diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8bf1a4b..fa7ab88 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ The repository root is a skill-only plugin for OpenAI/Codex and Claude. `.codex-
 
 Skill Feedback Engine has no MCP component, and none is declared by these manifests. The registration files prepare local discovery only; they do not install, authenticate, publish, or activate anything externally.
 
-`publisher/publisher.json` derives Openly Useful identity and public policy URLs from <https://openlyuseful.org/publisher/manifest.json>. Openly Useful LLC remains a planned, formation-pending publisher/operator/licensee, and external publication authorization remains withheld.
+`publisher/publisher.json` derives Openly Useful identity and public policy URLs from <https://openlyuseful.org/publisher/manifest.json>. Openly Useful is founder-operated while Openly Useful LLC remains formation-pending. External publication is authorized directly by the founder-owner, subject to namespace verification, provider-account authentication, and provider review. This does not represent the planned LLC as formed, active, or the current operator.
 
 ## Daily review on macOS
 
diff --git a/publisher/publisher.json b/publisher/publisher.json
index 0237fd0..86b5c3b 100644
--- a/publisher/publisher.json
+++ b/publisher/publisher.json
@@ -16,6 +16,12 @@
       "licensee"
     ]
   },
+  "currentOperator": {
+    "status": "founder-operated",
+    "type": "founder-individual",
+    "displayName": "Founder of Openly Useful",
+    "operatingAs": "Openly Useful"
+  },
   "policies": {
     "privacy": "https://openlyuseful.org/legal/privacy",
     "terms": "https://openlyuseful.org/legal/terms",
@@ -39,8 +45,15 @@
     ],
     "mcp": false
   },
-  "externalPublication": {
-    "allowed": false,
-    "authorization": "withheld"
+  "publication": {
+    "externalPublicationAllowed": true,
+    "authorization": "granted",
+    "authorizationBasis": "founder-owner-direct",
+    "effectiveWhileFormationPending": true,
+    "blockingRequirements": [
+      "namespace-verification",
+      "provider-account-authentication",
+      "provider-review"
+    ]
   }
 }
diff --git a/scripts/validate_registration.py b/scripts/validate_registration.py
index a566a81..3dace75 100644
--- a/scripts/validate_registration.py
+++ b/scripts/validate_registration.py
@@ -46,8 +46,27 @@ def validate_registration(root: Path = ROOT) -> List[str]:
         errors.append("planned entity must be Openly Useful LLC with formation-pending status")
     elif sorted(legal.get("roles", [])) != ["licensee", "operator", "publisher"]:
         errors.append("planned entity roles are invalid")
-    if publisher.get("externalPublication") != {"allowed": False, "authorization": "withheld"}:
-        errors.append("external publication must remain withheld")
+    expected_operator = {
+        "status": "founder-operated",
+        "type": "founder-individual",
+        "displayName": "Founder of Openly Useful",
+        "operatingAs": "Openly Useful",
+    }
+    if publisher.get("currentOperator") != expected_operator:
+        errors.append("current operation must remain founder-operated while formation is pending")
+    expected_publication = {
+        "externalPublicationAllowed": True,
+        "authorization": "granted",
+        "authorizationBasis": "founder-owner-direct",
+        "effectiveWhileFormationPending": True,
+        "blockingRequirements": [
+            "namespace-verification",
+            "provider-account-authentication",
+            "provider-review",
+        ],
+    }
+    if publisher.get("publication") != expected_publication:
+        errors.append("external publication must use founder-owner-direct authority while formation is pending")
 
     component = publisher.get("component")
     if not isinstance(component, dict):
diff --git a/tests/test_registration.py b/tests/test_registration.py
index 4441ca7..329c9f5 100644
--- a/tests/test_registration.py
+++ b/tests/test_registration.py
@@ -67,6 +67,50 @@ def test_validator_rejects_premature_llc_activation(self):
             errors = validate_registration(fixture)
             self.assertTrue(any("formation-pending" in error for error in errors))
 
+    def test_validator_rejects_non_founder_current_operator(self):
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as directory:
+            fixture = Path(directory)
+            for relative in [
+                "publisher/publisher.json",
+                ".codex-plugin/plugin.json",
+                ".claude-plugin/plugin.json",
+                ".claude-plugin/marketplace.json",
+                ".agents/plugins/marketplace.json",
+                "skills/skill-feedback-engine/SKILL.md",
+            ]:
+                source = ROOT / relative
+                target = fixture / relative
+                target.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+                target.write_bytes(source.read_bytes())
+            publisher_path = fixture / "publisher" / "publisher.json"
+            publisher = json.loads(publisher_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+            publisher["currentOperator"]["status"] = "llc-operated"
+            publisher_path.write_text(json.dumps(publisher), encoding="utf-8")
+            errors = validate_registration(fixture)
+            self.assertTrue(any("founder-operated" in error for error in errors))
+
+    def test_validator_rejects_publication_without_founder_authority(self):
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as directory:
+            fixture = Path(directory)
+            for relative in [
+                "publisher/publisher.json",
+                ".codex-plugin/plugin.json",
+                ".claude-plugin/plugin.json",
+                ".claude-plugin/marketplace.json",
+                ".agents/plugins/marketplace.json",
+                "skills/skill-feedback-engine/SKILL.md",
+            ]:
+                source = ROOT / relative
+                target = fixture / relative
+                target.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+                target.write_bytes(source.read_bytes())
+            publisher_path = fixture / "publisher" / "publisher.json"
+            publisher = json.loads(publisher_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+            publisher["publication"]["authorizationBasis"] = "planned-entity"
+            publisher_path.write_text(json.dumps(publisher), encoding="utf-8")
+            errors = validate_registration(fixture)
+            self.assertTrue(any("founder-owner-direct" in error for error in errors))
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()