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  3. /RMCA Public Registers Legal Framework and Record-Class Notice

RMCA LEGAL FOUNDATION · RM-02

RMCA Public Registers Legal Framework and Record-Class Notice

This notice explains the legal framework and record classes used by RMCA public registers, including the separation of brands, exact legal entities, programme views and participation status.

Document
RM-02
Version
1.0
Effective
26 August 2026
Last updated
26 August 2026
Canonical URL
https://www.rmca.org.uk/public-registers/legal-framework

ON THIS PAGE

  1. 1. One registry infrastructure, separate programme experiences
  2. 2. Record classes
  3. 3. Participant status
  4. 4. Indexed entity records
  5. 5. Former and historical records
  6. 6. Observatory records
  7. 7. Search and sorting
  8. 8. Profiles, sources and corrections
  9. 9. No public reliance or recommendation
  10. Intellectual property and permitted use
  11. Accuracy, availability and liability
  12. Governing law and legal effect
  13. Changes and contact

This is the central explanatory page for the shared registry engine and separate programme experiences.

1. One registry infrastructure, separate programme experiences

RMCA controls canonical legal-entity records, identifiers, aliases, source history, corrections and programme-profile links. FDRC and PSCR provide programme-specific front ends, terminology, filters, passports and user journeys powered by the same entity engine. Multiple entry points do not create duplicate legal identities or competing status records.

2. Record classes

The system distinguishes at least four record classes: (1) current programme participants; (2) indexed public-source entity records; (3) former, inactive or historical programme records; and (4) Observatory research or event records. A fifth class may be used for clearly labelled fictional or design demonstrations. These classes have different meanings and must not be treated as interchangeable.

“Indexed” means that RMCA has created a source-bounded identity or public-information record. It does not mean that the entity applied, participated, consented, was reviewed under a full programme methodology or received an endorsement. “Authorised representative access confirmed” means only that a representative was verified for administration or correction purposes. Participation requires separate application, review, decision and contractual admission.

3. Participant status

A programme participant is an exact legal entity that applied, underwent the defined review, received a governed admission decision and entered a participation agreement. Status applies only to the stated programme, entity, activities, jurisdictions, customer or client scope, evidence period and limitations. It can be conditioned, restricted, suspended, withdrawn, removed or allowed to lapse under programme rules.

4. Indexed entity records

An indexed public-source entity record is created without a fee and may exist without contact, consent or participation. It supports identity and source navigation. The mandatory label is: “Indexed public-source entity record — not an RMCA, FDRC or PSCR participant.”

5. Former and historical records

Former, inactive, dissolved, withdrawn, removed or superseded records remain in a separate state with effective dates and history. Their presence does not imply current participation or a current adverse conclusion.

6. Observatory records

Observatory pages are research, event or historical records based on public sources and analysis. They are not participant profiles and must display the non-participant classification. Ongoing investigations or proceedings are described without verdict or presumption.

7. Search and sorting

Search ranks the record most likely to match the user’s identity query. Payment, sponsorship, participation, popularity, evidence level and commercial relationship do not improve ranking. Exact identifiers, company or licence numbers, current domains and legal names take priority over fuzzy suggestions.

8. Profiles, sources and corrections

Evidence and public wording are field-level and scope-specific. Identity may be independently corroborated while another statement is self-declared, documentary, expired, not established or under review. RMCA does not compress different evidence states into a universal trust, safety or quality score.

A statement such as “not evidenced within the reviewed scope” means that sufficient evidence was not identified for that field and scope. It must not be read as proof that an arrangement does not exist. Dates, sources, limitations, exclusions and material corrections form part of the record.

RMCA seeks to distinguish official fact, participant or third-party submission, RMCA analysis, inference and matters not established. Material factual errors may be reported without charge. RMCA may seek evidence, contact an affected person, publish a response, correct or qualify a record, preserve a visible change history, or decline a request that is unsupported, abusive, irrelevant or seeks to suppress accurate information.

