For immediate release

Geneva, Switzerland – 18/03/2026 – Global Data Excellence (GDE) today issued a global warning on the unauthorised, distorted or counterfeit use of Data Excellence Science©, the Data Excellence Framework© (DEF), the Data Excellence Maturity Model© (DEMM) and assessment, the Semantic Meta Model© (SMM), the Data Excellence Index© (DEI), the Key Value Indicator© (KVI), the Key Security Indicator© (KSI) and all related models and software‑embedded knowledge. These assets are protected intellectual property under Swiss and international law, and any unlicensed copying, rebranding or commercial reuse may constitute copyright infringement and unfair competition.

A Recognized Scientific Discipline and a Trademark

Created and developed over three decades by Dr. Walid el Abed, Data Excellence Science© is both a rigorously engineered scientific discipline and a well‑known trademark in the fields of AI, data and governance. It is taught in many universities and academic institutions worldwide, where it is recognised as a reference framework for value‑driven, explainable and sovereign data governance.

Data Excellence Framework© for Global Safety and Security

The Data Excellence Framework© provides a practical and executable model to measure and improve data quality so that organisations can support global safety, security and value‑chain resilience. By governing critical semantic rules and monitoring indicators such as the Key Security Indicator© (KSI), it helps ensure that data used in safety, security and regulatory processes is unique, complete, accurate, current and consistent, reducing systemic risk in high‑stakes environments.

Counterfeits: A Direct Threat to Trust

As Data Excellence Science© has gained influence, GDE has identified market offerings that appear to copy or re‑label distinctive Data Excellence concepts – including “govern by value”, Data Excellence‑style maturity models, semantic meta‑models and DEI/KVI/KSI‑like indices – without licence, attribution or collaboration. In some cases, such imitations have been sold at a high price on the strength of a brand name while relying on a science that does not belong to them, creating a serious risk of misleading indicators, falsified reports and large‑scale defects in data governance.

At a time when data governance is presented as the cornerstone of digital trust, these practices raise fundamental questions about the reliability of tools that organisations use to secure their information assets. They can place customers of those providers in a situation of legal and operational exposure, including the risk of acting as unwitting receivers of counterfeited methods.

An Open Door for Good‑Faith Regularisation

GDE will systematically review offerings, publications and communications that appear to misuse or mimic Data Excellence Science© or the Data Excellence Framework©. Where infringement is suspected, GDE is prepared to act through formal notices, claims for damages and, where necessary, court proceedings in Switzerland and abroad.​

At the same time, GDE offers a clear good‑faith pathway for organisations already using Data Excellence concepts without a formal agreement. Such organisations are invited to contact GDE proactively and confidentially to clarify their situation and explore licensing, certification or partnership options; voluntary engagement will be treated with discretion and a constructive mindset.

Certified Experts and the Right to Know

Since its creation, every person formally trained and certified in Data Excellence Science© has been registered by GDE in an official registry. Any organisation or consultant claiming Data Excellence certification while not appearing in this registry is misrepresenting their status. Governments, regulators, listed companies and public institutions are called upon to demand verifiable proof of legitimate Data Excellence certification whenever its terminology, methods or indices are invoked in support of public reporting, policy decisions, safety or value‑chain governance.

Legal and Ethical Responsibility

Under Swiss law, intellectual creations such as scientific frameworks, models, terminology and software‑embedded knowledge are protected works. Plagiarism, unlicensed replication or misleading derivative use may amount to copyright infringement and unfair competition, exposing organisations to civil and, in some cases, criminal liability. GDE encourages any organisation currently drawing on Data Excellence Science© or the Data Excellence Framework© to regularise their use in good faith through balanced agreements, while reserving the right to defend its rights through appropriate legal avenues.

A Message from the Founder

“Data Excellence Science© was created to serve enterprises, institutions and citizens, not to be diluted, repackaged or exploited without respect for its authorship,” said Dr. Walid el Abed. “Those who have built their offerings on our work, whether knowingly or unknowingly, now have a choice: come to us in good faith, align with the science and the law, and we will find a constructive path together – or wait for us to come to you through legal channels. We will not ignore misuse of Data Excellence any longer.”

GDE invites:

• To vendors, organizations and consultants: immediately and honestly review your use of Data Excellence concepts and contact GDE to validate, regularise or upgrade your position.
• To clients, regulators and partners: whatever your provider, be vigilant – and systematically request formal proof of Data Excellence certification from any party claiming such expertise before relying on their methods or reports.

For confidential discussions regarding licensing, certification, partnerships or verification of claims, please contact:

Global Data Excellence©

info@globaldataexcellence.com
+41 22 552 04 30

www.globaldataexcellence.com

About Global Data Excellence
Global Data Excellence (GDE), based in Geneva, is the pioneer of Data Excellence Science© and the Data Excellence Framework© – a breakthrough life work discipline created over three decades by Dr. Walid el Abed to align data, rules and value with 100% precision in service of business, governments and society. The Data Excellence Science© has been taught in multiple universities and academic institutions, where it is recognised as a reference model for value‑driven, explainable and sovereign data governance. Through its DEMS‑NIXUS© platform and ecosystem of certified experts, GDE enables organisations to “govern by value”, transforming data into a strategic asset that delivers financial performance, regulatory compliance, global safety and positive societal impact.

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