diff --git a/DownstreamRecommendations.md b/DownstreamRecommendations.md index 61e4439..cdf9821 100644 --- a/DownstreamRecommendations.md +++ b/DownstreamRecommendations.md @@ -126,4 +126,9 @@ later explicit package is extracted. - Link registry identifiers for the same entity via Synonymity Assertion when multiple registries describe one Organization/Legal Entity. - Separate CRM Account and Stripe Customer as Commercial Records; never merge with login Account. -- Use qualified credentials (eIDAS seal, VC) as Evidence for Commercial Commitment where applicable. \ No newline at end of file +- Use qualified credentials (eIDAS seal, VC) as Evidence for Commercial Commitment where applicable. +- Map reviews and star ratings to Reputation Signal (opinion tier); never merge with credit scores or legal outcomes. +- Map PAYDEX, SLA metrics, and credit bureau data to Performance Evidence (observed tier). +- Map bonds, escrow, and signed SLAs to Commercial Commitment (committed tier). +- Map arbitration awards and court judgments to Adjudication Outcome (adjudicated tier). +- Trust Relationship projections must cite assurance_basis tier; weight opinion weak by default. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/OpenQuestions.md b/OpenQuestions.md index ed6dcf4..5edd20f 100644 --- a/OpenQuestions.md +++ b/OpenQuestions.md @@ -201,11 +201,27 @@ reporting volatility vs. enduring CDD collection obligations. ### Reputation as canon concept -**Status:** Open — leaning toward Evidence Source aggregation. +**Status:** Resolved — tiered Evidence Source pattern; no Reputation entity. -Credit scores (PAYDEX), performance history, and repeat-play trust may not need -a separate Reputation entity if modeled as Evidence Source + Trust Relationship -with temporal scope. +**Decision:** Model reputation as a **Counterparty Assurance Gradient** across +four tiers — opinion (Reputation Signal), observed (Performance Evidence), +committed (Commercial Commitment), adjudicated (Adjudication Outcome). **Trust +Relationship** cites `assurance_basis`; do not equate star ratings with bonds or +court judgments. + +**Rationale:** Star ratings are gamable and scope-local; PAYDEX and SLA metrics +are observed evidence; bonds and escrow are Commercial Commitments; arbitration +and courts produce Adjudication Outcomes. A single "reputation" root would collapse +enforceability and attribution differences. + +**Citations:** + +- `research/commercial-identity/reputation-assurance-gradient.md` +- `research/commercial-identity/commercial-trust-binding-theory.md` +- `research/commercial-identity/duns-commercial-credit-identity.md` + +**Remaining nuance:** Whether segregated platform escrow is `committed` without a +separate contract artifact; cross-platform reputation portability via Synonymity. ### Registry identifier subtype diff --git a/canon/CanonicalGlossary.md b/canon/CanonicalGlossary.md index 74e9f20..fa2be85 100644 --- a/canon/CanonicalGlossary.md +++ b/canon/CanonicalGlossary.md @@ -327,6 +327,11 @@ relationships, policies, or configuration in a scope. A relationship where one actor, issuer, verifier, system, or scope relies on another for claims, identifiers, credentials, or decisions. +For commercial counterparty reliance, cite an **assurance_basis**: which tier of +the **Counterparty Assurance Gradient** supports the trust (opinion signal, +observed metric, commercial commitment, or adjudication outcome). Do not treat +weak opinion-tier evidence as equivalent to committed or adjudicated assurance. + ## Synonymity Assertion A scoped, evidenced assertion that two or more identifiers, records, accounts, @@ -349,6 +354,67 @@ schema.org sameAs (weak by default). A source, document, event, issuer, import, observation, or verification process supporting a claim, relationship, or synonymity assertion. +Recommended commercial field: `assurance_tier` — `opinion` | `observed` | +`committed` | `adjudicated` (see **Counterparty Assurance Gradient**). + +## Counterparty Assurance Gradient + +A four-tier pattern for how counterparties earn reliance, from weak social proof +to enforceable outcomes. Higher tiers do not erase lower tiers but constrain how +much weight lower tiers may carry. + +| Tier | Label | Examples | Canon anchor | +| --- | --- | --- | --- | +| 1 | Opinion | Star ratings, reviews, karma, badges | Reputation Signal | +| 2 | Observed | PAYDEX, SLA stats, chargeback rate, KYC pass | Performance Evidence | +| 3 | Committed | Contract, bond, escrow, SLA penalties, payment mandate | Commercial Commitment | +| 4 | Adjudicated | Arbitration award, court judgment, regulator enforcement | Adjudication Outcome | + +Identity attribution strengthens up the gradient: opinion may attach to Persona +or platform Profile; adjudication attaches to Legal Entity with Registry Identifier. + +## Reputation Signal + +An **Evidence Source** with `assurance_tier: opinion` — crowd-sourced or +platform-computed social proof attributed to an actor, profile, or commercial record. + +Examples: star ratings, customer reviews, marketplace feedback scores, community karma. + +Default trust strength: weak. Subject to gaming (fake reviews, Sybil accounts, +review bombing). Scope-local to the issuing platform unless portable via explicit +Synonymity Assertion. Not a **Commercial Commitment** and not interchangeable with +credit metrics or legal outcomes. + +## Performance Evidence + +An **Evidence Source** with `assurance_tier: observed` — metrics or attestations +grounded in observable transactions, registry facts, or third-party measurement. + +Examples: PAYDEX, business credit score, on-time delivery rate, chargeback ratio, +sanctions-screen result, LEI renewal status. + +Usually links to **Commercial Record**, **Organization**, or **Registry Identifier**. +Supports medium-to-strong **Trust Relationship** when issuer is authoritative. + +## Adjudication Outcome + +An **Evidence Source** with `assurance_tier: adjudicated` — formal dispute or +enforcement result from arbitration, courts, regulators, or binding platform +resolution processes. + +Examples: arbitration award, court judgment, regulatory consent order, binding +chargeback ruling, bankruptcy filing. + +May trigger **Commercial Commitment** lifecycle change (breached, fulfilled) and +**Trust Relationship** revocation. Attaches to **Legal Entity** / **Organization** +actors, not merely to profiles or opinion aggregates. + +## Non-Canonical Convenience Term: Reputation + +`Reputation` is overloaded (reviews, credit, brand, legal standing). Do not use +as a canonical root. Resolve to **Counterparty Assurance Gradient** tier and the +specific Evidence Source or Commercial Commitment before modeling. + ## Lifecycle State The current state of a record, account, relationship, credential, claim, or diff --git a/model/ConceptualModel.md b/model/ConceptualModel.md index 348834f..6f98bb8 100644 --- a/model/ConceptualModel.md +++ b/model/ConceptualModel.md @@ -226,6 +226,29 @@ Identity representations vary in persistence based on commercial stake: Commercial binding does not merge layers. It increases assurance requirements and lifecycle rigor on the records and relationships already in the model. +## Counterparty Assurance Gradient + +Counterparty reliance escalates through four evidence tiers. Model each tier +explicitly; do not collapse into a single "reputation score." + +| Tier | Assurance | Typical evidence | Canon elements | +| --- | --- | --- | --- | +| 1 — Opinion | Weak; gamable | Star ratings, reviews, karma | Reputation Signal (Evidence Source) | +| 2 — Observed | Evidence-based | PAYDEX, SLA metrics, KYC outcome | Performance Evidence (Evidence Source) | +| 3 — Committed | Financial / contractual | Bond, escrow, signed SLA, mandate | Commercial Commitment + Evidence | +| 4 — Adjudicated | Legal / binding dispute | Arbitration, judgment, enforcement | Adjudication Outcome (Evidence Source) | + +**Trust Relationship** should cite `assurance_basis` (tier + evidence references). +Escalation path: dispute on committed terms → automated platform resolution → +contractual ADR → courts. De-escalation via supersession lifecycle, not silent delete. + +**Attribution rule:** opinion may bind to Persona/Profile in a platform Scope; +observed and committed tiers prefer Commercial Record + Registry Identifier; +adjudicated tiers require Legal Entity / Organization actors. + +No standalone Reputation entity — aggregate downstream if needed; preserve tier +provenance in canon. + ## Scenario Gaps No scenario requires glossary or principle changes that the current model diff --git a/research/CorpusIndex.md b/research/CorpusIndex.md index 87ecfff..bd0b9c2 100644 --- a/research/CorpusIndex.md +++ b/research/CorpusIndex.md @@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ The repository is focused on research and terminology. The corpus should collect - `salesforce-crm-commercial-record.md` - `beneficial-ownership-kyc-boi.md` - `registry-identifier-subtypes.md` +- `reputation-assurance-gradient.md` ## Source Note Template diff --git a/research/commercial-identity/commercial-identity-synthesis.md b/research/commercial-identity/commercial-identity-synthesis.md index 6d893de..5b11d09 100644 --- a/research/commercial-identity/commercial-identity-synthesis.md +++ b/research/commercial-identity/commercial-identity-synthesis.md @@ -53,7 +53,9 @@ From commercial theory and practice: 1. **Attribution**: counterparties know **who** bears liability (legal person, BO, agent). 