Licensing & Sharing Model

A Shared Future, Not a Proprietary One

WeShare is committed to open, values-aligned sharing of our models, learnings, and systems—such as community energy co-design models and participatory governance frameworks—to benefit other communities seeking energy sovereignty and energy justice. We do not seek to privatise or commodify the work developed through community collaboration. Instead, our licensing and knowledge-sharing model ensures accessibility, integrity, and responsible reuse, aligned with a just transition and collective stewardship.

Intellectual Property Principles

Open but Accountable: Key resources, designs, processes, and frameworks developed by WeShare are shared under a Creative Commons-style license, subject to values-alignment agreements. All users must agree to periodic collaborative review to ensure values alignment remains intact over time.

Community Credit: Any reproduction or use of WeShare’s models must acknowledge Waiheke Island as the origin community and retain all embedded community safeguards.

No Private Extraction: We do not license any part of the WeShare ecosystem for private commercial use without an aligned public/community benefit. This includes social enterprises or hybrid models, which must demonstrate clear community outcomes and values compliance.

Licensing Model

WeShare Blueprint: Shared under a modified CC BY-NC-SA license (Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike), which includes values-alignment verification as a precondition.

Governance & Consent Frameworks: Available to aligned non-profits, community groups, and councils under the same license, with optional onboarding support.

Technical Tools & Systems: Shared only after vetting and with a written usage agreement, to preserve community integrity, safety, and collective ownership principles.

Note: Detailed terms of the modified license are available upon request or via internal documentation.

Sharing With Integrity

Replication Pathway Kits: Full resource bundles (guides, sample agreements, checklists) for other communities wishing to replicate the model.

Onboarding for Replicators: Orientation and mentorship available to selected communities, including options for cohort-based learning or shared practice labs.

Tracking Use: Usage must be registered to support impact evaluation, uphold data sovereignty, and ensure community credit.

Ethical Restrictions

Use of any WeShare frameworks, tools, or language is expressly prohibited in the following cases:

  • Greenwashing or co-opting by private companies
  • Political exploitation
  • Misrepresentation of values, ownership, or intentions
  • Use in models that do not include community ownership and governance
  • Use in non-consensual data extraction or surveillance-based platforms

Violations of these restrictions may lead to immediate review and revocation of access and license.

 

This version is part of the WeShare Foundation Living Commons. Contact us to request collaborative updates or share feedback.

End of Document – WeShare Licensing & Sharing Model v1.1