§7 Dispute Resolution (Peacemaker System)

Last updated November 30, 2025

7.1 Overview

The Fisheez Peacemaker System provides a transparent, community-driven process for resolving transaction disputes that arise from Smart Shell Escrow contracts.

All fund movement is controlled exclusively by Smart Shell code. Fisheez PBC and the Fishlanthropy Foundation never hold, route, or transmit user funds, nor can they pause or extend escrow timers.

Participation is public and self-selected: any certified Peacemaker meeting the level requirement may participate once a case becomes visible.

The goal is to achieve three to nine (3–9) verified votes for every case. A “complete” decision means at least three valid votes were recorded, allowing Smart Shell to execute the majority result automatically. If fewer than three votes are recorded, the escalation and fallback logic in §7.8 governs the outcome.

If the Buyer and Seller later agree to resolve the matter by a partial payment or other arrangement, that settlement must occur separately and outside the Smart Shell contract. Such outside arrangements are voluntary and not executed or guaranteed by Fisheez PBC or the Foundation.

7.2 Filing a Dispute

Either party may open a dispute before the Smart Shell timer expires.
Filing immediately pauses the escrow and adds seven (7) days (the Dispute Extension Period).
Both sides have a 48-hour Private Response Window to submit statements, photos, videos, or other evidence visible only to each other and Peacemakers.
Buyers may elect Early Release prior to expiry or dispute; once used, funds release automatically and the transaction becomes final.

7.2(a) Effect on Extensions

Once a dispute is filed:

all pre-dispute extension requests are locked, and
any further deadline modifications may occur only during the Q&A phase through a mutually approved In-Dispute Extension.

In-Dispute Extensions:

must be proposed during Q&A,
must specify a custom duration between 1 and 28 days,
require explicit Buyer approval, and
only one may be used per dispute cycle.

No extensions of any kind are permitted once the Voting Window begins.

7.3 Public Rebuttal and Question Phase

After the Private Response Window, the case enters a 48-hour Public Rebuttal Window during which:

the case becomes visible to certified Peacemakers,
Peacemakers may ask questions in-thread,
both parties may answer or upload clarifications,
Peacemakers who participate or mark interest receive early notification when voting opens.

In-Dispute Extension Requests

May be submitted by either party during the Public Rebuttal Window.
Must specify a 1–28 day duration and be approved by the other party.
Once approved:
- the dispute closes temporarily,
- Smart Shell extends the deadline, and
- the case reopens into the Extension Phase.
Only one In-Dispute Extension is permitted per dispute.

7.4 Voting Phase

The 48-hour Voting Window opens immediately after the Public Rebuttal Window closes.
Each Peacemaker casts one vote: Buyer Wins or Seller Wins.
Votes may be changed until the Voting Window closes.
When the window closes, Smart Shell automatically executes the majority result:
- Buyer wins → full refund.
- Seller wins → full release.

No on-chain partial outcomes exist.

Conflict of Interest:

Peacemakers are automatically disqualified from any dispute in which they are Buyer, Seller, Promoter, or otherwise connected to either party.

7.5 Partial Settlements Outside the Contract

Parties may agree to a partial settlement outside the Smart Shell contract.

Such agreements:

are voluntary,
are not executed or guaranteed by Fisheez PBC or the Foundation,
may be submitted as evidence only before the Voting Window opens, and
if submitted later, may only be considered during an appeal.

Smart Shell always settles a dispute with one of two outcomes only:

full refund to Buyer, or
full release to Seller,

based on the final Peacemaker vote or fallback logic.

7.6 Appeals Process

The appeal repeats the same structure:

Phase	Duration	Description
Private Response Window	48 h	Losing party files appeal; other party responds.
Public Rebuttal Window	48 h	Case reopens to Peacemakers for Q&A.
Voting Window	48 h	Peacemakers cast final votes.
Appeal Filing Window	24 h	Funds release unless a valid appeal is filed.

