$AAVE Labs just dropped a proposal to create the Aave Foundation—a memberless Cayman entity that'll hold the protocol's trademarks, domains, and IP.
Here's the play:
Phase 1 (now): Incorporate the foundation, appoint independent director/supervisor. No recurring budget.
Later phases: Transfer $AAVE trademark, domains, and codebase IP to the foundation via separate governance votes.
Why this matters:
Right now, $AAVE's IP is scattered across service providers. The trademark and domains? Not even under DAO control. DAOs can't legally register trademarks or sue to protect IP—so they need a legal wrapper.
The foundation stays memberless. No shareholders. No backdoor control. Directors can only be appointed or removed through AIPs. Aave Labs and service providers are explicitly banned from serving as directors.
DAO keeps full control over protocol decisions—listings, params, budgets, service providers. Foundation just holds and protects IP on behalf of the DAO.
Quarterly reports will show what assets the foundation holds, expenses, and any legal actions taken.
This is part of the "Aave Will Win" framework. If it passes ARFC → Snapshot → onchain AIP, incorporation happens, then IP transfers begin.
Clean structure. Community-controlled legal vehicle. No funny business. This is how you do decentralized IP ownership without giving up governance.
Here's the play:
Phase 1 (now): Incorporate the foundation, appoint independent director/supervisor. No recurring budget.
Later phases: Transfer $AAVE trademark, domains, and codebase IP to the foundation via separate governance votes.
Why this matters:
Right now, $AAVE's IP is scattered across service providers. The trademark and domains? Not even under DAO control. DAOs can't legally register trademarks or sue to protect IP—so they need a legal wrapper.
The foundation stays memberless. No shareholders. No backdoor control. Directors can only be appointed or removed through AIPs. Aave Labs and service providers are explicitly banned from serving as directors.
DAO keeps full control over protocol decisions—listings, params, budgets, service providers. Foundation just holds and protects IP on behalf of the DAO.
Quarterly reports will show what assets the foundation holds, expenses, and any legal actions taken.
This is part of the "Aave Will Win" framework. If it passes ARFC → Snapshot → onchain AIP, incorporation happens, then IP transfers begin.
Clean structure. Community-controlled legal vehicle. No funny business. This is how you do decentralized IP ownership without giving up governance.