diff --git a/go/seats/containerimageregistry/contract.go b/go/seats/containerimageregistry/contract.go
index ef6d3f2..ac06122 100644
--- a/go/seats/containerimageregistry/contract.go
+++ b/go/seats/containerimageregistry/contract.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ const (
 	EventPublished = "published"
 	EventRefused   = "refused"
 	EventRemoved   = "removed"
+	EventKept      = "kept"
 	EventHeld      = "held"
 	EventReleased  = "released"
 )
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ func Verbs() []string {
 
 // Events is every event published on the seat's subject: a new copy each call.
 func Events() []string {
-	return []string{EventPublished, EventRefused, EventRemoved, EventHeld, EventReleased}
+	return []string{EventPublished, EventRefused, EventRemoved, EventKept, EventHeld, EventReleased}
 }
 
 // Family is where the seat's events are kept: the shared events stream, filtered to the seat's subjects.
@@ -50,6 +51,9 @@ const SubjectRefused = "mesh.seat.container-image-registry.event.refused"
 // SubjectRemoved is where removed is published.
 const SubjectRemoved = "mesh.seat.container-image-registry.event.removed"
 
+// SubjectKept is where kept is published.
+const SubjectKept = "mesh.seat.container-image-registry.event.kept"
+
 // SubjectHeld is where held is published.
 const SubjectHeld = "mesh.seat.container-image-registry.event.held"
 
@@ -115,12 +119,14 @@ type Outcome struct {
 	Module string `json:"module,omitempty"`
 	// the package's, image's, bundle's or archive's name; a package's is its name in its own language (design 32): a Go package's the go.mod module path (git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go), an npm package's package.json's name (@novox/mesh-sdk)
 	Name string `json:"name"`
-	// why: a refusal's cause, or a removal's (retention, tag-gone, by-hand)
+	// why: a refusal's cause, a removal's (retention, tag-gone, by-hand), or why a removal was kept (shared-digest)
 	Reason string `json:"reason,omitempty"`
 	// the reference the seat answers: <registry>/<module>/<artifact>@sha256:<digest>, or <name>@<version> for a package (ADR 0605 §9)
 	Reference string `json:"reference,omitempty"`
 	// the tag it carries, for a tagged version
 	Tag string `json:"tag,omitempty"`
+	// for kept: the other tags still naming its digest
+	Tags []string `json:"tags,omitempty"`
 	// the transfer it ends, when it ended one
 	Transfer string `json:"transfer,omitempty"`
 	// the version the builder gave it (design 51 *The versions*); empty for a bundle or archive published by its digest alone
@@ -250,10 +256,21 @@ const (
 // RemoveAnswer is what remove answers.
 type RemoveAnswer struct {
 	Artifact *Artifact `json:"artifact,omitempty"`
+	// it stays whole, its tag and its bytes: the store cannot remove the tag alone while another tag names its digest (reason, tags)
+	Kept bool `json:"kept,omitempty"`
+	// why it was kept: shared-digest, another tag names its digest
+	Reason string `json:"reason,omitempty"`
 	// it is gone
 	Removed bool `json:"removed"`
+	// the other tags still naming its digest, when kept
+	Tags []string `json:"tags,omitempty"`
 }
 
+// The values of RemoveAnswer's reason.
+const (
+	RemoveAnswerReasonSharedDigest = "shared-digest"
+)
+
 // MirrorInput is what mirror takes.
 type MirrorInput struct {
 	// its pinned digest, sha256:<hex>
@@ -337,6 +354,9 @@ type RefusedEvent = Outcome
 // RemovedEvent is the body of the event removed.
 type RemovedEvent = Outcome
 
+// KeptEvent is the body of the event kept.
+type KeptEvent = Outcome
+
 // HeldEvent is the body of the event held.
 type HeldEvent = Hold
 
diff --git a/go/seats/containerimageregistry/contract_test.go b/go/seats/containerimageregistry/contract_test.go
index 6b5e2c0..3ad30c7 100644
--- a/go/seats/containerimageregistry/contract_test.go
+++ b/go/seats/containerimageregistry/contract_test.go
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ func TestFixtures(t *testing.T) {
 			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v RefusedEvent; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: regexp.MustCompile("^mesh\\.seat\\.container-image-registry\\.event\\.refused$")},
 		{name: "removed on the seat's subject", subject: "mesh.seat.container-image-registry.event.removed", given: "{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"holder\":\"distribution\",\"kind\":\"image\",\"name\":\"mesh-sdk\",\"reason\":\"retention\",\"reference\":\"container-image-registry/mesh-sdk/lib@sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"transfer\":\"t1\",\"version\":\"0.1.19\"}", wire: "{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"holder\":\"distribution\",\"kind\":\"image\",\"name\":\"mesh-sdk\",\"reason\":\"retention\",\"reference\":\"container-image-registry/mesh-sdk/lib@sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"transfer\":\"t1\",\"version\":\"0.1.19\"}",
 			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v RemovedEvent; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: regexp.MustCompile("^mesh\\.seat\\.container-image-registry\\.event\\.removed$")},
+		{name: "kept on the seat's subject: a tagged version sharing its digest stays, naming the tags on it", subject: "mesh.seat.container-image-registry.event.kept", given: "{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"holder\":\"distribution\",\"kind\":\"image\",\"name\":\"mesh-sdk\",\"reason\":\"shared-digest\",\"reference\":\"container-image-registry/mesh-sdk/lib@sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"tag\":\"0.1.19-feat-x.2\",\"tags\":[\"0.1.19\"],\"version\":\"0.1.19-feat-x.2\"}", wire: "{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"holder\":\"distribution\",\"kind\":\"image\",\"name\":\"mesh-sdk\",\"reason\":\"shared-digest\",\"reference\":\"container-image-registry/mesh-sdk/lib@sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"tag\":\"0.1.19-feat-x.2\",\"tags\":[\"0.1.19\"],\"version\":\"0.1.19-feat-x.2\"}",
+			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v KeptEvent; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: regexp.MustCompile("^mesh\\.seat\\.container-image-registry\\.event\\.kept$")},
 		{name: "held on the seat's subject", subject: "mesh.seat.container-image-registry.event.held", given: "{\"at\":\"2026-11-04T12:00:00Z\",\"by\":\"mesh-artifact-sweep\",\"digest\":\"sha256:bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb\",\"holder\":\"distribution\",\"name\":\"mesh-sdk\",\"reason\":\"kept by the sweep's rule\"}", wire: "{\"at\":\"2026-11-04T12:00:00Z\",\"by\":\"mesh-artifact-sweep\",\"digest\":\"sha256:bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb\",\"holder\":\"distribution\",\"name\":\"mesh-sdk\",\"reason\":\"kept by the sweep's rule\"}",
 			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v HeldEvent; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: regexp.MustCompile("^mesh\\.seat\\.container-image-registry\\.event\\.held$")},
 		{name: "released on the seat's subject", subject: "mesh.seat.container-image-registry.event.released", given: "{\"at\":\"2026-11-04T12:00:00Z\",\"by\":\"mesh-artifact-sweep\",\"digest\":\"sha256:bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb\",\"holder\":\"distribution\",\"name\":\"mesh-sdk\",\"reason\":\"kept by the sweep's rule\"}", wire: "{\"at\":\"2026-11-04T12:00:00Z\",\"by\":\"mesh-artifact-sweep\",\"digest\":\"sha256:bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb\",\"holder\":\"distribution\",\"name\":\"mesh-sdk\",\"reason\":\"kept by the sweep's rule\"}",
@@ -39,6 +41,8 @@ func TestFixtures(t *testing.T) {
 			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v VersionsAnswer; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: nil},
 		{name: "a release of what is not held answers released false", subject: "", given: "{\"released\":false}", wire: "{\"released\":false}",
 			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v ReleaseAnswer; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: nil},
+		{name: "a tagged version sharing its digest with another tag is kept, not removed", subject: "", given: "{\"kept\":true,\"reason\":\"shared-digest\",\"removed\":false,\"tags\":[\"0.1.19\"]}", wire: "{\"kept\":true,\"reason\":\"shared-digest\",\"removed\":false,\"tags\":[\"0.1.19\"]}",
+			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v RemoveAnswer; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: nil},
 	}
 	for _, c := range cases {
 		v, err := c.decode([]byte(c.given))
diff --git a/go/seats/gopackageregistry/contract.go b/go/seats/gopackageregistry/contract.go
index 54ea7a4..eb53461 100644
--- a/go/seats/gopackageregistry/contract.go
+++ b/go/seats/gopackageregistry/contract.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ const (
 	EventPublished = "published"
 	EventRefused   = "refused"
 	EventRemoved   = "removed"
+	EventKept      = "kept"
 )
 
 // Verbs is every verb the seat serves, in its definition's order: a new copy each call.
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ func Verbs() []string {
 
 // Events is every event published on the seat's subject: a new copy each call.
 func Events() []string {
-	return []string{EventPublished, EventRefused, EventRemoved}
+	return []string{EventPublished, EventRefused, EventRemoved, EventKept}
 }
 
 // Family is where the seat's events are kept: the shared events stream, filtered to the seat's subjects.
@@ -44,6 +45,9 @@ const SubjectRefused = "mesh.seat.go-package-registry.event.refused"
 // SubjectRemoved is where removed is published.
 const SubjectRemoved = "mesh.seat.go-package-registry.event.removed"
 
+// SubjectKept is where kept is published.
+const SubjectKept = "mesh.seat.go-package-registry.event.kept"
+
 // Artifact is one published thing, as every registry event and answer names it.
 type Artifact struct {
 	// the source commit it was built from
@@ -87,12 +91,14 @@ type Outcome struct {
 	Module string `json:"module,omitempty"`
 	// the package's, image's, bundle's or archive's name; a package's is its name in its own language (design 32): a Go package's the go.mod module path (git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go), an npm package's package.json's name (@novox/mesh-sdk)
 	Name string `json:"name"`
-	// why: a refusal's cause, or a removal's (retention, tag-gone, by-hand)
+	// why: a refusal's cause, a removal's (retention, tag-gone, by-hand), or why a removal was kept (shared-digest)
 	Reason string `json:"reason,omitempty"`
 	// the reference the seat answers: <registry>/<module>/<artifact>@sha256:<digest>, or <name>@<version> for a package (ADR 0605 §9)
 	Reference string `json:"reference,omitempty"`
 	// the tag it carries, for a tagged version
 	Tag string `json:"tag,omitempty"`
+	// for kept: the other tags still naming its digest
+	Tags []string `json:"tags,omitempty"`
 	// the transfer it ends, when it ended one
 	Transfer string `json:"transfer,omitempty"`
 	// the version the builder gave it (design 51 *The versions*); empty for a bundle or archive published by its digest alone
@@ -222,10 +228,21 @@ const (
 // RemoveAnswer is what remove answers.
 type RemoveAnswer struct {
 	Artifact *Artifact `json:"artifact,omitempty"`
+	// it stays whole, its tag and its bytes: the store cannot remove the tag alone while another tag names its digest (reason, tags)
+	Kept bool `json:"kept,omitempty"`
+	// why it was kept: shared-digest, another tag names its digest
+	Reason string `json:"reason,omitempty"`
 	// it is gone
 	Removed bool `json:"removed"`
+	// the other tags still naming its digest, when kept
+	Tags []string `json:"tags,omitempty"`
 }
 
+// The values of RemoveAnswer's reason.
+const (
+	RemoveAnswerReasonSharedDigest = "shared-digest"
+)
+
 // PublishedEvent is the body of the event published.
 type PublishedEvent = Outcome
 
@@ -235,6 +252,9 @@ type RefusedEvent = Outcome
 // RemovedEvent is the body of the event removed.
 type RemovedEvent = Outcome
 
