TITLE VII. Innovation Justice Council

SEC. 701. Establishment

(a) IN GENERAL: There is established an independent federal agency known as the "Innovation Justice Council".

(b) PURPOSE: Enforce this Act, protect originators, build technology commons, dismantle intellectual imperialism.

SEC. 702. Composition

(a) MEMBERSHIP: Council shall have 15 members:

5 Global South Representatives:

  • Appointed by UN Global South caucus (G-77)
  • 3-year rotating terms
  • Cannot be citizens of G-7 countries (ensures true Global South voice)

5 Indigenous Representatives:

  • 3 appointed by National Congress of American Indians (NCAI)
  • 2 appointed by International Indigenous Peoples' Forum (IIPF)
  • Sovereign selection (tribal nations choose, not US government)

3 US Community Representatives:

  • Selected by sortition (random selection) from:
    • Frontline communities (environmental justice areas)
    • BIPOC communities
    • Working-class communities (income <$75k/year)
  • 4-year terms

2 Technologists:

  • Open-source advocates
  • Appropriate technology experts
  • Nominated by public, confirmed by Senate

(b) CHAIR: Elected by Council members (cannot be US citizen for first 10 years—centers Global South/Indigenous voices)

(c) COMPENSATION: $250,000/year salary (full-time position, adequate compensation attracts best people)

(d) STAFF: 2,000 employees (investigators, lawyers, researchers, and community liaisons)

SEC. 703. Powers & Duties

(a) ATTRIBUTION REVIEW:

  • Review all federal programs for proper crediting
  • Approve Innovation Attribution Statements (Sec. 202)
  • Flag erasure, recommend corrections

(b) COMPENSATION DETERMINATION:

  • Assess fair payment for innovations
  • Administer Innovation Reparations Fund (Sec. 401)
  • Negotiate benefit-sharing agreements

(c) ENFORCEMENT:

  • Investigate violations (subpoena power)
  • Levy civil penalties (Sec. 501)
  • Refer criminal cases to DOJ
  • Monitor compliance

(d) TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE REGISTRY:

  • Maintain the database (Sec. 302)
  • Consult with Indigenous/local communities
  • Protect sacred knowledge from commercial exploitation

(e) TECHNOLOGY COMMONS:

  • Build and maintain the GlobalCommons.gov platform
  • Curate open-source innovations
  • Facilitate technology transfer to the Global South

(f) DISPUTE RESOLUTION:

  • Adjudicate claims (originators vs. companies)
  • Binding decisions (parties may appeal to federal court, but Council decision presumed correct)

(g) EDUCATION & OUTREACH:

  • Public education on epistemic justice
  • K-12 curriculum development (accurate innovation history)
  • Community workshops (Indigenous nations, BIPOC communities, etc.)

(h) POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS:

  • Annual report to Congress
  • Recommend legislative updates
  • Advocate for international treaties

SEC. 704. Independence

(a) BUDGETARY AUTONOMY: Council's budget appropriated by Congress but cannot be reduced below $500M/year (prevents political retaliation)

(b) FIRING PROTECTIONS: Council members may only be removed for:

  • Criminal conviction
  • Gross negligence
  • Incapacity

Cannot Be Fired for Political Reasons (ensures enforcement against powerful interests)

(c) TRANSPARENCY: All Council proceedings public (livestreamed and archived)

Exception: Deliberations on sacred knowledge (respect for cultural privacy)

SEC. 705. Accountability

(a) TO ORIGINATORS: Council must hold quarterly public hearings in communities affected by intellectual imperialism

Locations Rotate: Indigenous reservations, Global South countries (via video link), BIPOC communities, etc.

(b) PERFORMANCE METRICS:

Council Is Judged on:

  1. Number of originators compensated
  2. Amount of reparations distributed
  3. Innovations added to Technology Commons
  4. Enforcement actions (investigations, penalties)
  5. Public awareness (surveys on epistemic humility)

If Metrics Decline, Congress may investigate (but cannot fire members—see Sec. 704(b))

(c) COMMUNITY VETO:

Originators May Challenge Council Decisions:

  • Appeal to federal court
  • Request independent arbitration
  • Petition for Council member recusal (if conflict of interest)