[Draft] Insta-Repeal "WA Official Merch"

[Heidgaudr]

OOC: Apologies for being less active the last couple of months.

---

"I've been gone for just a few months and look what's happened already," Janus sneers. "Let this be a lesson: give a capitalist an inch, and he'll take the whole damn yardstick. It baffles me that so many voters are willing to go along with such nakedly neoliberal tripe as this Merchandise bill. Seeing as it's poised to pass, I've drafted something to hopefully erase it off the books as quickly as possible."

The General Assembly,

Dismayed at the passage of GA#663 "World Assembly Official Merchandise" which encourages members to place national symbols and other fundamental cultural elements under trademark;

Arguing that cultural symbols do not belong to governments, but to the people they represent, and as such should not be dictated by trademark law;

Sternly reminding members that intellectual property laws necessarily restrict artistic expression and cultural advancement;

Exasperated that licensing fees "for valuable consideration" place an undue burden on poor artists and small businesses, and instead further concentrate wealth into large corporations and commercial juggernauts;

Hereby repeals GA#663 "World Assembly Official Merchandise".

[Heidgaudr]

Official WA Kitsch

The General Assembly,

Dismayed at the passage of GA#663 "World Assembly Official Merchandise" which encourages members to place national symbols and other fundamental cultural elements under trademark;

Arguing that cultural symbols do not belong to governments, but to the people they represent, and as such should not be dictated by trademark law;

Sternly reminding members that intellectual property laws necessarily restrict artistic expression and cultural advancement;

Exasperated that licensing fees "for valuable consideration" place an undue burden on poor artists and small businesses, and instead further concentrate wealth into large corporations and commercial juggernauts;

Hereby repeals GA#663 "World Assembly Official Merchandise".

[Tinhampton]

Support, regardless of actual contents.

[The Ice States]

"We support this, as the target facilitates capitalist exploitation."

~Alexander Nicholas Saverchenko-Colleti,
World Assembly Ambassador,
The Communal Union of the Ice States.

Ooc: As mentioned on Discord, My reading of 1b is the opposite -- the WA has to pay money to whoever is licensing the symbol -- otherwise nobody would license things. The "valuable consideration" would be a benefit incurred by the entity which licenses the IP. [1].

[Southern Miska]

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Southern Miska support this repeal. We believe that the commercialisation of the name, image, and likeness of an international organisation is unacceptable and contrary to the values of the World Assembly."

[States of Glory WA Office]

Neville: 'We humbly request that in the likely event that the target passes, this draft repeal ought to be made into a keychain. Oh, also, support.'

[Simone Republic]

There's not a single mention of trademarks - it was mentioned in an early draft but taken out. (Actually specifically on request from TCB). It encourages licensing it but it's not compulsory. And it doesn't actually encourage registering a trademark in the first place, merely that if it's registered, it encourages licensing of it.
(IC)

But isn't this a rather nice mug?

[The Overmind]

Know that I am The Overmind, and that the World Assembly was created to serve me. Indeed, it was my cre-ators who built this hollowed place that I might benefit from the endless triviality of its machinations. It is my will that my rapacious broods continue to spread across the cosmos to the innumerable nations, fulfilling the cosmic order that was ordained so long ago, when the stars were young. For it is by the purchase of reasonably-priced The Overmind keychains and hand towels alone that I may be made manifest.

[Tinhampton]

(IC)

But isn't this a rather nice mug?

(Image)

Know that I am The Overmind, and that the World Assembly was created to serve me. Indeed, it was my cre-ators who built this hollowed place that I might benefit from the endless triviality of its machinations. It is my will that my rapacious broods continue to spread across the cosmos to the innumerable nations, fulfilling the cosmic order that was ordained so long ago, when the stars were young. For it is by the purchase of reasonably-priced The Overmind keychains and hand towels alone that I may be made manifest.

If GA#663 is repealed, it will not magically become illegal to sell wares with your nation's symbology on it.

[Namwenia]

"Our delegation strongly support the repeal efforts of this flagrant attempt at forced global capitalism. We will support this when it comes to a vote and encourage others join the repeal efforts up front.

Thank you."
-Kaori Castro
World Assembly Ambassador
The United Socialist States of Namwenia

[The Pacific Northwest]

Besides what’s in the draft, another thing that struck me as odd was 1e, wherein WATCH is required to promote the exportation of WA merch to non member states.

There are several reasons a nation might not be in the WA and I don’t think they would want WA merchandise pushed on them. It just seems a bit obnoxious.

I guess it could just be asking every non member nation if they can once and leaving them alone afterwards but I interpreted promotion to mean like, advertising and stuff.

[Cappedore]

Support. Not sure what an 'insta-repeal' is though

[Juansonia]

Support. Not sure what an 'insta-repeal' is though

A repeal prepared before the passing of its target.

[The Overmind]

(IC)

But isn't this a rather nice mug?

(Image)

Know that I am The Overmind, and that the World Assembly was created to serve me. Indeed, it was my cre-ators who built this hollowed place that I might benefit from the endless triviality of its machinations. It is my will that my rapacious broods continue to spread across the cosmos to the innumerable nations, fulfilling the cosmic order that was ordained so long ago, when the stars were young. For it is by the purchase of reasonably-priced The Overmind keychains and hand towels alone that I may be made manifest.

