Authorship Transparency Statement (ATS) Framework: A Technical Standard for the Multi-Tiered Disclosure of Generative AI in Creative Works

The rapid proliferation of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has fundamentally disrupted the traditional concept of singular authorship, creating a critical nomenclature gap in the creative industries. Existing disclosure requirements frequently rely on low-resolution binaries that facilitate a "transparency paradox," wherein creators are incentivized toward obfuscation rather than honest methodology. This paper proposes the Authorship Transparency Statement (ATS) Framework, a multi-tiered technical protocol anchored by the Bright Line of Prose Origin. This mechanical distinction shifts the focus from subjective "creative control" to the objective origin of first-pass drafting. By defining a six-tier hierarchy (ATS-0 through ATS-5), the protocol categorizes the human role across a gradient of increasing AI autonomy: from the Traditional Artisan (ATS-0) and Architect (ATS-1) to the Director (ATS-3) and Systems Architect (ATS-4). Furthermore, the ATS framework provides the foundational schema for institutional implementation, offering standardized intake templates and machine-readable metadata structures designed to interoperate with emerging provenance standards such as C2PA. By replacing primitive binaries with a rigorous, methodology-based audit, the ATS protocol seeks to preserve the integrity of authorship and establish a verifiable "paperwork of becoming" for the new creative age.