Independent Researcher This document defines the QIK-VRT Effect Acknowledgement Protocol (EFFECT_ACK), a protocol layer between technical transport acknowledgement and responsible semantic release. TCP acknowledgement confirms technical arrival. EFFECT_ACK confirms whether received information may responsibly continue as an effect. The protocol distinguishes TRANSPORT_ACK from EFFECT_ACK, defines five effect states, introduces a versioned and hash-linked Responsibility Protocol, and specifies deterministic hashing and canonical JSON requirements for reproducible audit.