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Ulex protects human rights with an efficient and fair dispute resolution process, promoting the rule of law. It is not imposed by any government but instead adopted by the mutual consent of those it governs. Like choosing between Mac OS or Linux, citizens can now choose their legal system based on the quality of service they provide.
Ulex is an open-source legal system created by Tom W. Bell of the Institute for Competitive Governance. Ulex is tied to no nation and utilizes a simple, fair resolution process, adopted by mutual consent of the disputing parties.
The Institute for Competitive Governance is gathering resources to build an open-source community of coders that will automate Ulex’s open-ended legal software - making it easier to use and more accessible to anyone seeking an alternative to government-run civil dispite systems.
Ulex stipulations are based upon established practices from well-regarded private, nongovernmental, and international organizations. By default, the substantive rules of Ulex 1.1 originate in the American Law Institute's Restatements of the Common Law, the Uniform Law Institute's Uniform Business Organizations Code and other notably fair and open sets.
Taking the lead from open-source operating systems such as Unix, GNU or Linux, Ulex is a unique application of open-source legal principles. The rules may be downloaded, used and modified by the public at large — voluntarily, and free of charge. Where open-source operating systems run on computers without limitation, Ulex enables communities to flourish — through mutual consent.
Ulex is not a utopian idea - rather, it is an alternative law system for places where existing legal systems either do not exist or cannot be trusted. It’s a powerful tool for strengthening and reinforcing universal human rights, a software-based advocate that offers disputing parties a fairer option outside of their inefficient, often corrupt systems.
How Ulex Works
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The default procedure for resolving disputes in Ulex v. 1.1 is comprised of three elements:
1. Judges: Each party selects a judge, who then collaborate to select a third.
2. Remedies: The judges select a remedy proposed by one of the parties.
3. Costs: The losing party pays the winning party's legal costs.
It's simple, fair, and efficient, giving the disputing parties say in who delivers their judgement. The Ulex software will make it easy to research legal rulings from around the globe, granting the judges insight that government-run legal systems lack. It also creates a competitive market for fair judges, rather than leaving who will deliver your judgment up to chance.
The proceeds from this campaign will help Ulex take the first big steps forward towards Ulex 1.1 and developing the software that will power the open-source legal system.
- Technical white papers for Ulex software development.
- Global partnership outreach to legal organizations, special economic zones, and entrepreneurs.
- Communication, promotion, and branding to spread awareness and shore up support.
- Legal research, counsel, and documentation about best practices in international, private legal systems to incorporate into Ulex.
- Ulex Hackathon events to scout and unite talent internationally.
Resources derived from crowdfunding efforts will also allow ICG to increase the visibility and impact of our mission via innovative web-based features. Some examples include:
- A Reddit-inspired forum for peer-to-peer discussions and real-time reporting.
- A Github-like infrastructure to allow increased transparency via version tracking and forking.
- Contributor profiles with various “stats” and QR donation rewards to foster a competitive environment and encourage collaboration among supporters.
- A bounty system to reward innovative coders that develop new solutions and improve upon existing systems.
Expenditures:
ICG Website Development - $15,000
The ICG website will serve as the gathering place for legal scholars, judges, lawyers, developers, founders, and everyone else who sees the value of a competitive, non-governmental legal system. Users will have a forum to discuss ideas and theories, researchers can sources answers to complicated legal questions, and developers can brainstorm new ideas for making Ulex even more accessible and adaptable.
Grants for Technical and Legal Whitepapers - $4000
Ulex is a bold and daring idea - a competitive alternative to the monopoly governments have imposed on the civil justice system. In order to develop the Ulex software, which will allow for the uploading, downloading, and searching of global legal systems, we must write a technical whitepaper that outlines how Ulex should function.
Similarly, the legal implications of a conflict resolution system deserve a whitepaper of their own, and will give developers a framework around which the Ulex software can be designed.
Outreach Coordinator - $6000
To develop software, one needs developers - and thankfully, ICGhas already recruited several incredibly talented developers to the Ulex cause. But the task of uploading the common law from around the globe - and then making it easy enough for any layman to access - is monumental.
The Outreach Coordinator will be tasked with recruiting developers interested in building Ulex, as well as scholars, lawyers, and other legal professionals who can contribute their knowledge and skills to the project. This portion of the funding provides a 6-month salary for the Outreach Coordinator.
Communications Manager - $12,000
The cornerstone of Ulex is adoption by mutual consent - in other words, the disputing parties need to realize they have an alternative to traditional conflict resolution methods. Whether Ulex is forming the basis for a legal system of a startup society, or offering a fair alternative to a corrupt justice system, it only works if people know about it.
For Ulex to succeed, communication is paramount - and the job of the Communications Manager is to let the world know they have another option. This portion of the funding includes advertising costs, salary, and content creation for a period of 6 months.
Legal Research for Ulex 1.1 - $13,000
All laws are not created equal, and Ulex 1.1 requires contributions from legal systems across the globe - as well as the rules and guidelines that govern private institutions. Ulex will be a repository of legal rulings from numerous nations and organizations, requiring dedicated research and extensive knowledge.
The research team will be headed by Professor Tom W. Bell, the creator of Ulex. Professor Bell will begin the process of sourcing legal rulings for Ulex 1.1, conduct game theory simulations to test the validity of Ulex, and validate his research through published papers in leading legal publications and journals.
Non-Fungible Token
All supporters that contribute $10 or more will be awarded a Non-Fungible Token (NFT) invitation that grants priority access to Ulex software. An NFT is a token that is not exchangeable for other traded tokens such as Bitcoin because each token has its own unique (and therefore non-fungible) information.
For instance, NFTs are used to input and store information about specific real estate properties and personal identities. The NFT minted for the Ulex crowdfund will be used as a login password for any user who uses Ulex-associated software created by our partner organizations. Information listed in the NFT will include name, contact information, company information.
Cryptocurrencies
Supporters can contribute to the project with cryptocurrencies here. If you wish to donate with EOS, please contact Aleksa@startupsocieties.com.
