Abstract
This paper formalizes the semantics of protocol artifacts in protocol-governed systems. Building on the structural taxonomy defined in Paper 3 [Bachi, 2026c] and the governance lifecycle established in Paper 4 [Bachi, 2026d], it specifies how behavioral law is represented in ratified protocol artifacts. We define artifact identity, naming discipline, version immutability, coexistence rules, compatibility constraints, and cross-artifact referential integrity. We formalize the deep semantics of the core protocol-layer. This paper does not address runtime execution (Paper 6), mutation boundaries (Paper 7), computational universality (Paper 2), or economic implications (Paper 9). Its purpose is definitional: to specify what constitutes lawful behavioral specification in a protocol-governed system.
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