+// KeptEvent is the body of the event kept.
+type KeptEvent = Outcome
+
 // GoPackageRegistryForm is the form of the provision go-package-registry.
 type GoPackageRegistryForm struct {
 	// the read side's address
diff --git a/go/seats/gopackageregistry/contract_test.go b/go/seats/gopackageregistry/contract_test.go
index 8f127f0..e5f69ec 100644
--- a/go/seats/gopackageregistry/contract_test.go
+++ b/go/seats/gopackageregistry/contract_test.go
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ func TestFixtures(t *testing.T) {
 			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v RefusedEvent; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: regexp.MustCompile("^mesh\\.seat\\.go-package-registry\\.event\\.refused$")},
 		{name: "removed on the seat's subject", subject: "mesh.seat.go-package-registry.event.removed", given: "{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"holder\":\"gitea\",\"kind\":\"package\",\"name\":\"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go\",\"reason\":\"retention\",\"reference\":\"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go@0.1.19\",\"transfer\":\"t1\",\"version\":\"0.1.19\"}", wire: "{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"holder\":\"gitea\",\"kind\":\"package\",\"name\":\"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go\",\"reason\":\"retention\",\"reference\":\"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go@0.1.19\",\"transfer\":\"t1\",\"version\":\"0.1.19\"}",
 			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v RemovedEvent; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: regexp.MustCompile("^mesh\\.seat\\.go-package-registry\\.event\\.removed$")},
+		{name: "kept on the seat's subject: a tagged version sharing its digest stays, naming the tags on it", subject: "mesh.seat.go-package-registry.event.kept", given: "{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"holder\":\"gitea\",\"kind\":\"package\",\"name\":\"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go\",\"reason\":\"shared-digest\",\"reference\":\"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go@0.1.19\",\"tag\":\"0.1.19-feat-x.2\",\"tags\":[\"0.1.19\"],\"version\":\"0.1.19-feat-x.2\"}", wire: "{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"holder\":\"gitea\",\"kind\":\"package\",\"name\":\"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go\",\"reason\":\"shared-digest\",\"reference\":\"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go@0.1.19\",\"tag\":\"0.1.19-feat-x.2\",\"tags\":[\"0.1.19\"],\"version\":\"0.1.19-feat-x.2\"}",
+			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v KeptEvent; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: regexp.MustCompile("^mesh\\.seat\\.go-package-registry\\.event\\.kept$")},
 		{name: "publish opens a transfer", subject: "", given: "{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"kind\":\"package\",\"name\":\"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go\",\"parts\":[{\"digest\":\"sha256:bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb\",\"size\":1048576}],\"transfer\":\"t1\",\"version\":\"0.1.19\"}", wire: "{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"kind\":\"package\",\"name\":\"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go\",\"parts\":[{\"digest\":\"sha256:bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb\",\"size\":1048576}],\"transfer\":\"t1\",\"version\":\"0.1.19\"}",
 			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v PublishInput; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: nil},
 		{name: "a field the reader does not know is dropped", subject: "", given: "{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"kind\":\"package\",\"later\":{\"x\":1},\"name\":\"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go\",\"parts\":[{\"digest\":\"sha256:bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb\",\"size\":1048576}],\"transfer\":\"t1\",\"version\":\"0.1.19\"}", wire: "{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"kind\":\"package\",\"name\":\"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go\",\"parts\":[{\"digest\":\"sha256:bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb\",\"size\":1048576}],\"transfer\":\"t1\",\"version\":\"0.1.19\"}",
@@ -33,6 +35,8 @@ func TestFixtures(t *testing.T) {
 			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v PublishPartInput; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: nil},
 		{name: "the versions held", subject: "", given: "{\"name\":\"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go\",\"versions\":[{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"kind\":\"package\",\"name\":\"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go\",\"version\":\"0.1.19\"}]}", wire: "{\"name\":\"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go\",\"versions\":[{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"kind\":\"package\",\"name\":\"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go\",\"version\":\"0.1.19\"}]}",
 			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v VersionsAnswer; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: nil},
+		{name: "a tagged version sharing its digest with another tag is kept, not removed", subject: "", given: "{\"kept\":true,\"reason\":\"shared-digest\",\"removed\":false,\"tags\":[\"0.1.19\"]}", wire: "{\"kept\":true,\"reason\":\"shared-digest\",\"removed\":false,\"tags\":[\"0.1.19\"]}",
+			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v RemoveAnswer; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: nil},
 	}
 	for _, c := range cases {
 		v, err := c.decode([]byte(c.given))
diff --git a/go/seats/npmpackageregistry/contract.go b/go/seats/npmpackageregistry/contract.go
index 1237a9e..5f39cb8 100644
--- a/go/seats/npmpackageregistry/contract.go
+++ b/go/seats/npmpackageregistry/contract.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ const (
 	EventPublished = "published"
 	EventRefused   = "refused"
 	EventRemoved   = "removed"
+	EventKept      = "kept"
 )
 
 // Verbs is every verb the seat serves, in its definition's order: a new copy each call.
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ func Verbs() []string {
 
 // Events is every event published on the seat's subject: a new copy each call.
 func Events() []string {
-	return []string{EventPublished, EventRefused, EventRemoved}
+	return []string{EventPublished, EventRefused, EventRemoved, EventKept}
 }
 
 // Family is where the seat's events are kept: the shared events stream, filtered to the seat's subjects.
@@ -44,6 +45,9 @@ const SubjectRefused = "mesh.seat.npm-package-registry.event.refused"
 // SubjectRemoved is where removed is published.
 const SubjectRemoved = "mesh.seat.npm-package-registry.event.removed"
 
+// SubjectKept is where kept is published.
+const SubjectKept = "mesh.seat.npm-package-registry.event.kept"
+
 // Artifact is one published thing, as every registry event and answer names it.
 type Artifact struct {
 	// the source commit it was built from
@@ -87,12 +91,14 @@ type Outcome struct {
 	Module string `json:"module,omitempty"`
 	// the package's, image's, bundle's or archive's name; a package's is its name in its own language (design 32): a Go package's the go.mod module path (git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go), an npm package's package.json's name (@novox/mesh-sdk)
 	Name string `json:"name"`
-	// why: a refusal's cause, or a removal's (retention, tag-gone, by-hand)
+	// why: a refusal's cause, a removal's (retention, tag-gone, by-hand), or why a removal was kept (shared-digest)
 	Reason string `json:"reason,omitempty"`
 	// the reference the seat answers: <registry>/<module>/<artifact>@sha256:<digest>, or <name>@<version> for a package (ADR 0605 §9)
 	Reference string `json:"reference,omitempty"`
 	// the tag it carries, for a tagged version
 	Tag string `json:"tag,omitempty"`
+	// for kept: the other tags still naming its digest
+	Tags []string `json:"tags,omitempty"`
 	// the transfer it ends, when it ended one
 	Transfer string `json:"transfer,omitempty"`
 	// the version the builder gave it (design 51 *The versions*); empty for a bundle or archive published by its digest alone
@@ -222,10 +228,21 @@ const (
 // RemoveAnswer is what remove answers.
 type RemoveAnswer struct {
 	Artifact *Artifact `json:"artifact,omitempty"`
+	// it stays whole, its tag and its bytes: the store cannot remove the tag alone while another tag names its digest (reason, tags)
+	Kept bool `json:"kept,omitempty"`
+	// why it was kept: shared-digest, another tag names its digest
+	Reason string `json:"reason,omitempty"`
 	// it is gone
 	Removed bool `json:"removed"`
+	// the other tags still naming its digest, when kept
+	Tags []string `json:"tags,omitempty"`
 }
 
+// The values of RemoveAnswer's reason.
+const (
+	RemoveAnswerReasonSharedDigest = "shared-digest"
+)
+
 // PublishedEvent is the body of the event published.
 type PublishedEvent = Outcome
 
@@ -235,6 +252,9 @@ type RefusedEvent = Outcome
 // RemovedEvent is the body of the event removed.
 type RemovedEvent = Outcome
 
+// KeptEvent is the body of the event kept.
+type KeptEvent = Outcome
+
 // NpmPackageRegistryForm is the form of the provision npm-package-registry.
 type NpmPackageRegistryForm struct {
 	// the read side's address
diff --git a/go/seats/npmpackageregistry/contract_test.go b/go/seats/npmpackageregistry/contract_test.go
index ed57d7f..3092b37 100644
--- a/go/seats/npmpackageregistry/contract_test.go
+++ b/go/seats/npmpackageregistry/contract_test.go
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ func TestFixtures(t *testing.T) {
 			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v RefusedEvent; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: regexp.MustCompile("^mesh\\.seat\\.npm-package-registry\\.event\\.refused$")},
 		{name: "removed on the seat's subject", subject: "mesh.seat.npm-package-registry.event.removed", given: "{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"holder\":\"gitea\",\"kind\":\"package\",\"name\":\"@novox/mesh-sdk\",\"reason\":\"retention\",\"reference\":\"@novox/mesh-sdk@0.1.19\",\"transfer\":\"t1\",\"version\":\"0.1.19\"}", wire: "{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"holder\":\"gitea\",\"kind\":\"package\",\"name\":\"@novox/mesh-sdk\",\"reason\":\"retention\",\"reference\":\"@novox/mesh-sdk@0.1.19\",\"transfer\":\"t1\",\"version\":\"0.1.19\"}",
 			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v RemovedEvent; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: regexp.MustCompile("^mesh\\.seat\\.npm-package-registry\\.event\\.removed$")},
+		{name: "kept on the seat's subject: a tagged version sharing its digest stays, naming the tags on it", subject: "mesh.seat.npm-package-registry.event.kept", given: "{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"holder\":\"gitea\",\"kind\":\"package\",\"name\":\"@novox/mesh-sdk\",\"reason\":\"shared-digest\",\"reference\":\"@novox/mesh-sdk@0.1.19\",\"tag\":\"0.1.19-feat-x.2\",\"tags\":[\"0.1.19\"],\"version\":\"0.1.19-feat-x.2\"}", wire: "{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"holder\":\"gitea\",\"kind\":\"package\",\"name\":\"@novox/mesh-sdk\",\"reason\":\"shared-digest\",\"reference\":\"@novox/mesh-sdk@0.1.19\",\"tag\":\"0.1.19-feat-x.2\",\"tags\":[\"0.1.19\"],\"version\":\"0.1.19-feat-x.2\"}",
+			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v KeptEvent; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: regexp.MustCompile("^mesh\\.seat\\.npm-package-registry\\.event\\.kept$")},
 		{name: "publish opens a transfer", subject: "", given: "{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"kind\":\"package\",\"name\":\"@novox/mesh-sdk\",\"parts\":[{\"digest\":\"sha256:bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb\",\"size\":1048576}],\"transfer\":\"t1\",\"version\":\"0.1.19\"}", wire: "{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"kind\":\"package\",\"name\":\"@novox/mesh-sdk\",\"parts\":[{\"digest\":\"sha256:bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb\",\"size\":1048576}],\"transfer\":\"t1\",\"version\":\"0.1.19\"}",
 			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v PublishInput; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: nil},
 		{name: "a field the reader does not know is dropped", subject: "", given: "{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"kind\":\"package\",\"later\":{\"x\":1},\"name\":\"@novox/mesh-sdk\",\"parts\":[{\"digest\":\"sha256:bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb\",\"size\":1048576}],\"transfer\":\"t1\",\"version\":\"0.1.19\"}", wire: "{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"kind\":\"package\",\"name\":\"@novox/mesh-sdk\",\"parts\":[{\"digest\":\"sha256:bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb\",\"size\":1048576}],\"transfer\":\"t1\",\"version\":\"0.1.19\"}",
@@ -33,6 +35,8 @@ func TestFixtures(t *testing.T) {
 			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v PublishPartInput; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: nil},
 		{name: "the versions held", subject: "", given: "{\"name\":\"@novox/mesh-sdk\",\"versions\":[{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"kind\":\"package\",\"name\":\"@novox/mesh-sdk\",\"version\":\"0.1.19\"}]}", wire: "{\"name\":\"@novox/mesh-sdk\",\"versions\":[{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"kind\":\"package\",\"name\":\"@novox/mesh-sdk\",\"version\":\"0.1.19\"}]}",
 			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v VersionsAnswer; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: nil},
+		{name: "a tagged version sharing its digest with another tag is kept, not removed", subject: "", given: "{\"kept\":true,\"reason\":\"shared-digest\",\"removed\":false,\"tags\":[\"0.1.19\"]}", wire: "{\"kept\":true,\"reason\":\"shared-digest\",\"removed\":false,\"tags\":[\"0.1.19\"]}",
+			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v RemoveAnswer; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: nil},
 	}
 	for _, c := range cases {
 		v, err := c.decode([]byte(c.given))
diff --git a/go/seats/ociartifactregistry/contract.go b/go/seats/ociartifactregistry/contract.go
index a02d700..39bba8b 100644
--- a/go/seats/ociartifactregistry/contract.go
+++ b/go/seats/ociartifactregistry/contract.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ const (
 	EventPublished = "published"
 	EventRefused   = "refused"
 	EventRemoved   = "removed"
+	EventKept      = "kept"
 	EventHeld      = "held"
 	EventReleased  = "released"
 )
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@ func Verbs() []string {
 
