CARITO OPEN BUILD VS CERTIFIED BUILD PROGRAM v1.0
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Document: Carrito_Certification_vs_Open_Build.txt
Status: Platform Participation and Certification Definition
Applies To: Builders, shops, customers, and the general public

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PURPOSE
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This document defines the distinction between:

- Open Community Builds
- Carrito Certified Builds

It exists to preserve openness while creating a clear,
honest certification path that provides value without
restricting access to the platform.

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CORE PRINCIPLE
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Carrito documentation is open.
Certification is optional.

Anyone may build within Carrito specifications.
Certification reflects process, participation, and verification,
not ownership of the platform.

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OPEN COMMUNITY BUILDS
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Open Community Builds are:

- Built using publicly available Carrito documentation
- Assembled by individuals or shops without certification
- Fully valid builds when constructed honestly

Open Community Builds:
- May follow all Carrito specifications
- May be well-built and safe
- May be sold or transferred (subject to local law)

Open Community Builds:
- May NOT claim Carrito Certification
- May NOT use certification tags or marks
- Must not imply official review or endorsement

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CARITO CERTIFIED BUILDS
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Carrito Certified Builds are:

- Built by participating certified shops or builders
- Assembled within Carrito specifications
- Documented through the official builder community

Certification reflects:
- Access to shared builder knowledge
- Peer-reviewed solutions
- Documented build practices
- Adherence to disclosure and inspection standards

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CERTIFIED BUILDER COMMUNITY
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Certified builders receive access to:

- Private builder communication channels
- Shared build notes and lessons learned
- Common-sense fixes and optimizations
- Early notice of updates and revisions

This community exists to:
- Reduce repeated mistakes
- Improve build quality
- Preserve institutional knowledge

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CERTIFICATION MARKS AND TAGS
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Certified builders may order:

- Certification stickers
- Serialized certification plates
- Weld-on or riveted metal certification tags

Certification tags indicate:
- Builder certification status
- Build year or revision
- Verification that the build passed through
  the certified builder process

Tags do NOT:
- Guarantee street legality
- Override local regulations
- Eliminate buyer responsibility

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USE OF CERTIFICATION TAGS
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Certification tags:
- May only be applied by certified builders
- Must correspond to documented builds
- Must be traceable to the builder directory

Misuse of certification tags:
- Violates platform participation rules
- May result in revocation of certification

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BUILDER DIRECTORY
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Certified builders may appear in:

- The official Carrito service directory
- Public listings of certified shops and builders

Directory participation:
- Is optional
- May involve subscription or listing fees
- Supports platform maintenance and moderation

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CUSTOMER TRANSPARENCY
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Customers should understand:

- Open builds can be excellent
- Certification reflects process and access,
  not secrecy or exclusivity
- Documentation remains public

Certification answers:
“Was this built within a shared, reviewed process?”

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WHAT CERTIFICATION IS NOT
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Certification is not:
- A claim of government approval
- A warranty or guarantee
- A requirement to build Carrito vehicles
- A restriction on documentation access

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SUMMARY
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Carrito remains open by design.

Certification exists to:
- Signal participation
- Preserve shared knowledge
- Support platform sustainability

Build freely.
Certify honestly.

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END OF OPEN VS CERTIFIED PROGRAM
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