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| schema: foundry-doc-v1 | schema: foundry-doc-v1 |
| title: "Style guide — contract" | title: "Style guide — contract" |
| slug: style-guide-contract | slug: style-guide-contract |
| category: reference | category: reference |
| type: topic | type: topic |
| quality: complete | quality: complete |
| short_description: "Editorial standards for contract documents (LEGAL genre) in the platform: parties discipline, recitals format, definitions vocabulary, term and termination clause, and the review-before-binding rule." | short_description: "Editorial standards for contract documents (LEGAL genre) in the platform: parties discipline, recitals format, definitions vocabulary, term and termination clause, and the review-before-binding rule." |
| status: active | status: active |
| bcsc_class: public-disclosure-safe | bcsc_class: public-disclosure-safe |
| last_edited: 2026-05-24 | last_edited: 2026-05-24 |
| editor: pointsav-engineering | editor: pointsav-engineering |
| cites: [] | cites: [] |
| paired_with: style-guide-contract.es.md | paired_with: style-guide-contract.es.md |
| --- | --- |
| > A contract names its parties, defines its terms, and states what each party is bound to do. Every clause is a commitment or a condition — nothing else. | > A contract names its parties, defines its terms, and states what each party is bound to do. Every clause is a commitment or a condition — nothing else. |
| A **contract** (LEGAL genre) is a formal agreement between two or more named parties that creates binding obligations. It is authored in the legal-plain register and reviewed by the responsible governance party before any party signs. This article is the human-facing standard; the machine-readable counterpart lives in `service-disclosure/templates/contract.toml`. | A **contract** (LEGAL genre) is a formal agreement between two or more named parties that creates binding obligations. It is authored in the legal-plain register and reviewed by the responsible governance party before any party signs. This article is the human-facing standard; the machine-readable counterpart lives in `service-disclosure/templates/contract.toml`. |
| ## When to use this template | ## When to use this template |
| Use the contract template when: | Use the contract template when: |
| - A formal binding agreement is required between named parties. | - A formal binding agreement is required between named parties. |
| - The obligations, term, and termination conditions need to be explicit and traceable. | - The obligations, term, and termination conditions need to be explicit and traceable. |
| - The agreement will be reviewed by `factory-release-engineering` governance before execution. | - The agreement will be reviewed by `factory-release-engineering` governance before execution. |
| Informal operational agreements between team members or roles do not require a contract — a [[style-guide-memo|memo]] or [[style-guide-ticket-comment|ticket comment]] records them. Agreements that bind a legal entity (PointSav Digital Systems, Woodfine Management Corp., or a third party) require governance review before any signature. | Informal operational agreements between team members or roles do not require a contract — a [[style-guide-memo|memo]] or [[style-guide-ticket-comment|ticket comment]] records them. Agreements that bind a legal entity (PointSav Digital Systems, Woodfine Management Corp., or a third party) require governance review before any signature. |
| ## Structure | ## Structure |
| The template requires six sections in this order: | The template requires six sections in this order: |
| | Section | Purpose | | | Section | Purpose | |
| |---|---| | |---|---| |
| | **Parties** | The full legal names, registered addresses, and defined short names ("PointSav," "Vendor," "Contributor") of every party to the agreement. | | | **Parties** | The full legal names, registered addresses, and defined short names ("PointSav," "Vendor," "Contributor") of every party to the agreement. | |
| | **Effective date** | The date on which the agreement takes effect. If conditional on signature, state "the date of the last signature." | | | **Effective date** | The date on which the agreement takes effect. If conditional on signature, state "the date of the last signature." | |
| | **Recitals** | Short "Whereas" clauses: the context and intent. Two to five recitals. Not obligations — context for interpretation. | | | **Recitals** | Short "Whereas" clauses: the context and intent. Two to five recitals. Not obligations — context for interpretation. | |
| | **Definitions** | Each defined Term, stated once. Defined terms are capitalised throughout the contract after their first definition. | | | **Definitions** | Each defined Term, stated once. Defined terms are capitalised throughout the contract after their first definition. | |
| | **Terms** | The substantive obligations: what each party must do, by when, and under what conditions. Numbered clauses. | | | **Terms** | The substantive obligations: what each party must do, by when, and under what conditions. Numbered clauses. | |
| | **Term and termination** | The duration of the agreement, how it may be terminated, and what happens upon termination (survival clauses, obligations that persist). | | | **Term and termination** | The duration of the agreement, how it may be terminated, and what happens upon termination (survival clauses, obligations that persist). | |
| An optional **Signatures** block follows the last section. Its format is determined by the jurisdiction and signature method. | An optional **Signatures** block follows the last section. Its format is determined by the jurisdiction and signature method. |
| ## Register and tone | ## Register and tone |
| Legal-plain. Defined terms are capitalised after their first definition. Active voice where possible: "Vendor shall deliver" rather than "Delivery shall be made by Vendor." No "herein," "aforementioned," or "notwithstanding" when plain alternatives exist. Every obligation names a subject and a deadline. | Legal-plain. Defined terms are capitalised after their first definition. Active voice where possible: "Vendor shall deliver" rather than "Delivery shall be made by Vendor." No "herein," "aforementioned," or "notwithstanding" when plain alternatives exist. Every obligation names a subject and a deadline. |
| Every agreement that binds a legal entity routes through the system administrator (`open.source@pointsav.com`) for governance review before any signature is obtained. This rule applies without exception. | Every agreement that binds a legal entity routes through the system administrator (`open.source@pointsav.com`) for governance review before any signature is obtained. This rule applies without exception. |
| ## See also | ## See also |
| - [[style-guide-cla|Style Guide — CLA]] | - [[style-guide-cla|Style Guide — CLA]] |
| - [[style-guide-policy|Style Guide — Policy]] | - [[style-guide-policy|Style Guide — Policy]] |
| - [[style-guide-terms|Style Guide — Terms of Use]] | - [[style-guide-terms|Style Guide — Terms of Use]] |
| - [[language-protocol-substrate|Language Protocol Substrate]] | - [[language-protocol-substrate|Language Protocol Substrate]] |