Maintained Source Policy

This repository may be copied, mirrored, or forked. Because the subject matter can change and mistakes can have real-world consequences, users should be able to tell which version is the maintained canonical source.

Canonical version

The official upstream repository is the canonical maintained source.

Maintainers should ensure the official upstream includes:

• current review dates
• source references for rules and guidance
• changelog notes for significant updates
• issue tracking for reported inaccuracies

Expectations for forks

Forks are welcome. Fork maintainers should:

• clearly identify themselves as unofficial unless they are the official upstream
• disclose modifications
• disclose the date of their latest review
• avoid implying official status
• preserve disclaimers and attribution required by the relevant licenses

Suggested notice for forks

A fork should include a visible notice such as:

This is an unofficial fork of the project. Verify important requirements against the official upstream and relevant government sources.

Maintainer responsibilities

The official maintainers should:

• review source-backed guidance on a recurring schedule
• flag pages or rules that may be stale
• separate official requirements from practical advice
• avoid publishing unsupported legal interpretations as settled guidance
• document important changes when source material changes