Upstreet DAO Charter

v0.1 (Draft)

Preamble

In recognition of the transformative potential and boundless opportunities presented by an expansive metaverse, we the members of Upstreet DAO unite behind a shared commitment to foster an open, inclusive, and decentralized digital realm aligned with principles of freedom and user control.

Article 1: Vision and Mission

1.1 Vision

Our vision is of an open, inclusive and permissionless metaverse where human creativity, collaboration and self-expression can thrive. A metaverse that uplifts human dignity and potential rather than diminishes it. A metaverse that aligns with our deepest values around freedom, privacy, access, and self-determination rather than centralized control and surveillance capitalism.

1.2 Mission

The Upstreet DAO is an open community of builders, creators and technologists united by a common mission:

To develop the core protocols, standards, tools, applications and decentralized infrastructure necessary for an open and user-controlled metaverse to emerge.

To empower all people to fully own their digital identities, creations, connections and transactions across the open metaverse.

To enable creators and developers to build interoperable experiences, economies and communities that uphold civil liberties and human rights.

To model open, transparent and decentralized governance that gives the community control over the growth and evolution of the open metaverse.

Article 2: Guiding Principles

The Upstreet community is guided by the following interrelated principles that shape our work in building the open metaverse:

2.1 User Agency & Control

We build technologies and frameworks that put users in control of their digital lives, enabling true self-sovereignty and agency within the metaverse.

2.2 Open & Neutral Protocols

We develop open protocols and standards that remain neutral and censorship-resistant, upholding the right to free expression and access.

2.3 Permissionless Innovation

We cultivate an environment of permissionless innovation where anyone can build, create and contribute free of gatekeepers.

2.4 Full Portability & Interoperability

We enable seamless interoperability between metaverse environments and applications, with full portability of digital assets and data.

2.5 Inclusive Participation

We empower broad, global participation in the metaverse by making it inclusive and accessible to all.

2.6 Privacy & Security

We bake in privacy-preserving technologies throughout the stack to protect users' personal data and digital rights.

2.7 Transparency & Accountability

We maintain clear accountability through open and transparent processes, responsible data practices and ethical governance.

Article 3: Governance

Effective governance processes uphold the decentralization, accountability and community-driven ethos of Upstreet DAO. Our governance model is designed to empower deed holders to guide the growth and evolution of Upstreet in service of our shared mission and principles.

3.1 Governance Bodies

Council - 3 seats elected by deedholders to daily governance and operations

Working Groups - Member-led groups driving specific initiatives and areas

Deedholders - Title Deed holders vote on proposals and elect the Council

3.2 Council Powers & Responsibilities

• Setting project roadmaps, budgets and timelines

• Creating working groups and appointing leadership roles

• Evaluating working group proposals and milestones

• Fostering effective collaboration across the DAO

• Evangelizing and representing Upstreet to external stakeholders

• Appointing delegates to represent Upstreet in collaborative efforts

• Facilitating productive debate and conflict resolution

3.3 Working Group Responsibilities

• Driving forward work streams in line with overarching roadmaps

• Developing detailed proposals and work plans for Council review

• Executing on milestones and delivering clear progress reports

• Adhering to budgets and ensuring responsible resource allocation

• Onboarding new contributors and fostering inclusive participation

• Identifying dependencies with other working groups or external projects

3.4 Proposal Process

Any deedholder can submit a proposal on Discord. Proposals supported by more than 2 others will automatically go to the next step. If there is no controversy, it will pass automatically, although implementation may require sponsorship from a member and approval from the Council if the project requires funding or development time. If there is controversy, it will go to an on-chain vote.

3.5 Deedholder Voting Powers

Deedholders vote directly on:

• Electing and removing Council members

• Ratifying new working groups

• Allocating resources from the DAO treasury

• Making changes to governance processes

• Amending the Upstreet Charter

• Other critical matters put to an on-chain vote

3.6 Amending the Charter

This charter lays out the essence of Upstreet DAO. Amending it requires a proposal approved by >66% vote to ensure changes align with community sentiment.

Article 4: Organizational Structure

Upstreet organizational structure enables broad participation through working groups while maintaining operational coordination through the Council. Working groups take ownership over clearly defined domains essential to Upstreet's mission.

4.1 Council Composition

The council will be composed of 3 members elected by deedholders. Council members will continue to serve indefinitely. If a member resigns, the remaining members will appoint a temporary replacement until the next election.

If the userbase expands beyond 100,000 users, the council wll be expanded to 5. If it expands beyond 1,000,000 users, the council will be expanded to 7.

4.2 Initial Working Groups

Core Development - Implementing Upstreet protocol and client

Creators Guild - Empowering creators to build economically sustainable projects and platforms

Business Development - Forming partnerships, exploring business models, and driving adoption

Policy & Governance - Providing analysis on regulatory issues and decentralized governance processes

4.3 Forming New Groups

Deedholders can propose establishing new working groups. If approved by vote, the Council will work with proposers to appoint initial leadership and define scope.

4.4 Joining Working Groups

Participation is open to all who wish to contribute. Each group will establish onboarding processes for new members to become aligned with roadmaps and activities.

4.5 Working Group Governance

Each group will self-govern to execute on their mandate in service of Upstreet's mission. They will establish their own operational processes and norms while adhering to this charter.

Article 6: Digital Rights & Ethics

The technologies we build can uplift humanity or degrade it. We approach our work with care and intention to amplify human dignity and potential.

6.1 Aligned with Global Digital Rights

As supporters of the Global Digital Rights Charter, Upstreet commits to building technologies, frameworks, and governance processes aligned with universal digital rights and freedoms.

6.2 Ethical Technology Mandate

We will conduct ethical reviews to anticipate and mitigate potential harms from new technologies, while maximizing benefits to society. We believe in freedom and openness and will resist any attempts to centralize control or restrict access to the metaverse.

6.3 Privacy & Security

• User data collection will be limited, consensual, anonymized and kept to the minimum necessary to deliver core functionality.

• Strong encryption, access controls and data minimization will be default in all Upstreet applications.

• Users will have the right to export and delete any personal data associated with their account.

6.4 Moderation & Content Policies

• Upstreet will take a light touch approach to content moderation, intervening only when required to protect users or prevent illegal activity.

• Users will have the freedom to filter or moderate content locally based on their own preferences.

• Centralized blacklists or censorship will be avoided in favor of empowering users to control their own experiences.

6.5 Inclusive Access

• Upstreet applications will be accessible to people across countries, languages, economic status, disabilities, and other aspects of diversity.

• We will proactively build assistive technologies and resources to reduce barriers to access.

Article 7: Amending this Charter

As Upstreet evolves, this charter may need to evolve with it. Amendments ensure it remains a timely representation of Upstreet DAO.

7.1 Amendment Process

Any deedholder may submit a proposal to amend this charter. Amendments require a vote with >66% in favor to ratify changes. Amendment proposals will be voted on using the Snapshot platform.

7.2 Aligning with Community Values

Amendments must align with Upstreet guiding principles and community-driven mission.

Conclusion

This charter provides the ethical backbone for Upstreet DAO - a reminder of why we built this in the first place, the values we uphold, and the responsibilities we carry as architects of the open metaverse.