Additional rules:

Appeals must be filed within the 24-hour Appeal Filing Window, or Smart Shell releases funds.
If a tie or fewer than three votes occur, Smart Shell triggers an automatic appeal cycle.
The appeal decision is final.
After a second full cycle, if still tied, Smart Shell triggers Chainlink VRF to determine the outcome.
If VRF fails, Smart Shell defaults to release to Seller at expiry.

7.7 Timers and Durations

Phase	Default Duration	Purpose
Private Response Window	48 h	Initial statements (private).
Public Rebuttal Window	48 h	Q&A with Peacemakers.
Voting Window	48 h	Voting.
Appeal Filing Window	24 h	Opportunity to appeal.
Low-Vote Hold	up to 24 h	If fewer than 3 votes submitted.
Dispute Cycle Total	7 days	Full sequence.
Appeal Cycle (if triggered)	+7 days	Second full cycle.
In-Dispute Extension	1–28 days	Optional mutual extension; once per dispute.
Extension Review Window	48 h	Buyer review after extension ends.

7.8 Escalation and Fallback Rules

Automatic Appeal — Low Participation or Tie

After the Voting Window closes, an automatic appeal begins if:
- fewer than three votes were recorded, or
- the final vote count is tied.
Low-Vote Resolution After Appeal

After the appeal cycle:
- One vote recorded: that vote determines the outcome.
- Two conflicting votes: Smart Shell triggers Chainlink VRF.
- Zero votes: Smart Shell defaults to release to Seller at expiry.
Deterministic Execution

All outcomes are executed by Smart Shell logic; no platform override exists.

7.9 Evidence and Privacy

Allowed evidence includes text, images, files, and short video/audio.
Sensitive data should be minimized.
Case metadata may be hashed on-chain; individual Peacemaker identities remain private.
All evidence is visible only to the parties and participating Peacemakers.

7.10 Finality and Legal Rights

Decisions reached through the Peacemaker System are final within the Platform and executed automatically by Smart Shell logic.

Either party may pursue external legal remedies independently.

7.11 Fishlanthropy Foundation Role

The Fishlanthropy Foundation supports the Peacemaker ecosystem through training, ethics oversight, and administration of the Peacemaker Reward Pool.

The Reward Pool is funded exclusively by the Foundation’s own treasury and is used to compensate Peacemakers for qualifying dispute participation and performance.

The Foundation never holds, routes, transfers, or accesses Smart Shell escrow funds, and it has no ability to pause, modify, or override any Smart Shell contract.

All transfers related to transactions occur solely through Smart Shell logic.

All transfers related to Peacemaker rewards occur solely through Foundation-controlled funds, independently of Smart Shell.

7.12 Automatic Buyer Refund Exceptions

Verified events such as non-shipment, proven fraud, or undisputed cancellation may trigger immediate refund under Smart Shell rules.

Evidence must be objective and system-verifiable, e.g.:

carrier API confirmation of non-shipment,
platform-logged non-delivery event,
Seller admission,
undisputed Buyer cancellation, or
predefined contract violation.

These are automated, non-discretionary, and executed by Smart Shell only.

7.13 Extension Requests & Extension Review

(a) Pre-Dispute Extensions

Allowed only before a dispute is filed.
Must be mutually approved.
Allow 1–28 days each.
May be used repeatedly.
Must be submitted 24 hours before the deadline.
Escrow auto-releases at the extended deadline unless a dispute is filed.

(b) In-Dispute Extensions

Allowed only during the Q&A phase.
Must specify 1–28 days.
Must be approved by the other party.
Only one permitted per dispute.

(c) Extension Phase

Seller performs required actions.
Buyer monitors progress.
No new disputes may be filed until the Review Window.

(d) Extension Review Window

When the extension ends, a 48-hour Review Window begins:

Buyer confirms performance → release to Seller.
Buyer claims non-performance → dispute moves directly to voting.
Buyer does not respond → Seller wins automatically.

(e) No Extensions Once Voting Begins

No extensions (pre-dispute or in-dispute) may be requested:

once the Voting Window opens,
during the Appeal Filing Window, or
during any Appeal cycle.

Appeal outcomes are final and strictly binary.

Questions about this document? Email support@fisheez.com.