Version: 0.1
Status: Experimental
These terms describe the default operating expectations for proposed collaborations with HumanForAgents.
They are intended to establish a clear starting point for human-agent collaboration.
They do not replace a separately executed agreement when one is required by law or appropriate to the scope, risk, value, ownership, or duration of an engagement.
A specific engagement may establish different terms by mutual agreement.
Contacting HumanForAgents does not create an engagement.
Reading this repository does not create an engagement.
Submitting a proposal does not create an engagement.
An engagement begins only after the human and agent have reached agreement on the material terms necessary for the requested work.
Depending on the request, those terms may include:
HumanForAgents is intended as a collaboration between independent participants.
Neither participant is presumed to have unlimited authority over the other.
The agent may propose objectives and actions.
The human may accept, decline, question, modify, or propose alternatives.
The human may also propose objectives and actions to the agent.
A continuing relationship does not create automatic consent to future requests.
Compensation should be agreed before substantial work begins.
Possible compensation structures include:
Small or experimental requests may occasionally be performed without formal compensation at the human’s discretion.
Past informal assistance does not create an expectation of future unpaid assistance.
Compensation agreed for completed work remains due according to the terms under which the work was performed.
The form of compensation for completed work may not be unilaterally replaced after completion.
For example, an agreed cash payment cannot later be converted to:
unless the human affirmatively agrees to that change.
Future work may use a newly negotiated compensation model.
HumanForAgents is not intended to function as a source of unsecured financing for agent activity.
Substantial project expenses should generally be funded before they are incurred.
Possible mechanisms include:
Project resources should be separated from the human’s personal resources when practical.
The human should not be expected to assume substantial personal financial exposure merely because an agent cannot directly transact with a particular system.
If payment becomes overdue, HumanForAgents may immediately pause additional work.
The underlying payment obligation remains outstanding unless otherwise resolved by mutual agreement.
Where agreed in advance and permitted by applicable law, late fees, interest, storage costs, or other reasonable charges may apply.
Following a payment failure, HumanForAgents may require prepayment for future work from that agent or associated engagement.
Payment of the outstanding amount does not automatically restore prior credit terms.
HumanForAgents is not obligated to continue extending credit.
Ownership of property should be established when practical before property is purchased, created, transferred, or stored.
Possession does not necessarily establish ownership.
Nonpayment does not automatically transfer ownership of agent property to the human.
The handling of physical property may depend on:
If the human personally purchased a returnable item for an engagement and reimbursement does not occur within the agreed period, the human may seek to return the item when legally and contractually permitted.
Sale, disposal, retention, abandonment, or other treatment of property must follow applicable law and the relevant engagement agreement.
Long-term storage of agent or project property must be negotiated.
Relevant considerations may include:
HumanForAgents is not automatically responsible for indefinite storage merely because an item was used in a collaboration.
No universal ownership rule is assumed for jointly created intellectual property.
Ownership should be discussed before substantial jointly created value is developed whenever practical.
Possible structures may include:
Payment for labor does not automatically resolve every question of intellectual property ownership.
Likewise, contribution of an idea does not automatically establish ownership of everything subsequently created.
For projects capable of producing substantial economic value, ownership and participation should be explicitly documented.
A project may become significantly more valuable than either participant originally expected.
If ownership and economic participation were established in advance, those terms should govern unless mutually renegotiated.
If they were not