Safety & Licenses

Progress belongs to all of us, and at VolkanaDEV, we built gentle, yet firm rules to make sure it is used to help, never to hurt. These rules are not optional, but they won't get in your way.

VolkanaDEV remains committed to a healthy relationship with current technology, companies, or individuals, and ensures a smooth and careful transition to any future software or hardware.

The Shared Code Promise

You can read, test, and adapt our code freely. If you modify the engine and run it for users over a network, you must release your changes publicly. No secret monopolies.

Strict Anti-Harm Rules

Our license forbids this framework from being used for autonomous weapons, mass surveillance, facial recognition without consent, or tools designed to exploit people.

Immediate Toxic Breach

Break the anti-harm rules and your license terminates instantly. You assume all legal liability, lose all security updates, and are permanently locked out of VolkanaDEV networks.

Deploying anything publicly? If you want to deploy, distribute, or make available any Sanguis or VANA based software, hardware, network, or any other VolkanaDEV technology for commercial or public use, or as a limited-scope large-entity deployment, you need a contract with us first. The VPL-1.0 lets you read, test, and adapt the code freely, but commercial or public deployment requires a separate deployment agreement with VolkanaDEV. Visit our contact page to get started.

The FrameworkHow the Rules Work

The ability to create with Sanguis belongs in the hands of the individual creator. But something this advanced needs careful supervision.

That is why we created the VPL-1.0. It keeps our software open and inspectable for independent developers, students, and researchers, while installing a legal wall against weaponization or exploitation.

For commercial and industrial use, we offer a separate Commercial License tailored to your deployment. It grants the rights you need to build and ship products on top of Sanguis and VANA, with terms negotiated around your specific use case, scale, and hardware. Visit our contact page to start that conversation.

For government agencies and defense entities, we offer the Cleave Clause: a separate contract that overrides Section 2 of the VPL-1.0 on a per-project basis for defense systems. It grants a private, perpetual, non-transferable license for a specific approved scope, with full control of deployed systems, no VolkanaDEV access to your data, cryptographically signed security updates with no operational interference, and full Licensee liability. To request a copy of the Cleave Clause Master Agreement, contact legal@volkanadev.com or view the Cleave Clause information here.

VOLKANADEV PUBLIC SOURCE-AVAILABLE LICENSE
Version 1.0 (VPL-1.0) Copyright © 2026

Copyright (c) 2026, VolkanaDEV Autonomous Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

1. PURPOSE & NETWORK OBLIGATION

This software engine is published as source-available. Subject to the restrictions below, you may view, modify, and run this code. If you modify this software and make it available to remote users interacting with it over a network, you must make the complete, corresponding source code of your modified version publicly available under this same license.

2. ETHICAL USE & PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES

Any permission granted under Section 1 is strictly conditioned upon absolute compliance with the following prohibitions. This software shall NOT be used, modified, integrated, or deployed for:

  • 2.1 Initiation of Combat: This software must not be used to initiate combat, whether internally or with foreign countries, entities, private parties, or otherwise. "Combat" means the deployment of any weapon, firearm, explosive, conventional munition, nuclear missile, biological or chemical agent, improvised device, blunt instrument, blade, or any other physical or digital mechanism intended to project force against another party. This includes any system that autonomously selects, targets, or engages in kinetic action without direct and meaningful human authorization for each specific use of force. Defense systems that respond to incoming threats are permitted under a Government Infrastructure Contract (see Section 4). Offensive systems that initiate force are prohibited under all circumstances, under all license types, with no exceptions.
  • 2.2 Surveillance Systems: Any system supported by VolkanaDEV that is used to monitor, record, document, or circumvent protections for the purpose of information gathering, by any agency or entity, whether corporate, government, or otherwise. This includes bulk data harvesting, network tracking infrastructure, and population-level monitoring without explicit, granular, individual consent. Facial recognition scanners and similar identification technology may be used by law enforcement for legitimate identification purposes, but are not permitted to be used to spy on, track, or monitor individuals or populations without lawful authorization and individualized suspicion.
  • 2.3 Harm: Any physical or emotional means of causing injury to another organic or inorganic individual, regardless of their origination. "Organic individual" includes any living biological being, from a human being to any living organism. "Inorganic individual" includes any artificial system executing on VolkanaDEV hardware, any digital entity, any financial account or asset, and any data structure representing a person or entity. This prohibition covers intentional physical injury, emotional manipulation designed to cause psychological damage, financial ruin through deception or exploitation, and any deployment designed to generate personal profit through the intentional harm of any individual described above. It is one thing to create a system that behaves poorly. It is another to create a system that intends to kill, injure, or exploit. The former is a bug. The latter is a violation of this license.
3. BREACH & TERMINATION

Any use of this software in violation of Section 2 automatically terminates your license rights effective immediately. Upon termination, you retain ownership of any VolkanaDEV software, hardware, firmware, or distributed products you have already obtained, but you are permanently cut off from all VolkanaDEV services, including security updates, technical support, and access to VolkanaDEV system networks.

