Member IP Rules: What You Keep, What You Share

The short version: Use our patents freely. Keep your own unless it’s derivative of ours.

The Core Principle

“You get to use all the patent I.P. freely — within Liana Banyan; without having to share your own.”

This statement is TRUE under these conditions:

What “Derivative” Means

Your IP is derivative of LB IP if:

1. It builds directly on a specific LB patent or innovation
2. It couldn’t exist without the underlying LB framework
3. It’s a modification, extension, or improvement of LB IP

Examples of DERIVATIVE (must share if used on platform):

• You improve the Patent Bucket algorithm → derivative
• You create a new Three-Gear currency variant → derivative
• You modify the Ghost-to-Physical pipeline → derivative

Examples of NOT DERIVATIVE (you keep entirely):

• You bring your own recipe to Let’s Make Dinner → yours
• You build a business using platform tools → yours
• You create original content on the platform → yours
• You have patents from before joining LB → yours

The Rules in Detail

Rule 1: Your Independent IP Stays Yours

If you bring IP to Liana Banyan that you developed independently:

• You own it 100%
• No automatic sharing with the platform
• You choose whether to register it under the Three-Tier framework
• If you don’t register it, it’s just yours — we have no claim

Rule 2: You Can Use Platform IP Freely (Within LB)

As a member, you’re licensed to use Liana Banyan’s IP portfolio:

• All 1,243 documented innovations are available for platform use
• All filed patents are licensed to members for platform operations
• No additional licensing fees for internal platform use
• Build your business using our IP infrastructure

Limitation: This license is for use within Liana Banyan. External commercial licensing of our patents requires separate arrangements.

Rule 3: Derivative IP Must Follow LB Rules (If Used on Platform)

If you create IP that is derivative of internal LB IP and you want to use it on the platform:

• You must follow LB’s economic rules (Cost+20, three-gear, etc.)
• You choose a tier (A, B, or C) just like any creator
• External licensing can happen under separate contracts with different terms

Key nuance: The rule only applies if:

1. Your IP is derivative of LB IP, AND
2. You use it on the Liana Banyan platform

If you develop derivative IP but use it entirely outside LB, you can structure it however you want — but you lose platform IP licensing benefits.

Rule 4: The Founder Follows the Same Rules

The Founder’s new IP is treated just like everyone else’s:

• Chooses Tier A, B, or C for each new asset
• Same control vs. payoff trade-offs
• If derivative of internal LB IP and used on platform → follows LB rules
• External licensing → separate contracts allowed

This demonstrates that the system is fair to everyone, including the Founder.

The Three-Tier Framework (If You Choose to Register)

If you voluntarily register your IP with Liana Banyan, you choose:

Key: This is opt-in. You don’t have to register your independent IP at all.

Common Scenarios

Scenario 1: Recipe Creator on Let’s Make Dinner

Your IP: Original family recipe
LB’s IP: Meal coordination logistics, matching algorithms
Status: Your recipe is yours. You’re using LB’s logistics IP (licensed to you as a member).
Sharing: None required. Your recipe stays 100% yours.

Scenario 2: Manufacturing Node Operator

Your IP: Your manufacturing techniques and processes
LB’s IP: Bounty system, quality protocols, node coordination
Status: Your techniques are yours. You’re using LB’s node infrastructure (licensed).
Sharing: None required. Your processes stay yours.

Scenario 3: Developer Improving Platform Code

Your IP: Bug fixes and improvements to LB codebase
LB’s IP: The codebase itself
Status: This is derivative of LB IP.
Sharing: Contributions to the platform follow platform rules.

Scenario 4: Inventor with Prior Patents

Your IP: Patents you held before joining LB
LB’s IP: Not involved
Status: Completely independent.
Sharing: None. Your prior patents are 100% yours forever.

The “Aircraft Carrier” Metaphor

The Founder puts it this way:

“I’m using my IP to fund the aircraft carrier so I can fly my airplane. And so can you. Because once the carrier is built, anyone else can fly theirs too.”

Translation:

• The aircraft carrier is Liana Banyan’s IP infrastructure (1,243 innovations, filed patents)
• Your airplane is your business, your recipes, your creations
• Flying your airplane means running your business on the platform
• You don’t need to give us your airplane — just use the carrier we built

Summary Table

Why This Works

1. Attracts creators: You keep your independent IP
2. Protects the cooperative: Derivative IP stays aligned
3. Funds the infrastructure: Platform IP generates shared value
4. Prevents free-riding: You can’t fork LB IP and compete against us
5. Maintains fairness: Even the Founder follows the same rules

Further Reading

• Derivatives & Collaboration — Detailed rules for building on each other’s work
• Three-Tier IP Control Framework
• I Built an Aircraft Carrier to Launch My Plane
• Patent Buckets FAQ
• IP Load Balancing on the Ledger

For questions, contact: Support@LianaBanyan.org