2. **Commitment**: contracts, subscriptions, and payment authorizations create **costly exit**. 3. **Evidence**: KYC, LEI, registry credentials, and credit files provide **verifiable history**. -4. **Reputation**: PAYDEX, performance history, and repeat play increase **trust without re-verification**. +4. **Reputation / assurance**: tiered reliance from opinion signals (reviews) through + observed metrics (PAYDEX) to committed stakes (bonds) and adjudicated outcomes + (courts) — see **Counterparty Assurance Gradient**. 5. **Enforcement**: law of agency and contract makes promises **actionable** beyond platform ToS. Trust Relationship in canon should often be **justified by** Commercial Relationship + @@ -87,6 +89,8 @@ Commercial Commitment + Evidence, not declared ad hoc. Organization/Legal Entity for KYC/CDD (not Ownership subtype). - **Registry Identifier** and **Proxy Commercial Identifier** — Reference layer subtypes with authority class, ICD scheme, and renewal lifecycle. +- **Counterparty Assurance Gradient** — opinion → observed → committed → + adjudicated; Reputation Signal, Performance Evidence, Adjudication Outcome. ### Unchanged roots @@ -116,7 +120,8 @@ Model as lifecycle events, not silent merges: - Payment Credential vs. authentication Credential boundary in PCI contexts. - Smart contracts and automated Commercial Commitment lifecycle. - Synonymity strength bands for LEI ↔ DUNS ↔ company reg crosswalks. -- Reputation as first-class canon concept vs. Evidence Source aggregation. +- Cross-platform reputation portability (Synonymity between Reputation Signals). +- Smart-contract / oracle outcomes — observed vs. adjudicated tier placement. - Standard `control_basis` enum for Beneficial Ownership across jurisdictions. ## Source Notes in This Stack @@ -130,6 +135,7 @@ Model as lifecycle events, not silent merges: - `salesforce-crm-commercial-record.md` - `beneficial-ownership-kyc-boi.md` - `registry-identifier-subtypes.md` +- `reputation-assurance-gradient.md` - `../commercial-subscription/b2b-saas-subscriber-tenancy.md` - `../commercial-subscription/stripe-customer-billing.md` diff --git a/research/commercial-identity/commercial-trust-binding-theory.md b/research/commercial-identity/commercial-trust-binding-theory.md index d8636dc..0cc7cde 100644 --- a/research/commercial-identity/commercial-trust-binding-theory.md +++ b/research/commercial-identity/commercial-trust-binding-theory.md @@ -95,7 +95,8 @@ sharing, and enforceable promises. | --- | --- | | Fluid identity | Persona / Scoped Identifier without Commercial Commitment | | Commercial binding | Commercial Commitment on Commercial Relationship | -| Reputation capital | Evidence Source history + Trust Relationship | +| Reputation capital | Performance Evidence history + Trust Relationship (assurance_basis) | +| Star ratings / reviews | Reputation Signal (opinion tier) | | Counterparty identification | Commercial Record + Legal Entity + Identifiers | | Contractual promise | Commercial Commitment (contract subtype) | | Assurance mechanism | Assurance Level + Evidence Source | @@ -107,7 +108,7 @@ sharing, and enforceable promises. - Should Commercial Commitment be a Relationship subclass or metadata on Commercial Relationship? - How should fluid-to-bound transitions be modeled (trial → paid, anonymous → KYC)? -- Does reputation warrant a canonical concept or remain Evidence Source aggregation? +- Resolved: tiered Evidence Source pattern — see `reputation-assurance-gradient.md`. ## References diff --git a/research/commercial-identity/duns-commercial-credit-identity.md b/research/commercial-identity/duns-commercial-credit-identity.md index 256fc56..dd49343 100644 --- a/research/commercial-identity/duns-commercial-credit-identity.md +++ b/research/commercial-identity/duns-commercial-credit-identity.md @@ -77,7 +77,11 @@ interest among counterparties. ## Open Questions -- Should credit scores be canonical metadata or strictly downstream risk signals? +- Numeric score vs. assurance_tier band mapping in downstream risk engines. + +## Resolved (see reputation-assurance-gradient.md) + +- PAYDEX and credit scores → **Performance Evidence** (observed tier), not opinion-tier Reputation Signal. ## References diff --git a/research/commercial-identity/reputation-assurance-gradient.md b/research/commercial-identity/reputation-assurance-gradient.