TLaaS (LEX) — DAO Escalation & Dispute Hierarchy: Tiered Appeal Processes

1. Purpose

The DAO Escalation & Dispute Hierarchy in TLaaS (LEX) defines how conflicts, appeals, and governance overrides are processed across the ecosystem. It ensures that marketplace disputes are resolved fairly, transparently, and with the right level of oversight by leveraging TLAAS (DLA) for validation and DAL for governance and arbitration.

2. Escalation Flow

1. Initial Resolution Layer (Marketplace Level)
2. Validator Layer (TLAAS/DLA)
3. Council Layer (DAL)
4. Appeals Council (DAL High Council)

3. Dispute Categories

• Licensing Rights Violations — Unauthorized sublicensing, geographic breaches.
• Ownership Disputes — Conflicts over rightful license holders.
• Compliance Violations — Non-adherence to jurisdictional regulations.
• Fraud & Misrepresentation — False claims or forged documentation.

4. Voting & Decision Rules

• Quorum Requirements: Minimum percentage participation for vote validity.
• Vote Weighting: Equal or stake-weighted depending on dispute type.
• Decision Thresholds: Simple majority or supermajority based on case severity.
• Timeframes: Fixed voting and appeal windows to ensure timely resolution.

5. Smart Contract Architecture

The dispute resolution contracts must:

• Store all case data and evidence references.
• Track dispute status across tiers.
• Automate vote creation and tallying.
• Execute binding decisions back to TLaaS marketplace contracts.

6. Example Solidity Structure

struct Dispute {
    bytes32 caseId;
    address initiator;
    uint8 status; // 0 = Open, 1 = Validator Review, 2 = Council Vote, 3 = Appeal
    string description;
}

mapping(bytes32 => Dispute) public disputes;

function escalateToCouncil(bytes32 caseId) public {
    require(disputes[caseId].status == 1, "Must be at validator stage");
    disputes[caseId].status = 2;
    // Trigger DAL voting module
}

7. Interoperability

• TLaaS (LEX): Originates disputes and receives execution outcomes.
• TLAAS (DLA): Validates evidence and authenticity in early stages.
• DAL: Oversees governance voting, arbitration, and appeals.

8. Benefits

• Clear, structured path for resolving disputes.
• Reduces the chance of unresolved or mishandled cases.
• Strengthens fairness and accountability.
• Allows finality of decisions through a tiered appeals process.

Next Article: DLA Dashboard Design — Front-End Components for Issuers, Holders, and Validators