release-control: record paid runtime Docker policy

docs/release-control/v6/internal/records/self-hosted-commercial-ga-coherence-paid-runtime-docker-policy-2026-04-24.md

@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+# Self-Hosted Commercial GA Coherence: Paid Runtime Docker Policy
+
+Date: 2026-04-24
+Owner: self-hosted-commercial-ga-coherence
+Evidence tier: managed-runtime-exercise
+
+## Decision
+
+The paid self-hosted v6 GA runtime path is the private Pulse Pro archive
+delivered through the license-gated download broker. Docker/image-based paid
+self-hosted upgrades are explicitly deferred until a separate paid Pro image
+exists, is smoke-tested, and has its own customer-safe instructions.
+
+The public community container image remains a community delivery path and must
+not be described as including the paid Pro runtime.
+
+## Evidence
+
+- `repos/pulse-pro/docs/migration/paid-v6-upgrade-runbook.md` records the
+  archive-first paid runtime decision and the Docker/image deferral rule.
+- `repos/pulse-pro/OPERATIONS.md` records the same operational policy beside
+  the private R2 broker setup.
+- `repos/pulse-pro/V6_LAUNCH_CHECKLIST.md` now treats the Docker/container
+  strategy as decided for GA: private Pro archive first, paid Docker image
+  deferred until separately proved.
+- `repos/pulse-pro/scripts/validate_paid_runtime_distribution.py` validates
+  that the support playbook, customer FAQ, release-day migration email, private
+  download page, and v6 license-delivery email keep paid users on the private
+  Pro archive path and do not present public community Docker/images or public
+  community archives as paid Pro delivery.
+
+## Proof Commands
+
+From `/Volumes/Development/pulse/repos/pulse-pro`:
+
+```bash
+python3 scripts/validate_paid_runtime_distribution.py
+```
+
+Result:
+
+```text
+paid runtime distribution validation passed
+  paid path: private Pulse Pro archive via license-gated download broker
+  docker: deferred for paid self-hosted v6 until a separate paid image is proved
+```
+
+From `/Volumes/Development/pulse/repos/pulse-pro/license-server`:
+
+```bash
+GOTOOLCHAIN=go1.25.9+auto go test . -run 'TestV6LicenseEmailIncludesPrivateDownloadPage|TestPulseProDownload' -count=1
+```
+
+Result:
+
+```text
+ok  	github.com/rcourtman/pulse-pro/license-server	0.492s
+```
+
+## Result
+
+This closes the paid-runtime Docker/container strategy gap for v6 GA without
+creating a release, tag, GitHub Release, public download, Docker image, or v6
+cutover. Remaining release-day work is still the actual GA artifact publication
+and public track flip when release approval is granted.

docs/release-control/v6/internal/status.json

@@ -3956,6 +3956,12 @@
           "path": "docs/release-control/v6/internal/records/self-hosted-commercial-ga-coherence-2026-04-20.md",
           "kind": "file",
           "evidence_tier": "real-external-e2e"
+        },
+        {
+          "repo": "pulse",
+          "path": "docs/release-control/v6/internal/records/self-hosted-commercial-ga-coherence-paid-runtime-docker-policy-2026-04-24.md",
+          "kind": "file",
+          "evidence_tier": "managed-runtime-exercise"
         }
       ]
     },