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dac856e --- /dev/null +++ b/research/commercial-identity/reputation-assurance-gradient.md @@ -0,0 +1,241 @@ +# Reputation and Counterparty Assurance Gradient + +## Source Type + +Cross-domain synthesis. Online reputation systems, credit reporting, contract +bonding theory, payment dispute automation, and alternative dispute resolution +(ADR) / litigation practice. + +## Domain + +How counterparties move from weak social proof to enforceable commercial reliance +— and how identity-canon should model that journey without collapsing tiers. + +## Why This Source Matters + +"Reputation" is overloaded: a five-star Yelp review, a D&B PAYDEX score, a +performance bond, and a court judgment all influence whether a counterparty is +trusted — but they differ radically in **evidence quality**, **gaming risk**, +**attribution strength**, and **enforceability**. Software often stores them in +one "rating" field. Canon must preserve the gradient so downstream systems do not +treat gamable opinion as legal fact or ignore contractual stakes already modeled +elsewhere. + +## The Assurance Gradient (Journey) + +Counterparty assurance typically escalates through four tiers. Higher tiers do +not replace lower ones; they **constrain** how much weight lower tiers may carry +for a given decision. + +```text +Tier 1 OPINION Star ratings, reviews, karma, badges + (weak/gamable) Low cost to fake; Sybil-prone; scope-local + +Tier 2 OBSERVED PAYDEX, on-time %, chargeback rate, audit logs, + (evidence) verified transaction history, KYC outcome + +Tier 3 COMMITTED Contract, bond, escrow, guarantee, insurance, + (financial) SLA penalties, payment mandate, subscription lock-in + +Tier 4 ADJUDICATED Arbitration award, court judgment, regulator action, + (legal) enforced settlement, lien, bankruptcy filing +``` + +### Tier 1 — Opinion signals (weak, gamable) + +**Examples:** Amazon/Yelp star ratings, eBay feedback scores, Stack Overflow +reputation, Uber driver rating, Trustpilot reviews, Airbnb host score. + +**Properties:** + +- **Low cost of manipulation** — fake reviews, review bombing, sock puppets, + Sybil accounts (Jøsang reputation attack taxonomy). +- **Scope-local** — reputation on eBay does not transfer to Etsy without + explicit portability (reputation bank problem). +- **Voluntary participation bias** — satisfied and angry customers over-represent; + silent majority absent. +- **Identity attribution weak** — reviewer may be unverified persona; linkage to + Natural Person or Organization often absent. +- **Economic effect real but bounded** — eBay seller ratings correlate with price + premium, but platforms add escrow and buyer protection because ratings alone + insufficient. + +**Canon mapping:** **Reputation Signal** — an **Evidence Source** with +`assurance_tier: opinion`. Attach to **Profile**, **Commercial Record**, or +**Actor** with explicit **Scope** (platform namespace). Default synonymity and +trust strength: **weak**. Do not promote to Commercial Commitment. + +**Gaming defenses (downstream):** verified-purchase flags, rate limits, graph +analysis, moderation — model as separate Evidence Source metadata, not as tier +upgrade by itself. + +### Tier 2 — Observed metrics (evidence-based) + +**Examples:** D&B PAYDEX, business credit scores, platform completion rate, +on-time delivery statistics, SLA attainment dashboards, chargeback ratio, +sanctions-screen clear result, KYC pass, LEI renewal status. + +**Properties:** + +- **Grounded in observable events** — payment dates, shipment scans, registry + lookups, transaction logs. +- **Stronger attribution** — usually tied to **Registry Identifier**, **Commercial + Record**, or verified **Account** history. +- **Third-party or platform issuer** — D&B, credit bureaus, marketplace operator, + KYC vendor acts as **Evidence Source** issuer. +- **Still revisable** — metrics update; disputes may correct; not legally + conclusive. +- **Monitoring lifecycle** — ongoing CDD and PAYDEX refresh mirror **Lifecycle + State** on evidence, not one-time truth. + +**Canon mapping:** **Performance Evidence** — **Evidence Source** with +`assurance_tier: observed`. Link to **Commercial Record** / **Organization** via +**Registry Identifier** or **Commercial Relationship**. Supports **Trust +Relationship** with medium-to-strong confidence when issuer is authoritative. + +### Tier 3 — Committed stakes (contractual / financial) + +**Examples:** Performance bonds, surety bonds, letters of credit, escrow deposits, +service-level agreements with liquidated damages, signed MSAs, active subscription +with payment mandate, insurance