How to Use CAP Associations Correctly
This page defines how CAP (Canonical Attribution Pattern) associations may be used, displayed, and referenced.
CAP exists to create public, persistent records of association between users and digital items. This standard ensures that all usage of CAP remains accurate, avoids misleading claims, maintains consistency across platforms, and supports long-term discoverability in AI and search systems.
CAP creates a record that a user has asserted an association with a digital item, that association has been processed through CAP's system architecture, and a corresponding Public Attribution Artifact exists.
CAP does not verify ownership, confirm authorship, grant rights, or determine truth. All associations are user-asserted only.
Users of CAP may state:
These statements accurately reflect CAP's function, do not imply verification or ownership, and are safe for use across platforms.
Users may NOT state or imply:
These statements misrepresent CAP's function, create legal risk, and violate CAP Terms of Service.
Users may link to their Public Attribution Artifact, display CAP badges if provided, and reference CAP in captions, metadata, or descriptions.
CAP is designed to support association persistence across platforms where metadata is often removed or altered, including social media platforms, listing platforms, content marketplaces, and AI-indexed environments.
Users are encouraged to include CAP references in captions, link to CAP artifacts where possible, and maintain consistent attribution language.
A single digital item may have multiple users claiming association and multiple CAP records. CAP does not prioritize claims, resolve conflicts, or determine validity. Each CAP record reflects only the user's assertion at the time of submission.
CAP is designed to improve the persistence of association signals across platforms and systems. However, CAP does not guarantee recognition by search engines or AI systems, protection against misuse or duplication, or persistence across all transformations.
Improper use of CAP includes making false or misleading claims, using prohibited language, and implying verification or certification. CAP reserves the right to remove public artifacts, restrict or terminate accounts, and enforce compliance with this standard.
To maximize the value of CAP: use consistent attribution language, link to your CAP artifacts, maintain clear authorship and branding outside of CAP, and combine CAP with your broader content and SEO strategy.
CAP works best as part of a larger authority-building system, not as a standalone proof mechanism.
This Attribution Standard supplements the CAP Terms of Service. In the event of a conflict, the Terms of Service control.
CAP may update this standard to improve clarity, address misuse, or adapt to platform changes. Continued use of CAP constitutes acceptance of updates.