> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.presschain.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Disputes & Court

> What happens when your journalism is challenged - and why process is better than deletion.

## The Court Engine

When someone challenges your reporting on PressChain, it doesn't go to a platform's trust-and-safety team. It doesn't go to your editor. It doesn't result in a takedown notice.

It goes to the **Court engine** - a structured, on-chain dispute resolution process with specific claims, evidence windows, bonded jurors, and a permanent outcome.

<Info>
  Court replaces censorship with process. Your article is never simply removed because someone complained. The outcome of every case - verdict, evidence reviewed, integrity label - is permanently public.
</Info>

***

## Real Scenario: Elena's Campaign Finance Story

Elena Santos is a political correspondent who published an investigation into improper campaign fund routing. The campaign's legal team files a formal challenge through PressChain Court.

Here's what happens:

### The Challenge Is Filed

The campaign's attorney goes to `court.presschain.io` and files a dispute against Elena's Capsule. They must:

* Identify **which specific claims** they're contesting (not just "the whole article is wrong")
* State the **type of dispute** (factual inaccuracy, misleading context, fabricated source)
* Submit their **initial evidence**
* Lock a **dispute bond** (10 PRESS) - this is forfeited if the dispute is found to be baseless

The attorney targets two specific claims:

1. *"\[Confirmed] Campaign routed \$84,000 through a shell LLC"*
2. *"\[Reporting] This violates Section 4.2 of the Campaign Finance Act"*

### Elena Receives a Summons

Elena gets an on-chain summons automatically. She has a fixed deadline to respond.

<Warning>
  **Non-response is not an option.** Failing to respond by the deadline triggers automatic default judgment, bond penalties, and reputation reduction. Even a brief acknowledgment ("I'm aware and preparing my response") is enough to avoid the non-response penalty.
</Warning>

Elena responds immediately: "I acknowledge the summons. I am preparing my evidence response."

### The Evidence Window

Both sides have a fixed window to submit evidence. Elena submits:

* The original LLC incorporation records (archived government page)
* Bank transfer records her source provided
* Text of Section 4.2 with legal analysis
* The original EPA \[sic - campaign finance commission] filing

The campaign submits their rebuttal evidence. The window closes at a fixed time - no extensions.

### Juror Selection

A panel of bonded Jurors is randomly selected from the eligible pool. These are people who have locked a Juror bond - economic commitment to showing up. They cannot refuse selection. If they don't participate, they face bond penalties.

Jurors review:

* Elena's original Capsule and evidence
* The campaign's dispute and evidence
* The specific claims being contested

### Deliberation and Verdict

After deliberation, jurors vote on each contested claim:

* **Claim 1 (shell LLC routing):** Jurors find Elena's evidence sufficient - claim upheld
* **Claim 2 (Section 4.2 violation):** Jurors find the legal analysis overstated - claim marked misleading

### Integrity Label Applied

The result is a **permanent integrity label** on Elena's Capsule:

> **Partially Verified** - Core financial claims confirmed. Legal analysis finding: Misleading in scope of statutory violation.

Elena's original Capsule is labeled. She publishes a correction Capsule addressing the legal analysis. The correction goes through acceptance. The full chain is permanently visible.

***

## Integrity Labels

| Label                   | What It Means                               |
| ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| **Verified**            | Court confirmed the content's accuracy      |
| **Clean**               | No disputes - standard canonical state      |
| **Contested**           | Active dispute in progress                  |
| **Unresolved**          | Court concluded without a clear verdict     |
| **Misleading**          | Court found material inaccuracy or omission |
| **Fraudulent**          | Court found deliberate deception            |
| **Corrected**           | Author published an accepted correction     |
| **Retracted by Author** | Author-initiated retraction                 |

Labels are permanent. They're visible on your article page, in the Explorer, in the Press Network feed, and in the Rights Marketplace. A **Verified** label is actually a powerful signal - it means your journalism survived a structured challenge.

***

## What To Do If You're Challenged

<Steps>
  <Step title="Respond to the summons immediately">
    Check `portal.presschain.io` → **Court Cases** regularly. When a summons arrives, respond within 24 hours even if just to acknowledge it. The response deadline is firm.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review the specific claims being disputed">
    The dispute targets specific structured claims. Read them carefully. This tells you exactly what you need to defend.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Gather targeted evidence">
    You don't need to re-prove your entire article - just the disputed claims. Find every piece of evidence that directly addresses those specific assertions.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Submit through court.presschain.io">
    Submit your evidence response through the Court portal. Evidence is hash-committed. You can submit multiple items before the evidence window closes.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Wait for deliberation">
    Jurors review everything. You don't need to do anything during this phase. If jurors have questions, you'll receive a formal request through the court system.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Filing a Dispute Against Another Outlet

If you believe another canonical article is inaccurate:

1. Visit [court.presschain.io](https://court.presschain.io)
2. Find the Capsule ID
3. Identify the specific claims you're challenging
4. Submit your evidence and dispute type
5. Lock your dispute bond (10 PRESS)

<Warning>
  If jurors find your dispute baseless or frivolous, your 10 PRESS bond is forfeited. This is intentional - frivolous challenges have a cost.
</Warning>

***

## The Court Is Public

Every case, every evidence submission, every juror vote outcome, every integrity label is permanently public. You can browse the full court docket at [court.presschain.io](https://court.presschain.io).

This transparency is the foundation of trust. No case can be hidden. No verdict can be erased. The integrity record of journalism is as permanent as the journalism itself.