 // Events is every event published on the seat's subject: a new copy each call.
 func Events() []string {
-	return []string{EventPublished, EventRefused, EventRemoved, EventHeld, EventReleased}
+	return []string{EventPublished, EventRefused, EventRemoved, EventKept, EventHeld, EventReleased}
 }
 
 // Family is where the seat's events are kept: the shared events stream, filtered to the seat's subjects.
@@ -48,6 +49,9 @@ const SubjectRefused = "mesh.seat.oci-artifact-registry.event.refused"
 // SubjectRemoved is where removed is published.
 const SubjectRemoved = "mesh.seat.oci-artifact-registry.event.removed"
 
+// SubjectKept is where kept is published.
+const SubjectKept = "mesh.seat.oci-artifact-registry.event.kept"
+
 // SubjectHeld is where held is published.
 const SubjectHeld = "mesh.seat.oci-artifact-registry.event.held"
 
@@ -113,12 +117,14 @@ type Outcome struct {
 	Module string `json:"module,omitempty"`
 	// the package's, image's, bundle's or archive's name; a package's is its name in its own language (design 32): a Go package's the go.mod module path (git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go), an npm package's package.json's name (@novox/mesh-sdk)
 	Name string `json:"name"`
-	// why: a refusal's cause, or a removal's (retention, tag-gone, by-hand)
+	// why: a refusal's cause, a removal's (retention, tag-gone, by-hand), or why a removal was kept (shared-digest)
 	Reason string `json:"reason,omitempty"`
 	// the reference the seat answers: <registry>/<module>/<artifact>@sha256:<digest>, or <name>@<version> for a package (ADR 0605 §9)
 	Reference string `json:"reference,omitempty"`
 	// the tag it carries, for a tagged version
 	Tag string `json:"tag,omitempty"`
+	// for kept: the other tags still naming its digest
+	Tags []string `json:"tags,omitempty"`
 	// the transfer it ends, when it ended one
 	Transfer string `json:"transfer,omitempty"`
 	// the version the builder gave it (design 51 *The versions*); empty for a bundle or archive published by its digest alone
@@ -248,10 +254,21 @@ const (
 // RemoveAnswer is what remove answers.
 type RemoveAnswer struct {
 	Artifact *Artifact `json:"artifact,omitempty"`
+	// it stays whole, its tag and its bytes: the store cannot remove the tag alone while another tag names its digest (reason, tags)
+	Kept bool `json:"kept,omitempty"`
+	// why it was kept: shared-digest, another tag names its digest
+	Reason string `json:"reason,omitempty"`
 	// it is gone
 	Removed bool `json:"removed"`
+	// the other tags still naming its digest, when kept
+	Tags []string `json:"tags,omitempty"`
 }
 
+// The values of RemoveAnswer's reason.
+const (
+	RemoveAnswerReasonSharedDigest = "shared-digest"
+)
+
 // HoldInput is what hold takes.
 type HoldInput struct {
 	// the digest
@@ -295,6 +312,9 @@ type RefusedEvent = Outcome
 // RemovedEvent is the body of the event removed.
 type RemovedEvent = Outcome
 
+// KeptEvent is the body of the event kept.
+type KeptEvent = Outcome
+
 // HeldEvent is the body of the event held.
 type HeldEvent = Hold
 
