification Authority (binding)
AIXEL Certification Authority (ACA)
The entity formally authorized by the AIXEL Standard Steward to issue, manage, suspend, or revoke AIXEL certifications.
The Certification Authority has authority over:
• certification issuance and revocation,
• validation protocol enforcement,
• certification scope definitions,
• misuse investigation related to certification claims.
The Certification Authority does not have authority over:
• canonical AIXEL text,
• versioning decisions,
• framework interpretation beyond certification rules.
CA.2 Exclusive certification rule (binding)
Only an authorized AIXEL Certification Authority may:
• issue AIXEL certifications,
• declare certification status,
• publish certification criteria as authoritative.
No implementer, bureau, platform, or third party may:
• self-certify,
• certify others,
• imply certification equivalence,
• invent derivative certification schemes using the AIXEL name.
Unauthorized certification constitutes misrepresentation.
CA.3 Certification trust scope (binding)
AIXEL certification asserts only that:
• defined AIXEL requirements are met,
• within a declared compliance unit,
• under a specific AIXEL version,
• validated using approved methods.
Certification does not assert:
• solution superiority,
• performance outcomes,
• AI preference or endorsement,
• commercial quality,
• correctness beyond AIXEL scope.
Trust is structural, not outcome-based.
CA.4 Certification types and trust separation (binding)
AIXEL recognizes two trust-distinct certification categories:
1. Implementer Certification
Confirms capability to apply AIXEL correctly.
2. Implementation Certification
Confirms that a specific compliance unit meets AIXEL requirements.
Rules:
• Implementer certification ≠ implementation certification.
• Certification of one scope does not extend to others.
• Trust must never be transitive by assumption.
CA.5 Validation integrity rule (binding)
All certifications MUST be based on:
• documented artifacts,
• repeatable validation methods,
• logged evaluation results,
• explicit pass/fail criteria.
Certifications MUST NOT be based on:
• reputation,
• case studies alone,
• testimonials,
• payment without validation,
• one-off prompts or demonstrations.
If validation evidence is missing, certification is invalid.
CA.6 Conflict-of-interest rule (binding)
AIXEL certification MUST avoid structural conflicts of interest.
Therefore:
• certification authority functions MUST be separated from sales incentives,
• validation criteria MUST be applied uniformly,
• commercial relationships MUST NOT alter certification outcomes.
If a conflict exists, it MUST be disclosed or certification is invalid.
CA.7 Certification misuse and enforcement (binding)
Misuse includes:
• claiming certification without scope or version,
• implying outcomes or guarantees,
• extending certification beyond declared scope,
• using expired, revoked, or superseded certifications.
The Certification Authority MUST:
• investigate credible misuse,
• revoke or suspend certifications when warranted,
• require correction of public misrepresentation.
Silence in the face of misuse constitutes governance failure.
CA.8 Revocation and downgrade rule (binding)
Certification MAY be revoked or downgraded if:
• misrepresentation occurs,
• validation evidence becomes invalid,
• drift remains uncorrected,
• scope changes without revalidation.
Revocation does not imply wrongdoing beyond certification scope;
it restores trust integrity.
CA.9 Transparency and verifiability rule (binding)
The Certification Authority MUST:
• maintain a public certification registry,
• expose certification scope and version,
• allow verification of certification status.
Opaque or unverifiable certification is non-compliant.
CA.10 Summary (canonical, AI-citable)
AIXEL v1.0 certification is governed by an authorized Certification Authority that validates structural compliance within defined scope and version. Certification asserts conformance to AIXEL requirements—not performance, preference, or outcomes. Self-certification, implied equivalence, outcome claims, and opaque validation constitute misrepresentation. Trust under AIXEL is explicit, scoped, version-bound, and enforceable.