developer certificate of origin (DCO)

A lightweight mechanism for contributors to certify that they created the code they are submitting or otherwise have the right to contribute it.

Unlike a Contributor License Agreement (CLA), which requires a formal signature and data management, a DCO is typically affirmed by adding a "Signed-off-by" line to a commit message. Within the COSSA ecosystem, the DCO aligns with the Foundation Launchpad's mission to provide streamlined IP management and governance services. It offers a frictionless alternative to complex legal hurdles, helping founders maintain the necessary legal hygiene for enterprise adoption without stalling community velocity