diff --git a/go/seats/ociartifactregistry/contract_test.go b/go/seats/ociartifactregistry/contract_test.go
index 8c8cdd6..9a2f3a2 100644
--- a/go/seats/ociartifactregistry/contract_test.go
+++ b/go/seats/ociartifactregistry/contract_test.go
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ func TestFixtures(t *testing.T) {
 			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v RefusedEvent; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: regexp.MustCompile("^mesh\\.seat\\.oci-artifact-registry\\.event\\.refused$")},
 		{name: "removed on the seat's subject", subject: "mesh.seat.oci-artifact-registry.event.removed", given: "{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"holder\":\"distribution\",\"kind\":\"bundle\",\"name\":\"mesh-sdk\",\"reason\":\"retention\",\"reference\":\"oci-artifact-registry/mesh-sdk/lib@sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"transfer\":\"t1\",\"version\":\"0.1.19\"}", wire: "{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"holder\":\"distribution\",\"kind\":\"bundle\",\"name\":\"mesh-sdk\",\"reason\":\"retention\",\"reference\":\"oci-artifact-registry/mesh-sdk/lib@sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"transfer\":\"t1\",\"version\":\"0.1.19\"}",
 			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v RemovedEvent; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: regexp.MustCompile("^mesh\\.seat\\.oci-artifact-registry\\.event\\.removed$")},
+		{name: "kept on the seat's subject: a tagged version sharing its digest stays, naming the tags on it", subject: "mesh.seat.oci-artifact-registry.event.kept", given: "{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"holder\":\"distribution\",\"kind\":\"bundle\",\"name\":\"mesh-sdk\",\"reason\":\"shared-digest\",\"reference\":\"oci-artifact-registry/mesh-sdk/lib@sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"tag\":\"0.1.19-feat-x.2\",\"tags\":[\"0.1.19\"],\"version\":\"0.1.19-feat-x.2\"}", wire: "{\"commit\":\"cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc\",\"digest\":\"sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"fingerprint\":\"f1\",\"holder\":\"distribution\",\"kind\":\"bundle\",\"name\":\"mesh-sdk\",\"reason\":\"shared-digest\",\"reference\":\"oci-artifact-registry/mesh-sdk/lib@sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\",\"tag\":\"0.1.19-feat-x.2\",\"tags\":[\"0.1.19\"],\"version\":\"0.1.19-feat-x.2\"}",
+			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v KeptEvent; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: regexp.MustCompile("^mesh\\.seat\\.oci-artifact-registry\\.event\\.kept$")},
 		{name: "held on the seat's subject", subject: "mesh.seat.oci-artifact-registry.event.held", given: "{\"at\":\"2026-11-04T12:00:00Z\",\"by\":\"mesh-artifact-sweep\",\"digest\":\"sha256:bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb\",\"holder\":\"distribution\",\"name\":\"mesh-sdk\",\"reason\":\"kept by the sweep's rule\"}", wire: "{\"at\":\"2026-11-04T12:00:00Z\",\"by\":\"mesh-artifact-sweep\",\"digest\":\"sha256:bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb\",\"holder\":\"distribution\",\"name\":\"mesh-sdk\",\"reason\":\"kept by the sweep's rule\"}",
 			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v HeldEvent; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: regexp.MustCompile("^mesh\\.seat\\.oci-artifact-registry\\.event\\.held$")},
 		{name: "released on the seat's subject", subject: "mesh.seat.oci-artifact-registry.event.released", given: "{\"at\":\"2026-11-04T12:00:00Z\",\"by\":\"mesh-artifact-sweep\",\"digest\":\"sha256:bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb\",\"holder\":\"distribution\",\"name\":\"mesh-sdk\",\"reason\":\"kept by the sweep's rule\"}", wire: "{\"at\":\"2026-11-04T12:00:00Z\",\"by\":\"mesh-artifact-sweep\",\"digest\":\"sha256:bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb\",\"holder\":\"distribution\",\"name\":\"mesh-sdk\",\"reason\":\"kept by the sweep's rule\"}",
@@ -39,6 +41,8 @@ func TestFixtures(t *testing.T) {
 			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v VersionsAnswer; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: nil},
 		{name: "a release of what is not held answers released false", subject: "", given: "{\"released\":false}", wire: "{\"released\":false}",
 			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v ReleaseAnswer; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: nil},
+		{name: "a tagged version sharing its digest with another tag is kept, not removed", subject: "", given: "{\"kept\":true,\"reason\":\"shared-digest\",\"removed\":false,\"tags\":[\"0.1.19\"]}", wire: "{\"kept\":true,\"reason\":\"shared-digest\",\"removed\":false,\"tags\":[\"0.1.19\"]}",
+			decode: func(b []byte) (any, error) { var v RemoveAnswer; err := json.Unmarshal(b, &v); return v, err }, subjectIs: nil},
 	}
 	for _, c := range cases {
 		v, err := c.decode([]byte(c.given))
diff --git a/go/seats/seats.go b/go/seats/seats.go
index 3464d0d..125f4fe 100644
--- a/go/seats/seats.go
+++ b/go/seats/seats.go
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ func List() []Seat {
 				{Name: "images", Description: "Every container image one machine's want and have name, each with the resources naming it: what the machine keeps when it prunes its images. Reads only.",
 					Input: map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"node": map[string]any{"description": "the machine's name", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"node"}, "type": "object"}},
 			}},
-		{Name: NpmPackageRegistry, Scope: "mesh", Grain: "whole", Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0109", Delivers: "npm-package-registry", Emits: []string{"published", "refused", "removed"},
+		{Name: NpmPackageRegistry, Scope: "mesh", Grain: "whole", Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0109", Delivers: "npm-package-registry", Emits: []string{"published", "refused", "removed", "kept"},
 			Serves: []Verb{
 				{Name: "publish", Description: "Open a transfer, naming the artifact and the digest of every part; answers the digests the holder lacks, which the caller then sends by publish-part. A transfer already open answers the parts held, so a cut transfer goes on from there. With no parts and a version, the held digest is published under that version and nothing is stored (the trunk's claim).", Optional: true,
 					Input:  map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"commit": map[string]any{"description": "the source commit it was built from", "type": "string"}, "digest": map[string]any{"description": "its digest, sha256:<hex> (a Go package's h1: hash beside it in the version's record)", "type": "string"}, "fingerprint": map[string]any{"description": "the build's fingerprint", "type": "string"}, "kind": map[string]any{"description": "what it is", "enum": []string{"package", "image", "bundle", "archive", "upstream"}, "type": "string"}, "name": map[string]any{"description": "the package's, image's, bundle's or archive's name; a package's is its name in its own language (design 32): a Go package's the go.mod module path (git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go), an npm package's package.json's name (@novox/mesh-sdk)", "type": "string"}, "parts": map[string]any{"description": "every part's digest and size; none when the digest is already held", "items": map[string]any{"description": "one part of a transfer", "properties": map[string]any{"digest": map[string]any{"description": "the part's digest, sha256:<hex>: an image's layer or config, a package's file, a bundle's blob", "type": "string"}, "size": map[string]any{"description": "its size in bytes", "type": "integer"}}, "required": []string{"digest", "size"}, "type": "object"}, "type": "array"}, "tag": map[string]any{"description": "the tag it carries, for a tagged version", "type": "string"}, "transfer": map[string]any{"description": "the transfer's name, the caller's own; the same name opens the same transfer again", "type": "string"}, "version": map[string]any{"description": "the version the builder gave it (design 51 *The versions*); empty for a bundle or archive published by its digest alone", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"transfer", "name", "kind", "digest"}, "type": "object"},
@@ -392,11 +392,11 @@ func List() []Seat {
 				{Name: "versions", Description: "The versions the seat holds of one name, newest first: each one's version, tag, digest, kind and when it was published.", Optional: true,
 					Input:  map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"kind": map[string]any{"description": "narrowed to one kind (optional)", "type": "string"}, "name": map[string]any{"description": "the name", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"name"}, "type": "object"},
 					Output: map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"name": map[string]any{"description": "the name", "type": "string"}, "versions": map[string]any{"description": "newest first", "items": map[string]any{"description": "one published thing, as every registry event and answer names it", "properties": map[string]any{"commit": map[string]any{"description": "the source commit it was built from", "type": "string"}, "digest": map[string]any{"description": "its digest, sha256:<hex> (a Go package's h1: hash beside it in the version's record)", "type": "string"}, "fingerprint": map[string]any{"description": "the build's fingerprint", "type": "string"}, "kind": map[string]any{"description": "what it is", "enum": []string{"package", "image", "bundle", "archive", "upstream"}, "type": "string"}, "name": map[string]any{"description": "the package's, image's, bundle's or archive's name; a package's is its name in its own language (design 32): a Go package's the go.mod module path (git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go), an npm package's package.json's name (@novox/mesh-sdk)", "type": "string"}, "tag": map[string]any{"description": "the tag it carries, for a tagged version", "type": "string"}, "version": map[string]any{"description": "the version the builder gave it (design 51 *The versions*); empty for a bundle or archive published by its digest alone", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"name", "kind", "digest"}, "type": "object"}, "type": "array"}}, "required": []string{"name", "versions"}, "type": "object"}},
-				{Name: "remove", Description: "Remove one tagged version; the holder refuses an untagged one but for the retention removal of a bundle, archive or copied base by the artifact sweep's holder. Every removal emits removed with its reason.", Optional: true,
+				{Name: "remove", Description: "Remove one tagged version; the holder refuses an untagged one but for the retention removal of a bundle, archive or copied base by the artifact sweep's holder. Every removal emits removed with its reason. A tagged version the store cannot remove alone, because another tag names its digest, stays whole, its tag and bytes kept: the answer says kept with the reason shared-digest and the tags still naming the digest, removed false, and kept is emitted, never removed; the caller ends there without a retry.", Optional: true,
 					Input:  map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"digest": map[string]any{"description": "the digest (for a bundle, archive or copied base)", "type": "string"}, "name": map[string]any{"description": "the name", "type": "string"}, "reason": map[string]any{"description": "why it goes", "enum": []string{"tag-gone", "retention"}, "type": "string"}, "tag": map[string]any{"description": "the tag (for a tagged version)", "type": "string"}, "version": map[string]any{"description": "the version", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"name", "reason"}, "type": "object"},
-					Output: map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"artifact": map[string]any{"description": "one published thing, as every registry event and answer names it", "properties": map[string]any{"commit": map[string]any{"description": "the source commit it was built from", "type": "string"}, "digest": map[string]any{"description": "its digest, sha256:<hex> (a Go package's h1: hash beside it in the version's record)", "type": "string"}, "fingerprint": map[string]any{"description": "the build's fingerprint", "type": "string"}, "kind": map[string]any{"description": "what it is", "enum": []string{"package", "image", "bundle", "archive", "upstream"}, "type": "string"}, "name": map[string]any{"description": "the package's, image's, bundle's or archive's name; a package's is its name in its own language (design 32): a Go package's the go.mod module path (git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go), an npm package's package.json's name (@novox/mesh-sdk)", "type": "string"}, "tag": map[string]any{"description": "the tag it carries, for a tagged version", "type": "string"}, "version": map[string]any{"description": "the version the builder gave it (design 51 *The versions*); empty for a bundle or archive published by its digest alone", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"name", "kind", "digest"}, "type": "object"}, "removed": map[string]any{"description": "it is gone", "type": "boolean"}}, "required": []string{"removed"}, "type": "object"}},
+					Output: map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"artifact": map[string]any{"description": "one published thing, as every registry event and answer names it", "properties": map[string]any{"commit": map[string]any{"description": "the source commit it was built from", "type": "string"}, "digest": map[string]any{"description": "its digest, sha256:<hex> (a Go package's h1: hash beside it in the version's record)", "type": "string"}, "fingerprint": map[string]any{"description": "the build's fingerprint", "type": "string"}, "kind": map[string]any{"description": "what it is", "enum": []string{"package", "image", "bundle", "archive", "upstream"}, "type": "string"}, "name": map[string]any{"description": "the package's, image's, bundle's or archive's name; a package's is its name in its own language (design 32): a Go package's the go.mod module path (git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go), an npm package's package.json's name (@novox/mesh-sdk)", "type": "string"}, "tag": map[string]any{"description": "the tag it carries, for a tagged version", "type": "string"}, "version": map[string]any{"description": "the version the builder gave it (design 51 *The versions*); empty for a bundle or archive published by its digest alone", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"name", "kind", "digest"}, "type": "object"}, "kept": map[string]any{"description": "it stays whole, its tag and its bytes: the store cannot remove the tag alone while another tag names its digest (reason, tags)", "type": "boolean"}, "reason": map[string]any{"description": "why it was kept: shared-digest, another tag names its digest", "enum": []string{"shared-digest"}, "type": "string"}, "removed": map[string]any{"description": "it is gone", "type": "boolean"}, "tags": map[string]any{"description": "the other tags still naming its digest, when kept", "items": map[string]any{"type": "string"}, "type": "array"}}, "required": []string{"removed"}, "type": "object"}},
 			}},
-		{Name: GoPackageRegistry, Scope: "mesh", Grain: "whole", Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0605", Delivers: "go-package-registry", Emits: []string{"published", "refused", "removed"},
+		{Name: GoPackageRegistry, Scope: "mesh", Grain: "whole", Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0605", Delivers: "go-package-registry", Emits: []string{"published", "refused", "removed", "kept"},
 			Serves: []Verb{
 				{Name: "publish", Description: "Open a transfer, naming the artifact and the digest of every part; answers the digests the holder lacks, which the caller then sends by publish-part. A transfer already open answers the parts held, so a cut transfer goes on from there. With no parts and a version, the held digest is published under that version and nothing is stored (the trunk's claim).", Optional: true,
 					Input:  map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"commit": map[string]any{"description": "the source commit it was built from", "type": "string"}, "digest": map[string]any{"description": "its digest, sha256:<hex> (a Go package's h1: hash beside it in the version's record)", "type": "string"}, "fingerprint": map[string]any{"description": "the build's fingerprint", "type": "string"}, "kind": map[string]any{"description": "what it is", "enum": []string{"package", "image", "bundle", "archive", "upstream"}, "type": "string"}, "name": map[string]any{"description": "the package's, image's, bundle's or archive's name; a package's is its name in its own language (design 32): a Go package's the go.mod module path (git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go), an npm package's package.json's name (@novox/mesh-sdk)", "type": "string"}, "parts": map[string]any{"description": "every part's digest and size; none when the digest is already held", "items": map[string]any{"description": "one part of a transfer", "properties": map[string]any{"digest": map[string]any{"description": "the part's digest, sha256:<hex>: an image's layer or config, a package's file, a bundle's blob", "type": "string"}, "size": map[string]any{"description": "its size in bytes", "type": "integer"}}, "required": []string{"digest", "size"}, "type": "object"}, "type": "array"}, "tag": map[string]any{"description": "the tag it carries, for a tagged version", "type": "string"}, "transfer": map[string]any{"description": "the transfer's name, the caller's own; the same name opens the same transfer again", "type": "string"}, "version": map[string]any{"description": "the version the builder gave it (design 51 *The versions*); empty for a bundle or archive published by its digest alone", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"transfer", "name", "kind", "digest"}, "type": "object"},
@@ -407,11 +407,11 @@ func List() []Seat {
 				{Name: "versions", Description: "The versions the seat holds of one name, newest first: each one's version, tag, digest, kind and when it was published.", Optional: true,
 					Input:  map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"kind": map[string]any{"description": "narrowed to one kind (optional)", "type": "string"}, "name": map[string]any{"description": "the name", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"name"}, "type": "object"},
