OP-R3 (Open Source - Retroactive Research Rewards)

OP-R3s could be a system to enable Etica Protocol to retroactively reward open source research
Here is a detailed explanation of how the OP-R3s Layer would work:

1. Purpose of OP-R3s

OP-R3s are unique objects within the Etica Protocol that allow researchers to be retroactively rewarded for work that enables future discoveries. They represent significant research contributions that will have significant long term impact to help future research.

2. Creation of OP-R3s

• Researchers must stake an additional predetermined amount of ETI tokens to submit proposals that create an OP-R3.
• Each OP-R3 can refer to other OP-R3s, so that if a reward is allocated to an OP-R3 then the referred OP-R3s get a part of the reward (based on a ratio, the references to other OP-R3s include a weight system). That's why it's a Layer, and named the OP-R3 layer.
• Each OP-R3 includes details about the research contribution, its significance, and any relevant metadata.

3. Funding of the OP-R3 Layer

• For each period, a fixed percentage (for instance 5%) of each proposal research rewards is sent to the Period OP-R3 layer fund. Then the the Period OP-R3 layer fund is distributed to all OP-R3s referenced by proposals (in proportion of the proposals weight)

3. Integration with Proposals

• Proposals can reference multiple OP-R3s, using ratios to indicate their relative importance to the new research.
• Research proposals with no reference to existing OP-R3s still have the normal percent of their research rewards sent to the Period OP-R3 layer fund, which is then sent to the OP-R3s referenced by other proposals.
• This encourages engagement with existing research and creates a network of interconnected contributions.

4. Dynamic Quorum for Proposal Acceptance

• Possible to either: Allow only 1 OP-R3 per proposal or Allow multiple OP-R3s creation per proposal but limit max number of new OP-R3s per proposal.
• Proposals that include new OP-R3s require a higher quorum for acceptance.
• The quorum is dynamically adjusted based on factors such as:
  • The number of new OP-R3s included in the proposal.
• This ensures that proposals aiming to add more OP-R3s receive adequate scrutiny.

5. Appeal Process for OP-R3s

• After an OP-R3 is submitted and accepted with a proposal, there's an appeal period during which any user can challenge its validity.
• To initiate an appeal, a user must stake ETI tokens.
• If the appeal succeeds and no further appeals are made, the appealing voter users receive a portion of the ETI staked by the OP-R3 creator to submit the OP-R3.
• If the appeal is rejected, the appealing users lose their staked ETI, which is distributed among the voters who rejected the appeal.
• Subsequent appeals are possible, but the required stake doubles for each round of appeals.
• This process continues until no further appeals are made or the required stake becomes prohibitively high.
• After the appeal period passes with no new appeals, the OP-R3 is definitively accepted and available on the network.

6. Reward Distribution for OP-R3s

• When a proposal referencing an OP-R3 is accepted, the OP-R3 creator receives a retroactive reward.
• The reward comes from a dedicated OP-R3 fund, which is replenished by:
  • A fixed percentage of each accepted proposal's reward.
• The amount of reward can be calculated based on:
  • The importance ratio assigned by the referencing proposal.
  • The age of the OP-R3.
  • The frequency of recent proposals referencing the OP-R3 within the period.

7. Gradual Reward Decrease

• The reward rate for an OP-R3 decreases over time, but not as a strict linear or exponential decay.
• The decrease is gradual and takes into account:
  • The age of the OP-R3.
  • The continued relevance of the research (measured by frequency of recent proposal references).
• This system ensures that groundbreaking research can continue to be rewarded long-term if it remains relevant, while also encouraging new contributions.

8. Staking Mechanisms

• Additional staking is required for creating OP-R3s and initiating appeals.
• The staking requirement helps ensure that participants have a vested interest in the system's integrity.
• Staked tokens are at risk of being lost or redistributed based on the outcomes of appeals and votes.

9. Transparency and Tracking

• All OP-R3 creations, references, and appeals are recorded on the blockchain.
• This allows for community oversight and enables the tracking of research impact over time.

10. On-chain Implementation

• The entire OP-R3s Layer system, including creation, referencing, reward distribution, and appeal processes, would exclusively rely on on-chain implementation through smart contracts on the Etica Protocol blockchain ensuring transparency and traceability.