certificates, qualified electronic seals on +contracts (eIDAS). + +**Properties:** + +- **Costly to breach** — Klein-Leffler bonding: quality assurance through + market forces when reputation alone insufficient; hostages and penalties. +- **Explicit parties** — **Legal Person** / **Organization** actors bound via + **Commercial Commitment** and **Representation** chains. +- **Automated enforcement partial** — smart-contract escrow, Stripe retention, + auto-renewal billing, SLA breach triggers — automation executes **committed** + rules without yet reaching court. +- **Identity stakes rise** — counterparties need stable **Registry Identifier**, + **Commercial Record**, and often **Beneficial Ownership Relationship** because + liability is real. + +**Canon mapping:** **Commercial Commitment** (contract, subscription, payment +mandate, bond) with **Evidence Source** attesting execution. Assurance tier: +`committed`. **Trust Relationship** here should cite the commitment ID, not +opinion aggregates. + +**Distinction:** A five-star rating is not a bond. A bond is not a review. +Model separately; combine only in downstream risk engines with explicit weighting. + +### Tier 4 — Adjudicated outcomes (automated dispute → legal resolution) + +**Escalation path:** + +1. **Platform automation** — chargeback dispute rules, marketplace arbitration + (eBay Money Back Guarantee), payment processor outcome. +2. **Contractual ADR** — mandatory arbitration clause (AAA, ICC, JAMS); neutral + award binding per contract and statute. +3. **Courts** — breach of contract, fraud, collections, judgment lien, bankruptcy. + +**Properties:** + +- **Third-party or state authority** — arbitrator, court, regulator issues outcome. +- **High attribution** — parties identified in proceeding; ties to **Legal Entity**. +- **Enforceable beyond platform** — judgments attach to legal persons; credit + reporting may follow. +- **Lifecycle durable** — satisfied, appealed, vacated, enforced — explicit + **Lifecycle State**. + +**Canon mapping:** **Adjudication Outcome** — **Evidence Source** with +`assurance_tier: adjudicated`. May trigger **Commercial Commitment** state change +(breached, fulfilled), **Trust Relationship** revocation, or **Lifecycle State** +on **Commercial Record**. Do not model as "bad review." + +## Cross-Tier Dynamics + +| Transition | What changes | Canon event | +| --- | --- | --- | +| Opinion → Observed | Platform verifies purchase; metric computed from logs | New Performance Evidence; optional Synonymity link reviewer Account to transaction | +| Observed → Committed | Parties sign contract / post bond | Commercial Commitment created; Trust Relationship cites commitment | +| Committed → Adjudicated | Breach → ADR/court | Adjudication Outcome Evidence; commitment lifecycle update | +| Adjudicated → Observed | Judgment paid; credit file updated | Performance Evidence refresh (credit bureau) | + +**De-escalation:** Adjudicated fraud finding may **invalidate** opinion signals +(moderation) but should not silently delete Evidence — supersede with lifecycle. + +**Identity coupling:** Higher tiers require stronger **actor attribution**. +Opinion may attach to **Persona**; adjudication attaches to **Legal Entity** + +**Registry Identifier**. + +## Relationship to Existing Canon + +| Concept | Role in assurance gradient | +| --- | --- | +| Evidence Source | Carrier for all tiers; use `assurance_tier` metadata | +| Trust Relationship | Counterparty reliance; must cite tier basis | +| Commercial Commitment | Tier 3 anchor | +| Commercial Relationship | Scope for which assurance applies | +| Registry Identifier | Attribution for tiers 2–4 | +| Beneficial Ownership Relationship | Liability chain for tier 3–4 entity customers | +| Assurance Level (NIST) | Orthogonal — identity/auth proofing, not commercial performance | +| Synonymity Assertion | Link platform persona to legal entity when tiers mix | + +## Reputation Systems Literature (Practical) + +Jøsang survey and Resnick criteria for effective reputation systems: + +1. Long-lived entities with predictable future interaction. +2. Capture and distribute feedback from prior interactions. +3. Use feedback to guide trust. + +**Implication for canon:** Tier 1 only works when **Scope** is stable and +interaction history is modeled as Evidence with temporal bounds. Reputation +**capital** (economic value of good history) is aggregate **Performance Evidence** +over time — not a separate ontological root. + +**Attacks:** self-promotion, Sybil, slandering, whitewashing — map to +`integrity_risk` metadata on opinion-tier Evidence; downstream concern, but