 					Output: map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"name": map[string]any{"description": "the name", "type": "string"}, "versions": map[string]any{"description": "newest first", "items": map[string]any{"description": "one published thing, as every registry event and answer names it", "properties": map[string]any{"commit": map[string]any{"description": "the source commit it was built from", "type": "string"}, "digest": map[string]any{"description": "its digest, sha256:<hex> (a Go package's h1: hash beside it in the version's record)", "type": "string"}, "fingerprint": map[string]any{"description": "the build's fingerprint", "type": "string"}, "kind": map[string]any{"description": "what it is", "enum": []string{"package", "image", "bundle", "archive", "upstream"}, "type": "string"}, "name": map[string]any{"description": "the package's, image's, bundle's or archive's name; a package's is its name in its own language (design 32): a Go package's the go.mod module path (git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go), an npm package's package.json's name (@novox/mesh-sdk)", "type": "string"}, "tag": map[string]any{"description": "the tag it carries, for a tagged version", "type": "string"}, "version": map[string]any{"description": "the version the builder gave it (design 51 *The versions*); empty for a bundle or archive published by its digest alone", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"name", "kind", "digest"}, "type": "object"}, "type": "array"}}, "required": []string{"name", "versions"}, "type": "object"}},
-				{Name: "remove", Description: "Remove one tagged version; the holder refuses an untagged one but for the retention removal of a bundle, archive or copied base by the artifact sweep's holder. Every removal emits removed with its reason.", Optional: true,
+				{Name: "remove", Description: "Remove one tagged version; the holder refuses an untagged one but for the retention removal of a bundle, archive or copied base by the artifact sweep's holder. Every removal emits removed with its reason. A tagged version the store cannot remove alone, because another tag names its digest, stays whole, its tag and bytes kept: the answer says kept with the reason shared-digest and the tags still naming the digest, removed false, and kept is emitted, never removed; the caller ends there without a retry.", Optional: true,
 					Input:  map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"digest": map[string]any{"description": "the digest (for a bundle, archive or copied base)", "type": "string"}, "name": map[string]any{"description": "the name", "type": "string"}, "reason": map[string]any{"description": "why it goes", "enum": []string{"tag-gone", "retention"}, "type": "string"}, "tag": map[string]any{"description": "the tag (for a tagged version)", "type": "string"}, "version": map[string]any{"description": "the version", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"name", "reason"}, "type": "object"},
-					Output: map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"artifact": map[string]any{"description": "one published thing, as every registry event and answer names it", "properties": map[string]any{"commit": map[string]any{"description": "the source commit it was built from", "type": "string"}, "digest": map[string]any{"description": "its digest, sha256:<hex> (a Go package's h1: hash beside it in the version's record)", "type": "string"}, "fingerprint": map[string]any{"description": "the build's fingerprint", "type": "string"}, "kind": map[string]any{"description": "what it is", "enum": []string{"package", "image", "bundle", "archive", "upstream"}, "type": "string"}, "name": map[string]any{"description": "the package's, image's, bundle's or archive's name; a package's is its name in its own language (design 32): a Go package's the go.mod module path (git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go), an npm package's package.json's name (@novox/mesh-sdk)", "type": "string"}, "tag": map[string]any{"description": "the tag it carries, for a tagged version", "type": "string"}, "version": map[string]any{"description": "the version the builder gave it (design 51 *The versions*); empty for a bundle or archive published by its digest alone", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"name", "kind", "digest"}, "type": "object"}, "removed": map[string]any{"description": "it is gone", "type": "boolean"}}, "required": []string{"removed"}, "type": "object"}},
+					Output: map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"artifact": map[string]any{"description": "one published thing, as every registry event and answer names it", "properties": map[string]any{"commit": map[string]any{"description": "the source commit it was built from", "type": "string"}, "digest": map[string]any{"description": "its digest, sha256:<hex> (a Go package's h1: hash beside it in the version's record)", "type": "string"}, "fingerprint": map[string]any{"description": "the build's fingerprint", "type": "string"}, "kind": map[string]any{"description": "what it is", "enum": []string{"package", "image", "bundle", "archive", "upstream"}, "type": "string"}, "name": map[string]any{"description": "the package's, image's, bundle's or archive's name; a package's is its name in its own language (design 32): a Go package's the go.mod module path (git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go), an npm package's package.json's name (@novox/mesh-sdk)", "type": "string"}, "tag": map[string]any{"description": "the tag it carries, for a tagged version", "type": "string"}, "version": map[string]any{"description": "the version the builder gave it (design 51 *The versions*); empty for a bundle or archive published by its digest alone", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"name", "kind", "digest"}, "type": "object"}, "kept": map[string]any{"description": "it stays whole, its tag and its bytes: the store cannot remove the tag alone while another tag names its digest (reason, tags)", "type": "boolean"}, "reason": map[string]any{"description": "why it was kept: shared-digest, another tag names its digest", "enum": []string{"shared-digest"}, "type": "string"}, "removed": map[string]any{"description": "it is gone", "type": "boolean"}, "tags": map[string]any{"description": "the other tags still naming its digest, when kept", "items": map[string]any{"type": "string"}, "type": "array"}}, "required": []string{"removed"}, "type": "object"}},
 			}},
-		{Name: ContainerImageRegistry, Scope: "mesh", Grain: "whole", Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0605", Delivers: "artifact-store", Emits: []string{"published", "refused", "removed", "held", "released"},
+		{Name: ContainerImageRegistry, Scope: "mesh", Grain: "whole", Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0605", Delivers: "artifact-store", Emits: []string{"published", "refused", "removed", "kept", "held", "released"},
 			Serves: []Verb{
 				{Name: "publish", Description: "Open a transfer, naming the artifact and the digest of every part; answers the digests the holder lacks, which the caller then sends by publish-part. A transfer already open answers the parts held, so a cut transfer goes on from there. With no parts and a version, the held digest is published under that version and nothing is stored (the trunk's claim).", Optional: true,
 					Input:  map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"commit": map[string]any{"description": "the source commit it was built from", "type": "string"}, "digest": map[string]any{"description": "its digest, sha256:<hex> (a Go package's h1: hash beside it in the version's record)", "type": "string"}, "fingerprint": map[string]any{"description": "the build's fingerprint", "type": "string"}, "kind": map[string]any{"description": "what it is", "enum": []string{"package", "image", "bundle", "archive", "upstream"}, "type": "string"}, "name": map[string]any{"description": "the package's, image's, bundle's or archive's name; a package's is its name in its own language (design 32): a Go package's the go.mod module path (git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go), an npm package's package.json's name (@novox/mesh-sdk)", "type": "string"}, "parts": map[string]any{"description": "every part's digest and size; none when the digest is already held", "items": map[string]any{"description": "one part of a transfer", "properties": map[string]any{"digest": map[string]any{"description": "the part's digest, sha256:<hex>: an image's layer or config, a package's file, a bundle's blob", "type": "string"}, "size": map[string]any{"description": "its size in bytes", "type": "integer"}}, "required": []string{"digest", "size"}, "type": "object"}, "type": "array"}, "tag": map[string]any{"description": "the tag it carries, for a tagged version", "type": "string"}, "transfer": map[string]any{"description": "the transfer's name, the caller's own; the same name opens the same transfer again", "type": "string"}, "version": map[string]any{"description": "the version the builder gave it (design 51 *The versions*); empty for a bundle or archive published by its digest alone", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"transfer", "name", "kind", "digest"}, "type": "object"},
@@ -422,9 +422,9 @@ func List() []Seat {
 				{Name: "versions", Description: "The versions the seat holds of one name, newest first: each one's version, tag, digest, kind and when it was published.", Optional: true,
 					Input:  map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"kind": map[string]any{"description": "narrowed to one kind (optional)", "type": "string"}, "name": map[string]any{"description": "the name", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"name"}, "type": "object"},
 					Output: map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"name": map[string]any{"description": "the name", "type": "string"}, "versions": map[string]any{"description": "newest first", "items": map[string]any{"description": "one published thing, as every registry event and answer names it", "properties": map[string]any{"commit": map[string]any{"description": "the source commit it was built from", "type": "string"}, "digest": map[string]any{"description": "its digest, sha256:<hex> (a Go package's h1: hash beside it in the version's record)", "type": "string"}, "fingerprint": map[string]any{"description": "the build's fingerprint", "type": "string"}, "kind": map[string]any{"description": "what it is", "enum": []string{"package", "image", "bundle", "archive", "upstream"}, "type": "string"}, "name": map[string]any{"description": "the package's, image's, bundle's or archive's name; a package's is its name in its own language (design 32): a Go package's the go.mod module path (git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go), an npm package's package.json's name (@novox/mesh-sdk)", "type": "string"}, "tag": map[string]any{"description": "the tag it carries, for a tagged version", "type": "string"}, "version": map[string]any{"description": "the version the builder gave it (design 51 *The versions*); empty for a bundle or archive published by its digest alone", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"name", "kind", "digest"}, "type": "object"}, "type": "array"}}, "required": []string{"name", "versions"}, "type": "object"}},
-				{Name: "remove", Description: "Remove one tagged version; the holder refuses an untagged one but for the retention removal of a bundle, archive or copied base by the artifact sweep's holder. Every removal emits removed with its reason.", Optional: true,
+				{Name: "remove", Description: "Remove one tagged version; the holder refuses an untagged one but for the retention removal of a bundle, archive or copied base by the artifact sweep's holder. Every removal emits removed with its reason. A tagged version the store cannot remove alone, because another tag names its digest, stays whole, its tag and bytes kept: the answer says kept with the reason shared-digest and the tags still naming the digest, removed false, and kept is emitted, never removed; the caller ends there without a retry.", Optional: true,
 					Input:  map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"digest": map[string]any{"description": "the digest (for a bundle, archive or copied base)", "type": "string"}, "name": map[string]any{"description": "the name", "type": "string"}, "reason": map[string]any{"description": "why it goes", "enum": []string{"tag-gone", "retention"}, "type": "string"}, "tag": map[string]any{"description": "the tag (for a tagged version)", "type": "string"}, "version": map[string]any{"description": "the version", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"name", "reason"}, "type": "object"},
-					Output: map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"artifact": map[string]any{"description": "one published thing, as every registry event and answer names it", "properties": map[string]any{"commit": map[string]any{"description": "the source commit it was built from", "type": "string"}, "digest": map[string]any{"description": "its digest, sha256:<hex> (a Go package's h1: hash beside it in the version's record)", "type": "string"}, "fingerprint": map[string]any{"description": "the build's fingerprint", "type": "string"}, "kind": map[string]any{"description": "what it is", "enum": []string{"package", "image", "bundle", "archive", "upstream"}, "type": "string"}, "name": map[string]any{"description": "the package's, image's, bundle's or archive's name; a package's is its name in its own language (design 32): a Go package's the go.mod module path (git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go), an npm package's package.json's name (@novox/mesh-sdk)", "type": "string"}, "tag": map[string]any{"description": "the tag it carries, for a tagged version", "type": "string"}, "version": map[string]any{"description": "the version the builder gave it (design 51 *The versions*); empty for a bundle or archive published by its digest alone", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"name", "kind", "digest"}, "type": "object"}, "removed": map[string]any{"description": "it is gone", "type": "boolean"}}, "required": []string{"removed"}, "type": "object"}},
+					Output: map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"artifact": map[string]any{"description": "one published thing, as every registry event and answer names it", "properties": map[string]any{"commit": map[string]any{"description": "the source commit it was built from", "type": "string"}, "digest": map[string]any{"description": "its digest, sha256:<hex> (a Go package's h1: hash beside it in the version's record)", "type": "string"}, "fingerprint": map[string]any{"description": "the build's fingerprint", "type": "string"}, "kind": map[string]any{"description": "what it is", "enum": []string{"package", "image", "bundle", "archive", "upstream"}, "type": "string"}, "name": map[string]any{"description": "the package's, image's, bundle's or archive's name; a package's is its name in its own language (design 32): a Go package's the go.mod module path (git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go), an npm package's package.json's name (@novox/mesh-sdk)", "type": "string"}, "tag": map[string]any{"description": "the tag it carries, for a tagged version", "type": "string"}, "version": map[string]any{"description": "the version the builder gave it (design 51 *The versions*); empty for a bundle or archive published by its digest alone", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"name", "kind", "digest"}, "type": "object"}, "kept": map[string]any{"description": "it stays whole, its tag and its bytes: the store cannot remove the tag alone while another tag names its digest (reason, tags)", "type": "boolean"}, "reason": map[string]any{"description": "why it was kept: shared-digest, another tag names its digest", "enum": []string{"shared-digest"}, "type": "string"}, "removed": map[string]any{"description": "it is gone", "type": "boolean"}, "tags": map[string]any{"description": "the other tags still naming its digest, when kept", "items": map[string]any{"type": "string"}, "type": "array"}}, "required": []string{"removed"}, "type": "object"}},
 				{Name: "mirror", Description: "Copy an outside image into the store by its pinned digest; emits published or refused.", Optional: true,
 					Input:  map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"digest": map[string]any{"description": "its pinned digest, sha256:<hex>", "type": "string"}, "name": map[string]any{"description": "the name it is kept under", "type": "string"}, "source": map[string]any{"description": "the outside image's reference", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"source", "digest", "name"}, "type": "object"},
 					Output: map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"digest": map[string]any{"description": "the digest stored", "type": "string"}, "reference": map[string]any{"description": "the reference the seat answers", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"reference", "digest"}, "type": "object"}},
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ func List() []Seat {
 					Input:  map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"digest": map[string]any{"description": "the digest", "type": "string"}, "name": map[string]any{"description": "the name", "type": "string"}, "reason": map[string]any{"description": "why it is let go", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"name", "digest", "reason"}, "type": "object"},
 					Output: map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"released": map[string]any{"description": "a hold was let go; false when there was none", "type": "boolean"}}, "required": []string{"released"}, "type": "object"}},
 			}},
-		{Name: OciArtifactRegistry, Scope: "mesh", Grain: "whole", Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0605", Delivers: "artifact-store", Emits: []string{"published", "refused", "removed", "held", "released"},
+		{Name: OciArtifactRegistry, Scope: "mesh", Grain: "whole", Decision: "novox/hq ADR 0605", Delivers: "artifact-store", Emits: []string{"published", "refused", "removed", "kept", "held", "released"},
 			Serves: []Verb{
 				{Name: "publish", Description: "Open a transfer, naming the artifact and the digest of every part; answers the digests the holder lacks, which the caller then sends by publish-part. A transfer already open answers the parts held, so a cut transfer goes on from there. With no parts and a version, the held digest is published under that version and nothing is stored (the trunk's claim).", Optional: true,
 					Input:  map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"commit": map[string]any{"description": "the source commit it was built from", "type": "string"}, "digest": map[string]any{"description": "its digest, sha256:<hex> (a Go package's h1: hash beside it in the version's record)", "type": "string"}, "fingerprint": map[string]any{"description": "the build's fingerprint", "type": "string"}, "kind": map[string]any{"description": "what it is", "enum": []string{"package", "image", "bundle", "archive", "upstream"}, "type": "string"}, "name": map[string]any{"description": "the package's, image's, bundle's or archive's name; a package's is its name in its own language (design 32): a Go package's the go.mod module path (git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go), an npm package's package.json's name (@novox/mesh-sdk)", "type": "string"}, "parts": map[string]any{"description": "every part's digest and size; none when the digest is already held", "items": map[string]any{"description": "one part of a transfer", "properties": map[string]any{"digest": map[string]any{"description": "the part's digest, sha256:<hex>: an image's layer or config, a package's file, a bundle's blob", "type": "string"}, "size": map[string]any{"description": "its size in bytes", "type": "integer"}}, "required": []string{"digest", "size"}, "type": "object"}, "type": "array"}, "tag": map[string]any{"description": "the tag it carries, for a tagged version", "type": "string"}, "transfer": map[string]any{"description": "the transfer's name, the caller's own; the same name opens the same transfer again", "type": "string"}, "version": map[string]any{"description": "the version the builder gave it (design 51 *The versions*); empty for a bundle or archive published by its digest alone", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"transfer", "name", "kind", "digest"}, "type": "object"},
