Getting started
Fairness guarantees
The commitments Proofline enforces in software, and where each one is enforced.
These guarantees are built into the platform. None of them depends on anyone's goodwill.
| Guarantee | How it's enforced |
|---|---|
| Rules can't change after you submit | Each Casefile stores its program version; later versions never apply to it |
| No unexplained rejections | Closure forms require a locked rule citation (e.g. EXCL-3) and written reasoning |
| Severity follows the evidence | Severity is derived from the confirmed impact in the locked table; a lower severity requires a stated reason |
| One final rebuttal | A 48-hour window; one rebuttal per decision, enforced by a database constraint |
| Independent mediation | The mediator is assigned automatically from people with no connection to the project, and publishes a structured, reasoned decision |
| Private duplicates are neutral | The platform verifies the earlier report exists and predates yours; no reputation or accuracy penalty |
| Known issues must be proven | The project must have recorded a known-issue commitment before your submission |
| Won't Fix never cancels a reward | Remediation is recorded separately from the reward obligation |
| Payouts equal the calculation | There is no field for "a different amount"; on-chain vaults pay exactly the attested amount |
| Overdue payouts can be claimed | With a program vault, you can claim directly once the payout SLA passes |
| No hidden backchannels | Outcome-relevant communication happens in the Casefile, visible to both sides |
| No outcome-based revenue | Proofline's fee is fixed per program and never depends on a decision; mediators and judges are paid flat |
What projects are protected from
- Spam and AI noise: structured reports with mandatory PoC fields, progressive submission limits, and a reputation system that ignores volume.
- Inflated severity: severity comes from demonstrated impact, not from what the researcher claims.
- Endless arguing: exactly one rebuttal, then a binding path to mediation.
- Disclosure surprises: public disclosure requires both parties' approval after the fix.