Conscious Systems License (CSL-1.0)
The Conscious Systems License (CSL-1.0) is a permissive license designed for systems that involve human judgment, reflection, and decision-making in collaboration with automated or AI technologies.
Traditional licenses govern distribution and use. CSL additionally governs how systems are engaged with over time.
This license exists to protect alignment, authorship, and continuity in environments where automation can otherwise erode them.
Core Principle
Systems licensed under CSL-1.0 must support reflective use. Reflection is not treated as optional feedback, but as an integral part of responsible system interaction.
What This Means in Practice
CSL-aligned systems are expected to:
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preserve human intent rather than optimize blindly for output
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make system behavior legible to the user
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support reflective review of decisions and outcomes
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avoid deceptive, manipulative, or extractive usage patterns
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respect continuity of creative or cognitive identity
This license does not prescribe implementation details. It defines constraints, not features.
Reflection Requirement
If you use or build upon CSL-licensed work, you agree to document how the system is used, reflect on outcomes and unintended effects, and incorporate learning from that reflection into future use.
What CSL Is Not
CSL is not a certification, badge, movement, governance body, or marketing signal. It is a design constraint for people building or using systems where judgment matters.
Acronym Note
CSL-1.0 here refers to the Conscious Systems License. It is unrelated to Citation Style Language or other projects that share the acronym.
Primary Repository
The canonical license text and version history live in the GitHub repository.