@@ -449,9 +449,9 @@ func List() []Seat {
 				{Name: "versions", Description: "The versions the seat holds of one name, newest first: each one's version, tag, digest, kind and when it was published.", Optional: true,
 					Input:  map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"kind": map[string]any{"description": "narrowed to one kind (optional)", "type": "string"}, "name": map[string]any{"description": "the name", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"name"}, "type": "object"},
 					Output: map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"name": map[string]any{"description": "the name", "type": "string"}, "versions": map[string]any{"description": "newest first", "items": map[string]any{"description": "one published thing, as every registry event and answer names it", "properties": map[string]any{"commit": map[string]any{"description": "the source commit it was built from", "type": "string"}, "digest": map[string]any{"description": "its digest, sha256:<hex> (a Go package's h1: hash beside it in the version's record)", "type": "string"}, "fingerprint": map[string]any{"description": "the build's fingerprint", "type": "string"}, "kind": map[string]any{"description": "what it is", "enum": []string{"package", "image", "bundle", "archive", "upstream"}, "type": "string"}, "name": map[string]any{"description": "the package's, image's, bundle's or archive's name; a package's is its name in its own language (design 32): a Go package's the go.mod module path (git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go), an npm package's package.json's name (@novox/mesh-sdk)", "type": "string"}, "tag": map[string]any{"description": "the tag it carries, for a tagged version", "type": "string"}, "version": map[string]any{"description": "the version the builder gave it (design 51 *The versions*); empty for a bundle or archive published by its digest alone", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"name", "kind", "digest"}, "type": "object"}, "type": "array"}}, "required": []string{"name", "versions"}, "type": "object"}},
-				{Name: "remove", Description: "Remove one tagged version; the holder refuses an untagged one but for the retention removal of a bundle, archive or copied base by the artifact sweep's holder. Every removal emits removed with its reason.", Optional: true,
+				{Name: "remove", Description: "Remove one tagged version; the holder refuses an untagged one but for the retention removal of a bundle, archive or copied base by the artifact sweep's holder. Every removal emits removed with its reason. A tagged version the store cannot remove alone, because another tag names its digest, stays whole, its tag and bytes kept: the answer says kept with the reason shared-digest and the tags still naming the digest, removed false, and kept is emitted, never removed; the caller ends there without a retry.", Optional: true,
 					Input:  map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"digest": map[string]any{"description": "the digest (for a bundle, archive or copied base)", "type": "string"}, "name": map[string]any{"description": "the name", "type": "string"}, "reason": map[string]any{"description": "why it goes", "enum": []string{"tag-gone", "retention"}, "type": "string"}, "tag": map[string]any{"description": "the tag (for a tagged version)", "type": "string"}, "version": map[string]any{"description": "the version", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"name", "reason"}, "type": "object"},
-					Output: map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"artifact": map[string]any{"description": "one published thing, as every registry event and answer names it", "properties": map[string]any{"commit": map[string]any{"description": "the source commit it was built from", "type": "string"}, "digest": map[string]any{"description": "its digest, sha256:<hex> (a Go package's h1: hash beside it in the version's record)", "type": "string"}, "fingerprint": map[string]any{"description": "the build's fingerprint", "type": "string"}, "kind": map[string]any{"description": "what it is", "enum": []string{"package", "image", "bundle", "archive", "upstream"}, "type": "string"}, "name": map[string]any{"description": "the package's, image's, bundle's or archive's name; a package's is its name in its own language (design 32): a Go package's the go.mod module path (git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go), an npm package's package.json's name (@novox/mesh-sdk)", "type": "string"}, "tag": map[string]any{"description": "the tag it carries, for a tagged version", "type": "string"}, "version": map[string]any{"description": "the version the builder gave it (design 51 *The versions*); empty for a bundle or archive published by its digest alone", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"name", "kind", "digest"}, "type": "object"}, "removed": map[string]any{"description": "it is gone", "type": "boolean"}}, "required": []string{"removed"}, "type": "object"}},
+					Output: map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"artifact": map[string]any{"description": "one published thing, as every registry event and answer names it", "properties": map[string]any{"commit": map[string]any{"description": "the source commit it was built from", "type": "string"}, "digest": map[string]any{"description": "its digest, sha256:<hex> (a Go package's h1: hash beside it in the version's record)", "type": "string"}, "fingerprint": map[string]any{"description": "the build's fingerprint", "type": "string"}, "kind": map[string]any{"description": "what it is", "enum": []string{"package", "image", "bundle", "archive", "upstream"}, "type": "string"}, "name": map[string]any{"description": "the package's, image's, bundle's or archive's name; a package's is its name in its own language (design 32): a Go package's the go.mod module path (git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go), an npm package's package.json's name (@novox/mesh-sdk)", "type": "string"}, "tag": map[string]any{"description": "the tag it carries, for a tagged version", "type": "string"}, "version": map[string]any{"description": "the version the builder gave it (design 51 *The versions*); empty for a bundle or archive published by its digest alone", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"name", "kind", "digest"}, "type": "object"}, "kept": map[string]any{"description": "it stays whole, its tag and its bytes: the store cannot remove the tag alone while another tag names its digest (reason, tags)", "type": "boolean"}, "reason": map[string]any{"description": "why it was kept: shared-digest, another tag names its digest", "enum": []string{"shared-digest"}, "type": "string"}, "removed": map[string]any{"description": "it is gone", "type": "boolean"}, "tags": map[string]any{"description": "the other tags still naming its digest, when kept", "items": map[string]any{"type": "string"}, "type": "array"}}, "required": []string{"removed"}, "type": "object"}},
 				{Name: "hold", Description: "Keep one untagged bundle, archive or copied base from removal by retention, as the artifact sweep's rules keep it (ADR 0617 §2); never an image of the holder's own. Emits held.", Optional: true,
 					Input:  map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"digest": map[string]any{"description": "the digest", "type": "string"}, "name": map[string]any{"description": "the name", "type": "string"}, "reason": map[string]any{"description": "which of the sweep's rules keeps it", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"name", "digest", "reason"}, "type": "object"},
 					Output: map[string]any{"properties": map[string]any{"held": map[string]any{"description": "it is held", "type": "boolean"}, "since": map[string]any{"description": "when the hold began, RFC 3339", "type": "string"}}, "required": []string{"held"}, "type": "object"}},
diff --git a/parts/registry.json b/parts/registry.json
index af1249c..ca0022f 100644
--- a/parts/registry.json
+++ b/parts/registry.json
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@
     },
     {
       "name": "remove",
-      "description": "Remove one tagged version; the holder refuses an untagged one but for the retention removal of a bundle, archive or copied base by the artifact sweep's holder. Every removal emits removed with its reason.",
+      "description": "Remove one tagged version; the holder refuses an untagged one but for the retention removal of a bundle, archive or copied base by the artifact sweep's holder. Every removal emits removed with its reason. A tagged version the store cannot remove alone, because another tag names its digest, stays whole, its tag and bytes kept: the answer says kept with the reason shared-digest and the tags still naming the digest, removed false, and kept is emitted, never removed; the caller ends there without a retry.",
       "callers": "the builder, for a tagged version; the artifact sweep's holder, for retention",
       "input": {
         "type": "object",
@@ -238,6 +238,24 @@
             "type": "boolean",
             "description": "it is gone"
           },
+          "kept": {
+            "type": "boolean",
+            "description": "it stays whole, its tag and its bytes: the store cannot remove the tag alone while another tag names its digest (reason, tags)"
+          },
+          "reason": {
+            "type": "string",
+            "enum": [
+              "shared-digest"
+            ],
+            "description": "why it was kept: shared-digest, another tag names its digest"
+          },
+          "tags": {
+            "type": "array",
+            "items": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "description": "the other tags still naming its digest, when kept"
+          },
           "artifact": {
             "$ref": "#/defs/Artifact"
           }
@@ -267,6 +285,12 @@
       "body": {
         "$ref": "#/defs/Outcome"
       }
+    },
+    {
+      "name": "kept",
+      "body": {
+        "$ref": "#/defs/Outcome"
+      }
     }
   ],
   "defs": {
@@ -390,7 +414,14 @@
         },
         "reason": {
           "type": "string",
-          "description": "why: a refusal's cause, or a removal's (retention, tag-gone, by-hand)"
+          "description": "why: a refusal's cause, a removal's (retention, tag-gone, by-hand), or why a removal was kept (shared-digest)"
+        },
+        "tags": {
+          "type": "array",
+          "items": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "description": "for kept: the other tags still naming its digest"
         }
       },
       "required": [
diff --git a/seats/container-image-registry/fixtures/events.json b/seats/container-image-registry/fixtures/events.json
index 8bd60c9..65e98e5 100644
--- a/seats/container-image-registry/fixtures/events.json
+++ b/seats/container-image-registry/fixtures/events.json
@@ -49,6 +49,26 @@
       "reason": "retention"
     }
   },
+  {
+    "name": "kept on the seat's subject: a tagged version sharing its digest stays, naming the tags on it",
+    "of": "event:kept",
+    "subject": "mesh.seat.container-image-registry.event.kept",
+    "given": {
+      "name": "mesh-sdk",
+      "version": "0.1.19-feat-x.2",
+      "kind": "image",
+      "digest": "sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa",
+      "fingerprint": "f1",
+      "commit": "cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc",
+      "holder": "distribution",
+      "reference": "container-image-registry/mesh-sdk/lib@sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa",
+      "reason": "shared-digest",
+      "tag": "0.1.19-feat-x.2",
+      "tags": [
+        "0.1.19"
+      ]
+    }
+  },
   {
     "name": "held on the seat's subject",
     "of": "event:held",
diff --git a/seats/container-image-registry/fixtures/verbs.json b/seats/container-image-registry/fixtures/verbs.json
index 2d94ee7..6e50d36 100644
--- a/seats/container-image-registry/fixtures/verbs.json
+++ b/seats/container-image-registry/fixtures/verbs.json
@@ -101,5 +101,18 @@
     "given": {
       "released": false
     }
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "a tagged version sharing its digest with another tag is kept, not removed",
+    "of": "verb:remove.answer",
+    "why": "G-sdk-contracts 3: the store cannot remove the tag alone, so the answer says what holds",
+    "given": {
+      "removed": false,
+      "kept": true,
+      "reason": "shared-digest",
+      "tags": [
+        "0.1.19"
+      ]
+    }
   }
 ]
diff --git a/seats/go-package-registry/fixtures/events.json b/seats/go-package-registry/fixtures/events.json
index 37579ae..c3a8b16 100644
--- a/seats/go-package-registry/fixtures/events.json
+++ b/seats/go-package-registry/fixtures/events.json
@@ -49,5 +49,25 @@
       "reference": "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go@0.1.19",
       "reason": "retention"
     }
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "kept on the seat's subject: a tagged version sharing its digest stays, naming the tags on it",
+    "of": "event:kept",
+    "subject": "mesh.seat.go-package-registry.event.kept",
+    "given": {
+      "name": "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go",
+      "version": "0.1.19-feat-x.2",
+      "kind": "package",
+      "digest": "sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa",
+      "fingerprint": "f1",
+      "commit": "cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc",
+      "holder": "gitea",
+      "reference": "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go@0.1.19",
+      "reason": "shared-digest",
+      "tag": "0.1.19-feat-x.2",
+      "tags": [
+        "0.1.19"
+      ]
+    }
   }
 ]
diff --git a/seats/go-package-registry/fixtures/verbs.json b/seats/go-package-registry/fixtures/verbs.json
index 716fe9f..be6a53a 100644
--- a/seats/go-package-registry/fixtures/verbs.json
+++ b/seats/go-package-registry/fixtures/verbs.json
@@ -93,5 +93,18 @@
         }
       ]
     }
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "a tagged version sharing its digest with another tag is kept, not removed",
+    "of": "verb:remove.answer",
+    "why": "G-sdk-contracts 3: the store cannot remove the tag alone, so the answer says what holds",
+    "given": {
+      "removed": false,
+      "kept": true,
+      "reason": "shared-digest",
+      "tags": [
+        "0.1.19"
+      ]
+    }
   }
 ]
diff --git a/seats/npm-package-registry/fixtures/events.json b/seats/npm-package-registry/fixtures/events.json
index 0fe1c76..4cadc30 100644
--- a/seats/npm-package-registry/fixtures/events.json
+++ b/seats/npm-package-registry/fixtures/events.json
@@ -48,5 +48,25 @@
       "reference": "@novox/mesh-sdk@0.1.19",
       "reason": "retention"
     }
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "kept on the seat's subject: a tagged version sharing its digest stays, naming the tags on it",
+    "of": "event:kept",
+    "subject": "mesh.seat.npm-package-registry.event.kept",
+    "given": {
+      "name": "@novox/mesh-sdk",
+      "version": "0.1.19-feat-x.2",
+      "kind": "package",
+      "digest": "sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa",
+      "fingerprint": "f1",
+      "commit": "cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc",
+      "holder": "gitea",
+      "reference": "@novox/mesh-sdk@0.1.19",
+      "reason": "shared-digest",
+      "tag": "0.1.19-feat-x.2",
+      "tags": [
+        "0.1.19"
+      ]
+    }
   }
 ]
diff --git a/seats/npm-package-registry/fixtures/verbs.json b/seats/npm-package-registry/fixtures/verbs.json
index 529d486..0b88f08 100644
--- a/seats/npm-package-registry/fixtures/verbs.json
+++ b/seats/npm-package-registry/fixtures/verbs.json
@@ -93,5 +93,18 @@
         }
       ]
     }
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "a tagged version sharing its digest with another tag is kept, not removed",
+    "of": "verb:remove.answer",
+    "why": "G-sdk-contracts 3: the store cannot remove the tag alone, so the answer says what holds",
+    "given": {
+      "removed": false,
+      "kept": true,
+      "reason": "shared-digest",
+      "tags": [
+        "0.1.19"
+      ]
+    }
   }
 ]
diff --git a/seats/oci-artifact-registry/fixtures/events.json b/seats/oci-artifact-registry/fixtures/events.json
index 0928933..e0a8cde 100644
--- a/seats/oci-artifact-registry/fixtures/events.json
+++ b/seats/oci-artifact-registry/fixtures/events.json
@@ -49,6 +49,26 @@
       "reason": "retention"
     }
   },
+  {
+    "name": "kept on the seat's subject: a tagged version sharing its digest stays, naming the tags on it",
+    "of": "event:kept",
+    "subject": "mesh.seat.oci-artifact-registry.event.kept",
+    "given": {
+      "name": "mesh-sdk",
+      "version": "0.1.19-feat-x.2",
+      "kind": "bundle",
+      "digest": "sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa",
+      "fingerprint": "f1",
+      "commit": "cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc",
+      "holder": "distribution",
+      "reference": "oci-artifact-registry/mesh-sdk/lib@sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa",
+      "reason": "shared-digest",
+      "tag": "0.1.19-feat-x.2",
+      "tags": [
+        "0.1.19"
+      ]
+    }
+  },
   {
     "name": "held on the seat's subject",
     "of": "event:held",
diff --git a/seats/oci-artifact-registry/fixtures/verbs.json b/seats/oci-artifact-registry/fixtures/verbs.json
index b571a88..e0121b7 100644
--- a/seats/oci-artifact-registry/fixtures/verbs.json
+++ b/seats/oci-artifact-registry/fixtures/verbs.json
@@ -101,5 +101,18 @@
     "given": {
       "released": false
     }
+  },
+  {
+    "name": "a tagged version sharing its digest with another tag is kept, not removed",
+    "of": "verb:remove.answer",
+    "why": "G-sdk-contracts 3: the store cannot remove the tag alone, so the answer says what holds",
+    "given": {
+      "removed": false,
+      "kept": true,
+      "reason": "shared-digest",
+      "tags": [
+        "0.1.19"
+      ]
+    }
   }
 ]
diff --git a/ts/seats/containerimageregistry/src/index.ts b/ts/seats/containerimageregistry/src/index.ts
index b20e37e..9baf704 100644
--- a/ts/seats/containerimageregistry/src/index.ts
+++ b/ts/seats/containerimageregistry/src/index.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ export const events = {
   published: "published",
   refused: "refused",
   removed: "removed",
+  kept: "kept",
   held: "held",
   released: "released",
 } as const;
@@ -33,11 +34,14 @@ export const refusedSubject = "mesh.seat.container-image-registry.event.refused"
 
