# Ownership

**Status** Draft · **Version** 0.1 · **Updated** 20 July 2026 · **Doc ID** META-OWNERSHIP-01 · **Definition ID** OCOM-DEF-0012 · **URI** `ocom:Ownership`

Canonical: https://ocom.uno/vocabulary/ownership

> The OCOM Specification defines Ownership as — Ownership is the assignment of responsibility for one or more managed Objects.

## Definition

Ownership is the assignment of responsibility for one or more managed Objects. Ownership identifies the individual, team, organizational unit, or system responsible for governing an Object during all or part of its lifecycle. Ownership does not necessarily imply authorship or implementation responsibility.

## Purpose

This document defines Ownership within the OCOM Specification. Ownership establishes accountability and responsibility for managed Objects throughout their lifecycle. Ownership enables organizations to assign clear responsibility for governance, maintenance, decision-making, and operational stewardship.

## Business meaning

Ownership ensures that every managed Object has a clearly identified accountable party. Clear ownership supports governance, operational continuity, change management, auditability, and organizational accountability.

## Design principles

Every Ownership shall:

- be explicit
- be traceable
- support accountability
- support governance
- support lifecycle management
- remain technology independent

## Core characteristics

- Identifier
- Owner
- Owned Object
- Responsibility Scope
- Effective Date
- Ownership Type
- Delegation
- Review Schedule
- Expiration Date
- Successor Owner

## Relationship to other specifications

Ownership interacts with:

- [`ocom:Object`](/vocabulary/object)
- [`ocom:Identity`](/vocabulary/identity)
- [`ocom:Metadata`](/vocabulary/metadata)
- [`ocom:Registry`](/vocabulary/registry)
- [`ocom:Policy`](/vocabulary/policy)
- [`ocom:Contract`](/vocabulary/contract)
- `ocom:Lifecycle`
- `ocom:Evaluation`
- [`ocom:Organization`](/vocabulary/organization)

Ownership establishes accountability without changing Object behavior.

## Referenced by

- [`ocom:Object`](/vocabulary/object)
- [`ocom:Relationship`](/vocabulary/relationship)
- [`ocom:Reference`](/vocabulary/reference)
- [`ocom:Registry`](/vocabulary/registry)
- [`ocom:Classification`](/vocabulary/classification)
- [`ocom:Contract`](/vocabulary/contract)
- [`ocom:Policy`](/vocabulary/policy)
- [`ocom:Organization`](/vocabulary/organization)

## Independence — does not prescribe

- organizational structures
- job titles
- access control systems
- implementation technologies

## Conformance

A compliant implementation shall ensure that every managed Ownership:

- assign Ownership to managed Objects where applicable
- preserve Ownership history
- support governance
- maintain auditability
- remain technology independent

## Provenance

Governance records: CAND-005

| Version | Date | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 0.1 | 20 July 2026 | Initial draft |
| 0.1 | 25 July 2026 | Added Organization to Relationship to Other Specifications, per ADR CAND-005 (Option C) |

## Recommended citation

OCOM Specification. Ownership. META-OWNERSHIP-01 (OCOM-DEF-0012). Version 0.1. https://ocom.uno/vocabulary/ownership

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Machine representations — JSON: https://ocom.uno/vocabulary/ownership.json · JSON-LD: https://ocom.uno/vocabulary/ownership.jsonld · Markdown: https://ocom.uno/vocabulary/ownership.md · Source: https://github.com/DenisHogberg/OCOM/blob/main/docs/Meta/Ownership.md · History: https://github.com/DenisHogberg/OCOM/commits/main/docs/Meta/Ownership.md

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