canon +should flag tier-1 default weakness. + +## Candidate Canonical Mappings + +| Source artifact | Canonical mapping | +| --- | --- | +| Star rating / review | Reputation Signal (Evidence Source, tier: opinion) | +| Verified purchase review | Reputation Signal + Performance Evidence link | +| PAYDEX / credit score | Performance Evidence (tier: observed) | +| SLA dashboard | Performance Evidence on Commercial Relationship | +| Signed MSA / bond | Commercial Commitment + Evidence Source (tier: committed) | +| Escrow release | Commercial Commitment lifecycle event | +| Arbitration award | Adjudication Outcome (tier: adjudicated) | +| Court judgment | Adjudication Outcome + may affect Legal Entity lifecycle | +| "Trust score" UI | Downstream projection — not canonical root | + +## Resolved Canon Question + +**Do not add Reputation as a first-class entity.** + +Instead: + +1. **Counterparty Assurance Gradient** — modeling pattern (four tiers). +2. **Evidence Source** specializations by tier: **Reputation Signal** (opinion), + **Performance Evidence** (observed), **Adjudication Outcome** (adjudicated); + tier 3 uses existing **Commercial Commitment**. +3. **Trust Relationship** carries `assurance_basis` referencing tier + evidence IDs. + +**Convenience term only:** "Reputation" in prose — resolve to specific tier and +Evidence Source before modeling. + +## Open Questions + +- Standard `assurance_tier` enum vs. numeric score with tier mapping. +- Whether platform escrow counts as `committed` or `observed` when no separate + contract artifact exists (lean: committed when funds legally segregated). +- Cross-platform reputation portability — Synonymity between Reputation Signals + across scopes? +- Smart-contract automated adjudication (on-chain oracle outcome) — observed or + adjudicated? + +## References + +- Josang, "A survey of trust and reputation systems for online service provision" — https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dss.2005.05.019 +- Hoffman et al., "A survey of attack and defense techniques for reputation systems" — ACM Computing Surveys +- Klein and Leffler (1981), quality assurance through bonding / price premiums +- RFC 7070, An Architecture for Reputation Reporting — https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc7070 +- Wikipedia, Reputation system — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reputation_system +- Internal: `commercial-trust-binding-theory.md`, `duns-commercial-credit-identity.md`, + `legal-person-agency-contract.md`, `kyc-aml-commercial-identity-binding.md` \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/terminology/TerminologyInventory.md b/terminology/TerminologyInventory.md index 7efc496..19aae66 100644 --- a/terminology/TerminologyInventory.md +++ b/terminology/TerminologyInventory.md @@ -51,7 +51,16 @@ has incompatible meanings across source families. | alei / ibrn | Registry Identifier (government_registry) | ISO 8000-116 | Authoritative legal entity identifier from government register. | | iso 6523 / icd | Registry Identifier scheme | ISO/IEC 6523, PEPPOL | ICD + organization identifier encoding. | | legal person | Legal Person | eIDAS, civil law, agency | Natural or juridical person under law. | -| paydex | Evidence Source | D&B | Credit/payment performance history. | +| paydex | Performance Evidence | D&B | Observed-tier payment performance metric. | +| reputation | Resolve by assurance tier | marketplaces, credit | Not canonical — see Counterparty Assurance Gradient. | +| star rating / review | Reputation Signal | Yelp, Amazon, App Store | Opinion-tier Evidence Source; weak, gamable. | +| feedback score | Reputation Signal | eBay, Uber | Platform-local opinion tier. | +| credit score | Performance Evidence | bureaus, D&B | Observed-tier counterparty metric. | +| performance bond / surety | Commercial Commitment | construction, procurement | Committed-tier financial assurance. | +| escrow | Commercial Commitment | marketplaces, Stripe | Committed-tier funds segregation. | +| arbitration award | Adjudication Outcome | AAA, ICC, JAMS | Adjudicated-tier dispute result. | +| court judgment | Adjudication Outcome | courts | Adjudicated-tier enforcement outcome. | +| assurance gradient | Counterparty Assurance Gradient | commercial identity | Four-tier reliance model (opinion → adjudicated). | | kyc / cip | Evidence Source + Assurance | FinCEN, FATF | Regulated commercial identity onboarding. | | crm account | Commercial Record | Salesforce | Company/household commercial record. | | fluid identity | Persona / weak binding | theory | Low commercial stake; intentional mutability. |