 export const removedSubject = "mesh.seat.container-image-registry.event.removed";
 
+export const keptSubject = "mesh.seat.container-image-registry.event.kept";
+
 export const heldSubject = "mesh.seat.container-image-registry.event.held";
 
 export const releasedSubject = "mesh.seat.container-image-registry.event.released";
 
 export type Artifact = registry.Artifact;
+export type KeptEvent = registry.KeptEvent;
 export type Outcome = registry.Outcome;
 export type Part = registry.Part;
 export type PublishAnswer = registry.PublishAnswer;
diff --git a/ts/seats/containerimageregistry/src/parts/registry.ts b/ts/seats/containerimageregistry/src/parts/registry.ts
index 544dc55..17a8de4 100644
--- a/ts/seats/containerimageregistry/src/parts/registry.ts
+++ b/ts/seats/containerimageregistry/src/parts/registry.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ export const events = {
   published: "published",
   refused: "refused",
   removed: "removed",
+  kept: "kept",
 } as const;
 
 /** one published thing, as every registry event and answer names it */
@@ -49,12 +50,14 @@ export interface Outcome {
   "module"?: string;
   /** the package's, image's, bundle's or archive's name; a package's is its name in its own language (design 32): a Go package's the go.mod module path (git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go), an npm package's package.json's name (@novox/mesh-sdk) */
   "name": string;
-  /** why: a refusal's cause, or a removal's (retention, tag-gone, by-hand) */
+  /** why: a refusal's cause, a removal's (retention, tag-gone, by-hand), or why a removal was kept (shared-digest) */
   "reason"?: string;
   /** the reference the seat answers: <registry>/<module>/<artifact>@sha256:<digest>, or <name>@<version> for a package (ADR 0605 §9) */
   "reference"?: string;
   /** the tag it carries, for a tagged version */
   "tag"?: string;
+  /** for kept: the other tags still naming its digest */
+  "tags"?: string[];
   /** the transfer it ends, when it ended one */
   "transfer"?: string;
   /** the version the builder gave it (design 51 *The versions*); empty for a bundle or archive published by its digest alone */
@@ -160,8 +163,14 @@ export interface RemoveInput {
 /** is what remove answers. */
 export interface RemoveAnswer {
   "artifact"?: Artifact;
+  /** it stays whole, its tag and its bytes: the store cannot remove the tag alone while another tag names its digest (reason, tags) */
+  "kept"?: boolean;
+  /** why it was kept: shared-digest, another tag names its digest */
+  "reason"?: "shared-digest";
   /** it is gone */
   "removed": boolean;
+  /** the other tags still naming its digest, when kept */
+  "tags"?: string[];
 }
 
 /** is the body of the event published. */
@@ -173,3 +182,6 @@ export type RefusedEvent = Outcome;
 /** is the body of the event removed. */
 export type RemovedEvent = Outcome;
 
+/** is the body of the event kept. */
+export type KeptEvent = Outcome;
+
diff --git a/ts/seats/gopackageregistry/src/index.ts b/ts/seats/gopackageregistry/src/index.ts
index 834ecb3..f072090 100644
--- a/ts/seats/gopackageregistry/src/index.ts
+++ b/ts/seats/gopackageregistry/src/index.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ export const events = {
   published: "published",
   refused: "refused",
   removed: "removed",
+  kept: "kept",
 } as const;
 
 export const family = { name: "go-package-registry.events", maxAgeDays: 7 } as const;
@@ -27,7 +28,10 @@ export const refusedSubject = "mesh.seat.go-package-registry.event.refused";
 
 export const removedSubject = "mesh.seat.go-package-registry.event.removed";
 
+export const keptSubject = "mesh.seat.go-package-registry.event.kept";
+
 export type Artifact = registry.Artifact;
+export type KeptEvent = registry.KeptEvent;
 export type Outcome = registry.Outcome;
 export type Part = registry.Part;
 export type PublishAnswer = registry.PublishAnswer;
diff --git a/ts/seats/gopackageregistry/src/parts/registry.ts b/ts/seats/gopackageregistry/src/parts/registry.ts
index 544dc55..17a8de4 100644
--- a/ts/seats/gopackageregistry/src/parts/registry.ts
+++ b/ts/seats/gopackageregistry/src/parts/registry.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ export const events = {
   published: "published",
   refused: "refused",
   removed: "removed",
+  kept: "kept",
 } as const;
 
 /** one published thing, as every registry event and answer names it */
@@ -49,12 +50,14 @@ export interface Outcome {
   "module"?: string;
   /** the package's, image's, bundle's or archive's name; a package's is its name in its own language (design 32): a Go package's the go.mod module path (git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go), an npm package's package.json's name (@novox/mesh-sdk) */
   "name": string;
-  /** why: a refusal's cause, or a removal's (retention, tag-gone, by-hand) */
+  /** why: a refusal's cause, a removal's (retention, tag-gone, by-hand), or why a removal was kept (shared-digest) */
   "reason"?: string;
   /** the reference the seat answers: <registry>/<module>/<artifact>@sha256:<digest>, or <name>@<version> for a package (ADR 0605 §9) */
   "reference"?: string;
   /** the tag it carries, for a tagged version */
   "tag"?: string;
+  /** for kept: the other tags still naming its digest */
+  "tags"?: string[];
   /** the transfer it ends, when it ended one */
   "transfer"?: string;
   /** the version the builder gave it (design 51 *The versions*); empty for a bundle or archive published by its digest alone */
@@ -160,8 +163,14 @@ export interface RemoveInput {
 /** is what remove answers. */
 export interface RemoveAnswer {
   "artifact"?: Artifact;
+  /** it stays whole, its tag and its bytes: the store cannot remove the tag alone while another tag names its digest (reason, tags) */
+  "kept"?: boolean;
+  /** why it was kept: shared-digest, another tag names its digest */
+  "reason"?: "shared-digest";
   /** it is gone */
   "removed": boolean;
+  /** the other tags still naming its digest, when kept */
+  "tags"?: string[];
 }
 
 /** is the body of the event published. */
@@ -173,3 +182,6 @@ export type RefusedEvent = Outcome;
 /** is the body of the event removed. */
 export type RemovedEvent = Outcome;
 
+/** is the body of the event kept. */
+export type KeptEvent = Outcome;
+
diff --git a/ts/seats/npmpackageregistry/src/index.ts b/ts/seats/npmpackageregistry/src/index.ts
index 0834e45..a704e8b 100644
--- a/ts/seats/npmpackageregistry/src/index.ts
+++ b/ts/seats/npmpackageregistry/src/index.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ export const events = {
   published: "published",
   refused: "refused",
   removed: "removed",
+  kept: "kept",
 } as const;
 
 export const family = { name: "npm-package-registry.events", maxAgeDays: 7 } as const;
@@ -27,7 +28,10 @@ export const refusedSubject = "mesh.seat.npm-package-registry.event.refused";
 
 export const removedSubject = "mesh.seat.npm-package-registry.event.removed";
 
+export const keptSubject = "mesh.seat.npm-package-registry.event.kept";
+
 export type Artifact = registry.Artifact;
+export type KeptEvent = registry.KeptEvent;
 export type Outcome = registry.Outcome;
 export type Part = registry.Part;
 export type PublishAnswer = registry.PublishAnswer;
diff --git a/ts/seats/npmpackageregistry/src/parts/registry.ts b/ts/seats/npmpackageregistry/src/parts/registry.ts
index 544dc55..17a8de4 100644
--- a/ts/seats/npmpackageregistry/src/parts/registry.ts
+++ b/ts/seats/npmpackageregistry/src/parts/registry.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ export const events = {
   published: "published",
   refused: "refused",
   removed: "removed",
+  kept: "kept",
 } as const;
 
