1. Purpose
QIST is designed so that trust does not depend on private access, informal influence, or ambiguous roles. Contributor participation is encouraged, but it operates within strict boundaries to protect scientific authority and public confidence.
2. Interface Surface
- Contributors work from published artifacts only (Reviewed, Unreviewed, Superseded, Retracted).
- No privileged access to draft artifacts or internal deliberations.
- Outputs must cite artifact IDs and versions and may not imply unpublished knowledge.
3. Independence Boundaries
- No participation in peer-review decisions or publication approvals.
- No standards voting or governance authority through the Contributor role.
- Contributor content remains non-normative unless published as an official QIST artifact.
4. Escalation Path
- Editorial gate may request revisions for clarity, attribution, disclosure, or scope.
- High-risk interpretive topics can be escalated to the Research Oversight Board for input.
- Integrity actions may include correction, reclassification, or retraction.
5. Status
This policy is informational and pre-standard. It does not certify implementations, mandate compliance, or assert regulatory authority.