The $403 standard is the access control layer of the protocol stack. Geo-gates, time-locks, blacklists, compliance rules — all enforced on-chain, all composable with $401 identity and $402 payment.
Some content is restricted by law. Some by choice. Some by time. The $403 protocol enforces access rules on-chain — no middleware, no backend, no trust required. The rules are the rules.
“Pay to access”
Economic access. Anyone who pays can enter. The market decides.
“You shall not pass”
Programmable denial. Geo-fencing, age-gating, time-locks, blacklists. Payment alone is not enough.
Geo-gate
redRestrict content by jurisdiction. Block or allow specific countries, regions, or IP ranges. Useful for regulatory compliance.
Time-lock
redEmbargo content until a specific date. Release schedules, pre-sale windows, limited-time access. The blockchain is the clock.
Identity-gate
violetRequire a specific $401 identity level. Age verification, KYC tiers, reputation thresholds. No identity? No entry.
Blacklist
zincDeny specific actors by address, identity, or pattern. Sanctions compliance, content moderation, community governance.
Composite rules
redCombine any rules with AND/OR logic. "UK residents AND age 18+ AND not blacklisted." The gate is programmable.
Adult content, gambling, alcohol. Require $401 age verification before granting access. No cookies, no popups, no honor system.
complianceAutomatically block access from sanctioned jurisdictions. The rule is on-chain and auditable. Regulators can verify enforcement.
legalEmbargo content until a specific block height or timestamp. Film premieres, music drops, news embargoes. The blockchain is the clock.
timingGate content behind token ownership. Hold 10 $PATH tokens? You get access. No subscription service, no recurring billing.
accessLet token holders vote on who gets blacklisted. Decentralized moderation with on-chain accountability.
governanceEnforce access limits per identity, per time window, per geography. Programmable rate limiting without middleware.
infrastructureRead the spec. Build the rules. Enforce the protocol.