 /** one published thing, as every registry event and answer names it */
@@ -49,12 +50,14 @@ export interface Outcome {
   "module"?: string;
   /** the package's, image's, bundle's or archive's name; a package's is its name in its own language (design 32): a Go package's the go.mod module path (git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go), an npm package's package.json's name (@novox/mesh-sdk) */
   "name": string;
-  /** why: a refusal's cause, or a removal's (retention, tag-gone, by-hand) */
+  /** why: a refusal's cause, a removal's (retention, tag-gone, by-hand), or why a removal was kept (shared-digest) */
   "reason"?: string;
   /** the reference the seat answers: <registry>/<module>/<artifact>@sha256:<digest>, or <name>@<version> for a package (ADR 0605 §9) */
   "reference"?: string;
   /** the tag it carries, for a tagged version */
   "tag"?: string;
+  /** for kept: the other tags still naming its digest */
+  "tags"?: string[];
   /** the transfer it ends, when it ended one */
   "transfer"?: string;
   /** the version the builder gave it (design 51 *The versions*); empty for a bundle or archive published by its digest alone */
@@ -160,8 +163,14 @@ export interface RemoveInput {
 /** is what remove answers. */
 export interface RemoveAnswer {
   "artifact"?: Artifact;
+  /** it stays whole, its tag and its bytes: the store cannot remove the tag alone while another tag names its digest (reason, tags) */
+  "kept"?: boolean;
+  /** why it was kept: shared-digest, another tag names its digest */
+  "reason"?: "shared-digest";
   /** it is gone */
   "removed": boolean;
+  /** the other tags still naming its digest, when kept */
+  "tags"?: string[];
 }
 
 /** is the body of the event published. */
@@ -173,3 +182,6 @@ export type RefusedEvent = Outcome;
 /** is the body of the event removed. */
 export type RemovedEvent = Outcome;
 
+/** is the body of the event kept. */
+export type KeptEvent = Outcome;
+
diff --git a/ts/seats/ociartifactregistry/src/index.ts b/ts/seats/ociartifactregistry/src/index.ts
index 1467090..c1fa55e 100644
--- a/ts/seats/ociartifactregistry/src/index.ts
+++ b/ts/seats/ociartifactregistry/src/index.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ export const events = {
   published: "published",
   refused: "refused",
   removed: "removed",
+  kept: "kept",
   held: "held",
   released: "released",
 } as const;
@@ -31,11 +32,14 @@ export const refusedSubject = "mesh.seat.oci-artifact-registry.event.refused";
 
 export const removedSubject = "mesh.seat.oci-artifact-registry.event.removed";
 
+export const keptSubject = "mesh.seat.oci-artifact-registry.event.kept";
+
 export const heldSubject = "mesh.seat.oci-artifact-registry.event.held";
 
 export const releasedSubject = "mesh.seat.oci-artifact-registry.event.released";
 
 export type Artifact = registry.Artifact;
+export type KeptEvent = registry.KeptEvent;
 export type Outcome = registry.Outcome;
 export type Part = registry.Part;
 export type PublishAnswer = registry.PublishAnswer;
diff --git a/ts/seats/ociartifactregistry/src/parts/registry.ts b/ts/seats/ociartifactregistry/src/parts/registry.ts
index 544dc55..17a8de4 100644
--- a/ts/seats/ociartifactregistry/src/parts/registry.ts
+++ b/ts/seats/ociartifactregistry/src/parts/registry.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ export const events = {
   published: "published",
   refused: "refused",
   removed: "removed",
+  kept: "kept",
 } as const;
 
 /** one published thing, as every registry event and answer names it */
@@ -49,12 +50,14 @@ export interface Outcome {
   "module"?: string;
   /** the package's, image's, bundle's or archive's name; a package's is its name in its own language (design 32): a Go package's the go.mod module path (git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go), an npm package's package.json's name (@novox/mesh-sdk) */
   "name": string;
-  /** why: a refusal's cause, or a removal's (retention, tag-gone, by-hand) */
+  /** why: a refusal's cause, a removal's (retention, tag-gone, by-hand), or why a removal was kept (shared-digest) */
   "reason"?: string;
   /** the reference the seat answers: <registry>/<module>/<artifact>@sha256:<digest>, or <name>@<version> for a package (ADR 0605 §9) */
   "reference"?: string;
   /** the tag it carries, for a tagged version */
   "tag"?: string;
+  /** for kept: the other tags still naming its digest */
+  "tags"?: string[];
   /** the transfer it ends, when it ended one */
   "transfer"?: string;
   /** the version the builder gave it (design 51 *The versions*); empty for a bundle or archive published by its digest alone */
@@ -160,8 +163,14 @@ export interface RemoveInput {
 /** is what remove answers. */
 export interface RemoveAnswer {
   "artifact"?: Artifact;
+  /** it stays whole, its tag and its bytes: the store cannot remove the tag alone while another tag names its digest (reason, tags) */
+  "kept"?: boolean;
+  /** why it was kept: shared-digest, another tag names its digest */
+  "reason"?: "shared-digest";
   /** it is gone */
   "removed": boolean;
+  /** the other tags still naming its digest, when kept */
+  "tags"?: string[];
 }
 
 /** is the body of the event published. */
@@ -173,3 +182,6 @@ export type RefusedEvent = Outcome;
 /** is the body of the event removed. */
 export type RemovedEvent = Outcome;
 
+/** is the body of the event kept. */
+export type KeptEvent = Outcome;
+
diff --git a/ts/src/seats.ts b/ts/src/seats.ts
index c4f7292..efe9c39 100644
--- a/ts/src/seats.ts
+++ b/ts/src/seats.ts
@@ -3063,7 +3063,8 @@ export const list: readonly Seat[] = [
     "emits": [
       "published",
       "refused",
-      "removed"
+      "removed",
+      "kept"
     ],
     "grain": "whole",
     "name": "npm-package-registry",
@@ -3316,7 +3317,7 @@ export const list: readonly Seat[] = [
         }
       },
       {
-        "description": "Remove one tagged version; the holder refuses an untagged one but for the retention removal of a bundle, archive or copied base by the artifact sweep's holder. Every removal emits removed with its reason.",
+        "description": "Remove one tagged version; the holder refuses an untagged one but for the retention removal of a bundle, archive or copied base by the artifact sweep's holder. Every removal emits removed with its reason. A tagged version the store cannot remove alone, because another tag names its digest, stays whole, its tag and bytes kept: the answer says kept with the reason shared-digest and the tags still naming the digest, removed false, and kept is emitted, never removed; the caller ends there without a retry.",
         "input": {
           "properties": {
             "digest": {
@@ -3400,9 +3401,27 @@ export const list: readonly Seat[] = [
               ],
               "type": "object"
             },
+            "kept": {
+              "description": "it stays whole, its tag and its bytes: the store cannot remove the tag alone while another tag names its digest (reason, tags)",
+              "type": "boolean"
+            },
+            "reason": {
+              "description": "why it was kept: shared-digest, another tag names its digest",
+              "enum": [
+                "shared-digest"
+              ],
+              "type": "string"
+            },
             "removed": {
               "description": "it is gone",
               "type": "boolean"
+            },
+            "tags": {
+              "description": "the other tags still naming its digest, when kept",
+              "items": {
+                "type": "string"
+              },
+              "type": "array"
             }
           },
           "required": [
@@ -3419,7 +3438,8 @@ export const list: readonly Seat[] = [
     "emits": [
       "published",
       "refused",
-      "removed"
+      "removed",
+      "kept"
     ],
     "grain": "whole",
     "name": "go-package-registry",
@@ -3672,7 +3692,7 @@ export const list: readonly Seat[] = [
         }
       },
       {
-        "description": "Remove one tagged version; the holder refuses an untagged one but for the retention removal of a bundle, archive or copied base by the artifact sweep's holder. Every removal emits removed with its reason.",
+        "description": "Remove one tagged version; the holder refuses an untagged one but for the retention removal of a bundle, archive or copied base by the artifact sweep's holder. Every removal emits removed with its reason. A tagged version the store cannot remove alone, because another tag names its digest, stays whole, its tag and bytes kept: the answer says kept with the reason shared-digest and the tags still naming the digest, removed false, and kept is emitted, never removed; the caller ends there without a retry.",
         "input": {
           "properties": {
             "digest": {
@@ -3756,9 +3776,27 @@ export const list: readonly Seat[] = [
               ],
               "type": "object"
             },
+            "kept": {
+              "description": "it stays whole, its tag and its bytes: the store cannot remove the tag alone while another tag names its digest (reason, tags)",
+              "type": "boolean"
+            },
+            "reason": {
+              "description": "why it was kept: shared-digest, another tag names its digest",
+              "enum": [
+                "shared-digest"
+              ],
+              "type": "string"
+            },
             "removed": {
               "description": "it is gone",
               "type": "boolean"
+            },
+            "tags": {
+              "description": "the other tags still naming its digest, when kept",
+              "items": {
+                "type": "string"
+              },
+              "type": "array"
             }
           },
           "required": [
@@ -3776,6 +3814,7 @@ export const list: readonly Seat[] = [
       "published",
       "refused",
       "removed",
+      "kept",
       "held",
       "released"
     ],
@@ -4030,7 +4069,7 @@ export const list: readonly Seat[] = [
         }
       },
       {
-        "description": "Remove one tagged version; the holder refuses an untagged one but for the retention removal of a bundle, archive or copied base by the artifact sweep's holder. Every removal emits removed with its reason.",
+        "description": "Remove one tagged version; the holder refuses an untagged one but for the retention removal of a bundle, archive or copied base by the artifact sweep's holder. Every removal emits removed with its reason. A tagged version the store cannot remove alone, because another tag names its digest, stays whole, its tag and bytes kept: the answer says kept with the reason shared-digest and the tags still naming the digest, removed false, and kept is emitted, never removed; the caller ends there without a retry.",
         "input": {
           "properties": {
             "digest": {
@@ -4114,9 +4153,27 @@ export const list: readonly Seat[] = [
               ],
               "type": "object"
             },
+            "kept": {
+              "description": "it stays whole, its tag and its bytes: the store cannot remove the tag alone while another tag names its digest (reason, tags)",
+              "type": "boolean"
+            },
+            "reason": {
+              "description": "why it was kept: shared-digest, another tag names its digest",
+              "enum": [
+                "shared-digest"
+              ],
+              "type": "string"
+            },
             "removed": {
               "description": "it is gone",
               "type": "boolean"
+            },
+            "tags": {
+              "description": "the other tags still naming its digest, when kept",
+              "items": {
+                "type": "string"
+              },
+              "type": "array"
             }
           },
           "required": [
@@ -4311,6 +4368,7 @@ export const list: readonly Seat[] = [
       "published",
       "refused",
       "removed",
+      "kept",
       "held",
       "released"
     ],
@@ -4565,7 +4623,7 @@ export const list: readonly Seat[] = [
         }
       },
       {
-        "description": "Remove one tagged version; the holder refuses an untagged one but for the retention removal of a bundle, archive or copied base by the artifact sweep's holder. Every removal emits removed with its reason.",
+        "description": "Remove one tagged version; the holder refuses an untagged one but for the retention removal of a bundle, archive or copied base by the artifact sweep's holder. Every removal emits removed with its reason. A tagged version the store cannot remove alone, because another tag names its digest, stays whole, its tag and bytes kept: the answer says kept with the reason shared-digest and the tags still naming the digest, removed false, and kept is emitted, never removed; the caller ends there without a retry.",
         "input": {
           "properties": {
             "digest": {
@@ -4649,9 +4707,27 @@ export const list: readonly Seat[] = [
               ],
               "type": "object"
             },
+            "kept": {
+              "description": "it stays whole, its tag and its bytes: the store cannot remove the tag alone while another tag names its digest (reason, tags)",
+              "type": "boolean"
+            },
+            "reason": {
+              "description": "why it was kept: shared-digest, another tag names its digest",
+              "enum": [
+                "shared-digest"
+              ],
+              "type": "string"
+            },
             "removed": {
               "description": "it is gone",
               "type": "boolean"
+            },
+            "tags": {
+              "description": "the other tags still naming its digest, when kept",
+              "items": {
+                "type": "string"
+              },
+              "type": "array"
             }
           },
           "required": [