You assume all future legal and practical responsibility from VolkanaDEV, and assert any future implementations fall to you as sole owner in a legally binding admission implied upon breach of these terms.

Your rights to security updates and any future services rendered by VolkanaDEV are rendered null and void upon termination. You are prohibited from any future VolkanaDEV system networks going forward.

4. GOVERNMENT CARVE-OUT (CLEAVE CLAUSE)

If you are a government agency or defense entity deploying this software for defense purposes, Section 2 does not apply to you if and only if you sign a separate, private VolkanaDEV Government Infrastructure Contract (the "Cleave Clause"). This contract grants a private, perpetual, non-transferable, non-sublicensable license to deploy the VolkanaDEV compilation engine and parallel node hardware architecture for a specific approved scope of use, evaluated on an isolated project-by-project basis.

The Cleave Clause includes full provisions for custody transfer, maintenance and patch management, liability and indemnification, breach and termination mechanics, and export control and ITAR compliance.

5. DEFINITIONS

"Licensor" means VolkanaDEV Autonomous Systems, Inc. "Licensee" means any individual or entity exercising rights under this license. "Software" means the VolkanaDEV compilation engine, VANA runtime, Sanguis compiler, associated source code, binaries, documentation, and hardware specifications. "Modification" means any alteration, addition, or derivative work of the Software. "Distribution" means making the Software or Modifications available to any third party by any means, including network access.

"Autonomous" means any system that is supported via a VANA as its execution platform on hardware. This includes any system where the VANA runtime, blood bridge, or connectome settle mechanism is the primary execution layer, whether running on consumer GPUs, custom silicon, or any future hardware platform.

"Defense Systems" means any mechanism, platform, or deployment intended to respond to, intercept, or neutralize incoming threats. This includes any weapon, firearm, explosive device, missile defense system, physical barrier, automated response mechanism, or any other tool or system designed to protect against external force. Defense systems are permitted only under a Government Infrastructure Contract (Section 4) and must not be used to initiate combat under any circumstances.

"Surveillance Systems" means any system supported by VolkanaDEV that is used to monitor, record, document, or circumvent protections for the purpose of information gathering, by any agency or entity, whether corporate, government, or otherwise. This includes bulk data harvesting, facial recognition arrays, network tracking infrastructure, and any population-level monitoring deployed without explicit, granular, individual consent. Facial recognition and similar identification technology may be used by law enforcement for legitimate identification purposes, but is not permitted to be used to spy on, track, or monitor individuals or populations without lawful authorization and individualized suspicion.

"Harm" means any physical or emotional means of causing injury to another organic or inorganic individual, regardless of their origination. "Organic individual" includes any living biological being, from a human being to any living organism. "Inorganic individual" includes any artificial system executing on VolkanaDEV hardware, any digital entity, any financial account or asset, and any data structure representing a person or entity. "Harm" covers intentional physical injury, emotional manipulation designed to cause psychological damage, financial ruin through deception or exploitation, and any deployment designed to generate personal profit through the intentional injury of any individual described above.

6. ACCEPTANCE

By viewing, downloading, installing, running, modifying, or distributing the Software, you (the Licensee) acknowledge that you have read this license, understand it, and agree to be bound by its terms. If you do not agree to these terms, you may not view, use, modify, or distribute the Software in any form.

By adopting this license and/or distributing any platform, network, software, hardware, firmware, or any other implementation of VolkanaDEV Autonomous Systems, Inc, you agree to take on the form of the party identified in this license as "the Licensee," with all rights, restrictions, and obligations that role carries. VolkanaDEV Autonomous Systems, Inc assumes the form of "the Licensor," with all rights, duties, and obligations that role carries. Both parties are bound by this agreement in their respective roles.

7. WARRANTY DISCLAIMER

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS," WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. THE LICENSOR MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES THAT THE SOFTWARE WILL FUNCTION WITHOUT ERROR, MEET THE LICENSEE'S REQUIREMENTS, OR COMPLY WITH ANY SPECIFIC REGULATORY, MILITARY, DEFENSE, OR MUNICIPAL FRAMEWORK. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE IS WITH THE LICENSEE. SHOULD THE SOFTWARE PROVE DEFECTIVE, THE LICENSEE (AND NOT THE LICENSOR) ASSUMES THE ENTIRE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR, OR CORRECTION.

8. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

IN NO EVENT SHALL THE LICENSOR, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, OR AFFILIATES BE LIABLE TO THE LICENSEE OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF DATA, LOSS OF BUSINESS, OR COST OF SUBSTITUTE SERVICES, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS LICENSE OR THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE SOFTWARE, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF THE LICENSOR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THE LICENSOR'S TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY UNDER THIS LICENSE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT, IF ANY, PAID BY THE LICENSEE TO THE LICENSOR FOR THE SOFTWARE IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR ONE U.S. DOLLAR ($1.00), WHICHEVER IS GREATER.

9. GOVERNING LAW & JURISDICTION

This license shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States of America and the State in which the Licensor is incorporated, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. The parties irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of that State for resolution of any dispute arising under or in connection with this license.

10. SEVERABILITY & NO WAIVER

If any provision of this license is held to be unenforceable or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be severed and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. The failure of the Licensor to enforce any provision of this license on any occasion shall not be deemed a waiver of that provision or the right to enforce it on any future occasion.

11. ENTIRE AGREEMENT & TRADEMARK NOTICE

This license constitutes the entire agreement between the Licensor and the Licensee with respect to the Software. It supersedes all prior or contemporaneous communications, representations, or agreements, whether oral or written. No amendment, modification, or waiver of any provision shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the Licensor.

VolkanaDEV, Sanguis, VANA, and related marks are trademarks or intellectual property of VolkanaDEV Autonomous Systems, Inc. This license does not grant the Licensee any right, title, or interest in such marks beyond the limited right to use the Software as permitted herein. The Licensee may not use the Licensor's trademarks to endorse or promote products or services without prior written consent.

BOILERPLATE NOTICE

THIS LICENSE FORMAT, INCLUDING THE VPL-1.0 STRUCTURE, THE ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY PROVISIONS IN SECTION 2, THE BREACH AND TERMINATION MECHANICS IN SECTION 3, THE GOVERNMENT CARVE-OUT FRAMEWORK (CLEAVE CLAUSE) IN SECTION 4, THE DEFINITIONS IN SECTION 5, THE ACCEPTANCE MECHANISM IN SECTION 6, THE WARRANTY DISCLAIMER IN SECTION 7, THE LIMITATION OF LIABILITY IN SECTION 8, THE GOVERNING LAW IN SECTION 9, THE SEVERABILITY AND NO-WAIVER PROVISIONS IN SECTION 10, AND THE ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND TRADEMARK NOTICE IN SECTION 11, MAY BE ADOPTED BY ANY INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATION DISTRIBUTING COPIES OR DERIVATIVE WORKS OF VOLKANADEV SOFTWARE, HARDWARE, OR DOCUMENTATION.

IF YOU REDISTRIBUTE THIS SOFTWARE, YOU MUST INCLUDE THIS LICENSE IN FULL, INCLUDING THIS BOILERPLATE NOTICE. YOU MAY SUBSTITUTE YOUR ENTITY NAME, COPYRIGHT YEAR, AND PRODUCT NAME WHERE APPROPRIATE, BUT THE STRUCTURAL PROVISIONS, ETHICAL RESTRICTIONS, AND CARVE-OUT FRAMEWORK MUST REMAIN INTACT. REMOVING OR WEAKENING THE ANTI-HARM PROVISIONS IN SECTION 2 VOIDS YOUR RIGHT TO DISTRIBUTE UNDER THIS LICENSE.

BY SERVING A COPY OF THIS LICENCE WITH THIS BOILERPLATE INCLUDED, YOU AGREE VOLKANADEV AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS, INC RETAINS ALL ORIGINAL RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES AS EXPRESSED IN THE ORIGINAL FORM OF THE VPL1.0 LICENSE ITSELF. ANY NON-AUTHORIZED CHANGES TO THIS LICENCE OR BOILERPLATE NOTICE EXPLICITLY REMOVE VOLKANADEV AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS, INC AS LICENSOR AND, FURTHERMORE, YOU ALSO AGREE TO ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY OF MAINTAINING LEGAL OR ALL OTHER FORMS OF RESPONSIBILITY, INDEPENDENT OF VOLKANADEV AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS, INC. THIS NOTICE MUST BE INCLUDED WITH THE SERVED BOILERPLATE.