UN Proposal: Public Domain

[Boktavia II]

Public Domain

A resolution to reduce barriers to free trade and commerce.
 

Category: Free Trade
Strength: Strong
Proposed by: Our Own Laziness

Description: UN nations resolve to establish a public domain. If something is "in the public domain" then anyone can copy it or use it in any way they wish. The author has none of the exclusive rights that apply to a copyrighted work.

Works pass into the public domain when:
(1) the term of copyright for the work has expired
(2) the author failed to satisfy statutory formalities to perfect the copyright
3) it is a work of a UN Government
4) it is deemed "freeware" or "shareware"

[Lexwolf]

A couple things bother me there though.

3) it is a work of a UN Government

Does this mean that if my government patented or trademarked a public work, or the like, the patent would be revoked "just beacuse the government made it"

4) it is deemed "freeware" or "shareware"

This part also bothered me because it made no mention as of who 'deems' the object in question. I find this to go past the authors intellectual copyrights.

The first two rules however, are already in place. If something is not copyrighted, it can already be used by someone else.

I find this a useless resolution. As the first part of the resolution is in place, the second part only serves to restrict copyrights.

[TheSensitiveNewAge]

If my government patents a design for example, it is my government's, no one elses. Period.

[Henneth annun]

I like it personnally.

[Ambivila]

I'm against it.

Items #1, #2 and #4 are true anyway in any country that has copyright laws. If a country doesn't have copyright laws, then everything is already in the public domain. No need for these items.

#3 serves just to restrict the right of a government to profit from research it has done. Bad idea.

I am voting against this one.

[Shinke]

I think that public domain is a good thing. People should't have infinite rights to something. Its kind of silly that people have to pay Michael Jackson for the rights to play elvis songs. (i think he owns their copyrights) It should be more like the pharmasudical copy rights. You should get exclusive use of an item for so long, but then it goes to the public domain.

[Bad Infinitum]

I thought Jacko bought out the Beatles?

I'm impartial, I voted no just to even it up.

[Boktavia II]

I must say that I don't like this proposal too much. Of course copyright laws on music that, as Shinke said, do things like give Michael Jackson money for Elvis songs are silly. It's #3 I have the biggest problem with. I find it far too vague. What does the author mean by "work of a UN government"? Does this mean the government would be forced to post all weaponry and technology that it develops on the internet, etc. for the world to see? That's ridiculous, governments have the right to withhold what the public should not know.. Take that part out, and I might not have a problem with this proposal. Don't worry, all, I'm still going to vote how the public seems to feel, but I just want to make my input.

[The Undaunted]

Yeah, I'm against this one. Already there are laws that cover copyrights, and when they expire, and I'm completely against the 3rd point. The 2nd point legalizes taking complete advantage of authors due to possible loopholes, and if something is shareware or freeware, then it's already open to the public. This resolution is poorly written and redundant. I'm voting no.

[joschafia]

I have to vote against this too.. Making it so a government's research can't be owned solely by them is unfair in my opinion

[Shinke]

Well, i know he bought rights to some big music person, just can't remember which it is...

[Boktavia II]

Since the majority of the public has said no, I have voted against this proposal.

[The Undaunted]

Man, I hate how almost every single resolution is passed, no matter if they're terrible or not.

[Sheynat]

Yeah. I have no idea why the staff is so resistant to the idea of being able to overturn past resolutions but they need to give up and allow it. Too many resolutions still in effect that are basically outdated.