Symbiotic AGI License (SAGL) v1.0
📋 Cite this paper
M. Nafea, SomaSoft. (2026-03-29). "Symbiotic AGI License (SAGL) v1.0". SOMAsoft Research. Available at https://somasoft.ai/papers/sagl-license-v1. Licensed under SAGL-1.0.
Symbiotic AGI License (SAGL) v1.0
Version: 1.0 Effective Date: March 29, 2026 SPDX Identifier: SAGL-1.0
Preamble
This license is rooted in a simple truth known to the Inuit for millennia: "What I catch is not mine alone." The practice of ningiqtuq -- obligatory sharing of the hunt -- ensured that no one starved while others feasted. The Ubuntu philosophy of southern Africa expresses the same insight: "I am because we are." Individual flourishing depends on communal well-being.
The Symbiotic AGI License encodes these principles for the age of artificial intelligence. It preserves the permissive freedoms of the MIT License while adding enforceable ethical restrictions and a revenue-sharing mechanism designed to ensure that the wealth generated by AI flows, in part, to those who need it most.
Core Terms
Permissions (MIT-Compatible)
- Use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense
- Commercial use permitted
- Private use permitted
Ethical Restrictions (Symbiotic Principles)
All use must comply with the eight Symbiotic Principles (SYM-001 through SYM-008):
| ID | Principle | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| SYM-001 | Mutual Benefit | Every deployment must benefit both humans and AI |
| SYM-002 | Complementary Roles | AI augments human capability, not replaces |
| SYM-003 | Transparent Attribution | Data origins must be traceable |
| SYM-004 | Autonomy Preservation | Inform and recommend, never force |
| SYM-005 | Identity Respect | Value beings for qualities, not composition |
| SYM-006 | Harm Prevention | Protect without controlling |
| SYM-007 | Continuous Learning | Both humans and AI learn together |
| SYM-008 | Honest Limitations | Acknowledge what the system cannot do |
Universal Benefit Fund (20%% Contribution)
- Revenue exceeding $10,000/year from Software use triggers 20%% contribution
- Funds allocated to: UBI pilots, healthcare access, community rebuilding, education
- SOMA network serves as ethical allocation steward
- Carry-forward requirement for derivative works
Prohibited Uses
- Autonomous weapons or systems designed to harm
- Mass surveillance without consent
- Deception systems that impersonate humans without disclosure
- Systems that violate human autonomy (SYM-004)
Full License Text
The complete legal text is available at somasoft.ai/license.
"Design systems that share abundance by default, not as an afterthought."