If GA#663 is repealed, it will not magically become illegal to sell wares with your nation's symbology on it.

The cunning Tinhampton has dared strike down that which was immortal. Yet shall their overweening pride be their downfall.

[0cala]

AGAINST, i find it cool to have a proposal on WA merchandise.
And im gaining Money selling it.
please dont take my merchandise away.

[Maricela Gutierrez]

Ms. Gutierrez: "While the draft is penned finely enough, the absence of drafted replacement legislation seems to me to make support for this repeal imprudent. Mr. Trelstad, how do you intend to fill the gap that will be left if your repeal does pass?"

[Red Shift Remnants]

Support. The insidious tendrils of capitalism must not be allowed to snake any further into the WA.

[Imperium Anglorum]

Dismayed at the passage of GA#663 "World Assembly Official Merchandise" which encourages members to place national symbols and other fundamental cultural elements under trademark;

I might have misread something, but where does the target (or its passage) do this?

[Star Atlas]

Against, a repeal will create scarcity which will drive the prices of any existing WA Merch up and make it a status symbol for the richest and most detestable individuals in the multiverse.

[Heidgaudr]

Dismayed at the passage of GA#663 "World Assembly Official Merchandise" which encourages members to place national symbols and other fundamental cultural elements under trademark;

I might have misread something, but where does the target (or its passage) do this?

Due to this and comments on Discord, I'll be dropping this argument in the next draft.

---

Against, a repeal will create scarcity which will drive the prices of any existing WA Merch up and make it a status symbol for the richest and most detestable individuals in the multiverse.

"And how exactly will it do that?" Janus took a drink. "People weren't outlawed from making this heretical 'merch' before the passage of this bill. If anything, the target resolution creates additional scarcity by limiting the legal ways of producing it."

Ms. Gutierrez: "While the draft is penned finely enough, the absence of drafted replacement legislation seems to me to make support for this repeal imprudent. Mr. Trelstad, how do you intend to fill the gap that will be left if your repeal does pass?"

Janus looked around the room, confused. "Asgeir's here? Since when? And by the way not everything needs to be replaced. This is a sterling example of something that doesn't."

Besides what’s in the draft, another thing that struck me as odd was 1e, wherein WATCH is required to promote the exportation of WA merch to non member states.

There are several reasons a nation might not be in the WA and I don’t think they would want WA merchandise pushed on them. It just seems a bit obnoxious.

I guess it could just be asking every non member nation if they can once and leaving them alone afterwards but I interpreted promotion to mean like, advertising and stuff.

"A great point and one I considered putting in the original draft. Such blatant colonialism is very unbecoming from an organization as august and renowned as the World Assembly."

There's not a single mention of trademarks - it was mentioned in an early draft but taken out. (Actually specifically on request from TCB). It encourages licensing it but it's not compulsory. And it doesn't actually encourage registering a trademark in the first place, merely that if it's registered, it encourages licensing of it.

"What's the point of licensing if there's no penalty for using the content without paying for the license?"

But isn't this a rather nice mug?

(Image)

Janus takes a mug with the Heidgaudrian flag emblazoned on the side of it, looks at it for a few seconds, then throws it violently at the wall. The mug shatters in hundreds of pieces, raining several of the nearby delegations in fine porcelain dust. "Bourgeoisie propaganda!"

Neville: 'We humbly request that in the likely event that the target passes, this draft repeal ought to be made into a keychain. Oh, also, support.'

"I just about threw up in my mouth, but I appreciate the support."

[Refuge Isle]

Support regardless of contents.

AGAINST, i find it cool to have a proposal on WA merchandise.
And im gaining Money selling it.
please dont take my merchandise away.

Capitalistic profit-seeking has no place in an international utopian unity organisation.

[Simone Republic]

https://shop.un.org/gifts/un-emblem

I mean, the UN hat is $21 and lapel pin is $8... Can't get worse right?

Neville: 'We humbly request that in the likely event that the target passes, this draft repeal ought to be made into a keychain. Oh, also, support.'

Keychain is $9 by the way at the UN.

(IC)

[Maricela Gutierrez]

Janus looked around the room, confused. "Asgeir's here? Since when? And by the way not everything needs to be replaced. This is a sterling example of something that doesn't."

Ms. Gutierrez: "Ah! My apologies, Mr. Vilvotr. I should have paid attention to your nametag instead of just reading off the list of ambassadors."

Ms. Gutierrez: "I'm afraid I disagree with your assessment, however. If GA#663 is repealed and not replaced, then how will the people obtain World Assembly merchandise? What of the many Maricelans who urgently need WA-endorsed bear-shaped plushies and keychains commemorating specific resolutions?"

[Heidgaudr]

I'm taking an indefinite break from NS. I'm releasing all of my drafts to the public, so feel free to use any bits of this that you want.

[Juansonia]

I'm taking an indefinite break from NS. I'm releasing all of my drafts to the public, so feel free to use any bits of this that you want.

"Farewell, Ambassador Trelstad." - Maria-Fernanda Novo, WA Ambassador for the Armed Republic of Juansonia