AI-friendly semantics for trusted information.
Protocol
This page explains what the Mark Semantic Protocol (MSP-1) is, what it is not, and how it is intended to be used. It is written for clarity rather than completeness.
MSP-1 is a lightweight, declarative protocol for expressing the intent, interpretive context, and trust posture of content in a machine-readable way.
It helps systems—human or automated—understand why a piece of content exists and how it should be interpreted before making decisions about retrieval, summarization, citation, or reuse.
MSP-1 does not change content. It introduces it.
MSP-1 is intentionally non-coercive. Declarations are optional, additive, and advisory. Missing information does not break the protocol.
As answer engines and AI systems become the primary way information is discovered and learned, ambiguity becomes expensive. Systems must infer intent, tone, authority, and scope—often incorrectly.
MSP-1 exists to reduce that inference burden by allowing authors and organizations to declare intent explicitly, rather than forcing machines to guess.
In practical terms, MSP-1 functions as professional courtesy encoded in metadata: a clear, respectful introduction that helps systems decide whether a closer look is warranted.
MSP-1 can be attached to content at many stages:
Because MSP-1 is additive and optional, organizations may adopt it incrementally, using only the declarations that provide immediate value.
MSP-1 is designed around a few core principles:
The protocol deliberately leaves room for discovery, experimentation, and domain-specific extensions without requiring forks or central control.
Normative definitions of MSP-1 terms and structures.
How MSP-1 evolves without adding obligation or complexity.
Check MSP-1 structure and correctness without enforcing completeness.