[PASSED] Foreign Patent Act

[Phrenics]

We believe that we must scrutinize more on this matter, and given such little time to do so, we will abstain from voting.

[States of Glory WA Office]

As a socialist nation, We believe that all intellectual and technological creations are in some sense derivative and are not the exclusive property of any one individual. Therefore, We do not recognize patents. All human beings should make use of ideas and technology for their own benefit, and the spread of ideas and technology (with the exception of nuclear and biological weapons) should not be impeded in any way whatsoever. Therefore, because this piece of legislation seeks to place limits upon the development and free exchange of ideas and technology, We, the People's Hindu Matriarchy of Shaktirajya, hereby vote AGAINST this legislation.

Vakta Samaajvadinaha Maataraajyasya Shaktiraajasya

Neville: Ambassador, Clause Two gives you the right to refuse to recognise patents.

[Wallenburg]

As a socialist nation, We believe that all intellectual and technological creations are in some sense derivative and are not the exclusive property of any one individual. Therefore, We do not recognize patents. All human beings should make use of ideas and technology for their own benefit, and the spread of ideas and technology (with the exception of nuclear and biological weapons) should not be impeded in any way whatsoever. Therefore, because this piece of legislation seeks to place limits upon the development and free exchange of ideas and technology, We, the People's Hindu Matriarchy of Shaktirajya, hereby vote AGAINST this legislation.

Vakta Samaajvadinaha Maataraajyasya Shaktiraajasya

Neville: Ambassador, Clause Two gives you the right to refuse to recognise patents.

"I get the sense that their opposition is rooted in a desire to impose collectivism on other nations."

[Valorem]

"May I be the first to congratulate you on the success of your proposal, Ambassador Ogenbond. Hopefully, it has the stamina to resist the inevitable repeal efforts."

[Wallenburg]

Foreign Patent Act was passed 10,008 votes to 9,026.

I wish to thank everyone who voted for this resolution, as well as all the delegates who approved this resolution so that it may go to vote.

[Nilla Wayfarers]

Congratulations on the victory, Ambassador.
Be warned, though, support for the repeal seems strong...

[Zjaum]

I do not like the law, but I will follow the law, as a member of the WA. I believe there are many implications that will hurt both my and other economies, but I will accept the decision of the WA.

Congratulations, Wallenburg, and thank you for the debate.

[Bananaistan]

Surely you can't take a narrow view of one category (IE the most recent ruling in respect of the Trade in Endangered Species proposal not fitting moral decency) and then decide that you quite like having all sorts of "holistic" proposals in free trade so give them a pass?

2 things:

1. I don't speak for the entirety of GenSec. I was the (currently) lone vote against, though my colleagues made excellent points that I can respect and abide.
2. I'm referring to the historical approach, not the new approach going forward.

I didn't mean you personally, nor indeed the council. Rather I meant you in the sense of "one". I think we can take it as a given that the old practice has been that the free trade category is a catchall for many different types of proposals some of which do not explicitly increase economic freedoms, at least within the definition of the two particular categories, and many in fact restrict the economic freedoms of those who do not hold whatever right is dealt with in the resolution. I would prefer a category which does what it says on the tin.

I challenged Vancouvia's auditing proposal. The mods upheld the challenge on the basis that auditing is a government regulation on business and not a reduction in barriers to trade. Patents are also a government regulation on business and are a classic example of a barrier to trade, particularly they are a barrier to any and all new entrants into a particular market.

A critical part of that ruling is the section reading "making it difficult or even impossible for violators to conduct business". Patent systems provide a system by which disputes can be easily resolved and create no significant barrier for economic development, and even open up new industries. The qualification is critical, in my mind, or it wouldn't have been included.

Also, the distinction between economic strength and economic freedom in that proposal is very relevant. A patent system may very well increase economic strength by encouraging development but it does not increase economic freedom. And perhaps there's a prevalent viewpoint based RL neoliberal politics and neoclassical economics that anything that increase economic freedoms also strengthens the economy; and therefore "freed trade" = good and "social justice" = bad. I would take a different view.

An unfortunate correlation, yes, but as I noted, the qualification about the degree of restrictions is important. I don't believe that was dicta in a ruling as short as that. You'd ultimately need a formal challenge to resolve that, but that's how I read it.

I also haven't had the chance to dig up more rulings, so I'm working off what you give me.

I haven't delved into it in great detail either. Perhaps it would be something for the council to deal with in future.

Also, congrats to Wallenburg on passing this. Ofc I will strenuously support any repeal for IC reasons which I have already detailed in Auralia's repeal thread.

[States of Glory WA Office]

Neville: Congratulations on passing this proposal.

Fairburn: Cor, that was close! Let's hope that the next vote is a landslide.

[Tacker]

The Leader of Tacker. Supreme Leader Tachong announced today he plans on fighting the the new act passed by the WA. He says "These other countries have no respect for my countries new innovations. We will continue to create 'Illegal' items. We will also continue to grow our military strength. I will die defending what I... I mean my country does"

[Wallenburg]

The Leader of Tacker. Supreme Leader Tachong announced today he plans on fighting the the new act passed by the WA. He says "These other countries have no respect for my countries new innovations. We will continue to create 'Illegal' items. We will also continue to grow our military strength. I will die defending what I... I mean my country does"

Ogenbond, cleaning up his desk in the voting chamber and sorting files into a folder, looks up at the television and raises his eyebrow. "Standard dictatorial response, I guess. My resolution does not even remotely touch upon military policy."

[Zjaum]

The Leader of Tacker. Supreme Leader Tachong announced today he plans on fighting the the new act passed by the WA. He says "These other countries have no respect for my countries new innovations. We will continue to create 'Illegal' items. We will also continue to grow our military strength. I will die defending what I... I mean my country does"

Ogenbond, cleaning up his desk in the voting chamber and sorting files into a folder, looks up at the television and raises his eyebrow. "Standard dictatorial response, I guess. My resolution does not even remotely touch upon military policy."

Well, a vote that close (ergo, that controversial) would probably get that sort of response.

[Wallenburg]

Ogenbond, cleaning up his desk in the voting chamber and sorting files into a folder, looks up at the television and raises his eyebrow. "Standard dictatorial response, I guess. My resolution does not even remotely touch upon military policy."

Well, a vote that close (ergo, that controversial) would probably get that sort of response.

"Oh, certainly. I'm just a little baffled that a national leader could be so obtuse as to rattle sabres over an intellectual property resolution. Even the average self-respecting dictator saves that for resolutions like 'Explosive Remnants of War', where the resolution does something to guarantee basic civilian protections."

[Zjaum]

Well, a vote that close (ergo, that controversial) would probably get that sort of response.

"Oh, certainly. I'm just a little baffled that a national leader could be so obtuse as to rattle sabres over an intellectual property resolution. Even the average self-respecting dictator saves that for resolutions like 'Explosive Remnants of War', where the resolution does something to guarantee basic civilian protections."

"Never believe, ambassador, that the fiscal policy is any less important than the social policy. For the social policy improves the life of the minority or the dissident, but the fiscal policy affects the life of the whole nation.

Put less cryptically, this resolution will, for better or worse, drastically change the lives of the inventor and the entrepreneur. A nation that steals more information than it gives, like this tyrant you speak of, would be right to fear this resolution; it would destroy his economy. As for myself, while I was against this bill, I have a strong amount of investors and a sizable amount of scientific advancement, so I have less to lose. Of course tyrants like these would be shaking in their boots- it means that their citizens would have to be well-educated for their economy to grow."