A right of reply is not a right to dictate editorial conclusions, erase accurate historical information, prevent fair comment, require publication of confidential or unlawful material, or obtain a favourable programme decision. Corrections and challenges are handled under the applicable policy and do not determine legal liability.

9. No public reliance or recommendation

RMCA is independent, voluntary and non-statutory. Neither RMCA nor any of its programmes is a government department, statutory regulator, public authority, licensing body, credit-rating agency, statutory auditor, law firm, bank, electronic money institution, payment institution, investment firm, ombudsman or statutory compensation scheme.

A record, status, passport, report, review, evidence level, participation arrangement or publication does not constitute regulatory authorisation, legal or professional certification, an investment recommendation, a credit opinion, a solvency assessment, a guarantee of compliance, client protection or future conduct, or an assurance that any bank, regulator, payment provider, investor or counterparty will accept a person or firm.

The websites and materials provide institutional, factual, educational and methodological information only. They are not legal, tax, investment, financial, accounting, audit, insolvency, sanctions or other regulated professional advice. Users remain responsible for obtaining advice suited to their facts, jurisdiction, product, client category and legal obligations.

Nothing on the websites is an invitation, inducement or recommendation to open an account, invest, trade, acquire, retain or dispose of a financial product, select a payment provider, instruct a claims representative or commence, settle or abandon proceedings.

Intellectual property and permitted use

Unless stated otherwise, RMCA or its licensors own the websites, programme names, marks, taxonomies, methodologies, written content, page design, software, databases and compilations. Factual public information may originate from third-party official sources; those sources retain their own rights and authority.

Users may quote short extracts with accurate attribution and a link to the canonical page for genuine reporting, research or internal compliance. Systematic scraping, bulk reproduction, resale, removal of limitations, creation of misleading certificates, impersonation, use of marks without permission, or use of content to imply endorsement is prohibited except under a written licence or applicable law.

Accuracy, availability and liability

RMCA uses reasonable care appropriate to the stated scope, source class and publication process, but public information may be incomplete, delayed, superseded, jurisdiction-specific or affected by source errors. No representation is made that a website, register, source link, alert or data feed is continuously available, complete, real-time or suitable for a user’s particular purpose.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, RMCA excludes implied warranties and shall not be liable merely because a person reads, downloads, receives or relies on public information. Nothing excludes or limits liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited, including liability for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any mandatory liability under applicable consumer law. Contractual users may have separately stated rights and limits.

Governing law and legal effect

Unless a separate contract states otherwise, these terms and non-contractual obligations arising from them are governed by the law of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales have jurisdiction, subject to any mandatory rights, applicable consumer forum, arbitration or ADR rule that cannot lawfully be displaced.

Nothing in these terms overrides mandatory local law. If a provision is invalid or unenforceable, it is treated as modified to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions continue.

Changes and contact

RMCA may amend this document prospectively to reflect law, technology, programme scope, operating arrangements or risk. The current version, effective date and material change note should appear on the canonical page. Continued use after an effective change constitutes acceptance only to the extent permitted by law; material contractual changes follow the applicable contract.

Legal enquiries may be sent to legal@rmca.org.uk. Privacy enquiries: privacy@rmca.org.uk. Factual corrections and right-of-reply requests: corrections@rmca.org.uk. Security reports: security@rmca.org.uk. General service complaints: complaints@rmca.org.uk.

Responsible Markets Conduct Association — Company No. 17408187; incorporated in England and Wales; registered office: First Floor Office, 3 Hornton Place, London, W8 4LZ, United Kingdom.

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Responsible Markets Conduct Association · Company No. 17408187 · Private company limited by guarantee without share capital, incorporated in England and Wales · Registered office: First Floor Office, 3 Hornton Place, London, W8 4LZ, United Kingdom.

RMCA is independent, voluntary and non-statutory. FDRC and PSCR are programmes of RMCA. © 2026 RMCA.

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