[DRAFT] Intellectual Freedom Act

[Glen-Rhodes]

Do you see the creation of a committee in the proposal text as written? (Other than ULC, which already exists.) ... I don't. I see a service that was not assigned to the ULC in the original resolution (or the IDE resolution, which created a subcommittee named DOCTUS), and therefore reeks of amending an existing resolution, so far as I'm concerned. And there's where the HoC (and/or Amendment rule) gets this proposal into trouble.

OOC: The ULC is a committee. It can be given new assignments that are not found within its resolution of origin. If the resolution of origin is repealed, the ULC will exist in a reduced capacity, carrying out only the obligations assigned to it by other resolutions. There are no HoC or Amendment violations, per the rules:

A Proposal must be able to stand on its own even if all referenced Resolutions were struck from existance; however, you may assign duties to an existing committee. Should the Resolution that creates the committe be Repealed, the committee will continue to exist, but in a reduced capacity. If your Proposal "builds on" an existing Resolution, you're ammending that resolution. Excessive back referencing is not acceptable either. Create a new Proposal, don't just parrot existing ones. (see: Duplication)

[Krioval]

I would think that decorum would dictate that a new committee be created when the author requests that their committee specifically not be used. But that's just me.

Henrik Søgård
Imperial Chiefdom of Krioval

[Glen-Rhodes]

I would think that decorum would dictate that a new committee be created when the author requests that their committee specifically not be used. But that's just me.

Resolutions are not owned by their authors. This proposal is seeking to archive and provide for reading controversial texts from persecuted persons. Incidentally, the World Assembly already has a library network, which would be the ideal place to house those texts. Not utilizing this network simply because its creator doesn't like the new use is silly. Should we really create an entirely new library, with all the administrative and organizational costs that go along with it, when we already have one that would work just fine?

- Dr. B. Castro

[Ardchoille]

If the resolution of origin is repealed, the ULC will exist in a reduced capacity, carrying out only the obligations assigned to it by other resolutions.

This (emphasis added). From this, a general committee-related quibble occurred to me: here. Please don't take this thread OT by discussing it here, though; go to the Q&A one.

But Unibot could really avoid a legality fight by simply copying the ICC, here.

No, he couldn't.

[Krioval]

Resolutions are not owned by their authors. This proposal is seeking to archive and provide for reading controversial texts from persecuted persons. Incidentally, the World Assembly already has a library network, which would be the ideal place to house those texts. Not utilizing this network simply because its creator doesn't like the new use is silly. Should we really create an entirely new library, with all the administrative and organizational costs that go along with it, when we already have one that would work just fine?

- Dr. B. Castro

I admit that I am sympathetic to the idea that attaching this to the ULC strikes me as unnecessary mission creep, and that creating a parallel committee or organization might circumvent that. I also never said that it is illegal to appropriate a committee for uses other than what its creator - here defined as the author of the resolution who brought the committee into existence - feels is appropriate; I merely indicated that it is impolite. I would expect that one would work with the organization's creator to find a solution.

All of that said, this proposal under discussion is just another (potential) notch in the belt for Unibot, and their blatant attempts to create a world police force garners no support from the Imperial Chiefdom.

Henrik Søgård
Imperial Chiefdom of Krioval

[Unibot]

All of that said, this proposal under discussion is just another (potential) notch in the belt for Unibot, and their blatant attempts to create a world police force garners no support from the Imperial Chiefdom.

I am not creating a world force, merely establishing some duties of nations which have apparently run afoul of a rule not yet well defined, and I do not own a belt. I often cannot even find my pants.

Up Yours,
Eduard Heir

[Unibot]

I would think that decorum would dictate that a new committee be created when the author requests that their committee specifically not be used. But that's just me.

Henrik Søgård
Imperial Chiefdom of Krioval

I know for a fact that there is at-least one major power that will vote against, just on the basis of a new committee being formed in the resolution -- and as the author's request stems from their dislike from me, I have little sympathy for their requests. I will continue to use the ULC in the resolution until a legitimate reason can actually be supplied as to why I need to create a new, alternative library ... this reason, presumably would be independent of the obvious personal grudge that the ULC author has against me.

[Glen-Rhodes]

But Unibot could really avoid a legality fight by simply copying the ICC, here.

No, he couldn't.

... How could he not? (P.S. I see that Unibot requested a legality ruling, so I'm assuming that ruling will address this. I can be patient...)

[Krioval]

OOC: Or, maybe people could stop trying to push against the boundaries of the WA proposal rules with sneaky rules-lawyering. I tend to remember there being a lot fewer moderator rulings needed for proposals, at least partially because serious proposal authors (as in people who don't write blatantly illegal or joke proposals as a one-off) respected the rules. Now it seems that every third proposal has a legitimate legality issue attached to it, and it's getting tiresome.

[Turtatalia]

You might need to write in a segment to do with international copyright as well - do excuse if I am meandering off topic - but if the works were stored in an international library, then anyone could wander into the library, borrow a book, then rewrite and republish the book under their own name. That is the only condition to gaining my support. Otherwise, a good project

Yours;

Dr Ivan Quicksilver (LLD) constitutional and international law, with specialism in codified legal systems

[Bears Armed]

Hereby Declares:

1. All nations who reportedly, are in the current process of ostracizing, detaining or otherwise executing any person or persons to suppress or deter the expression or diffusion of intellectualism shall be one of the focuses of international surveillance and reconnaissance by member-nations;

2. Any well documented and substantial reports – reports conducted by member-nations – of individuals being suppressed or used as deterrence for the same motive as expressed in the aforementioned clause, shall be open and shared with all member-nations of the World Assembly;

3. Member-nations have the duty to, (1) diplomatically approach said transgressing nations, with the intention of securing intellectual freedom, (2) partake and/or assist (assistance by action or even simply, cooperative non-interference) in any military or covert action to aid in the protection and/or migration of individuals to asylum-granting member-nations or the facility of the WA Headquarters, when said individual's lives are surely threatened for harboring intellectualism in any form,

The WA doesn't require any such actions of its members in cases where they know (or suspect) that other nations are committing genocide, in its existing resolution on that subject, so why should these "intellectuals" enjoy greater protection than do people in general?

[Unibot]

Hereby Declares:

1. All nations who reportedly, are in the current process of ostracizing, detaining or otherwise executing any person or persons to suppress or deter the expression or diffusion of intellectualism shall be one of the focuses of international surveillance and reconnaissance by member-nations;

2. Any well documented and substantial reports – reports conducted by member-nations – of individuals being suppressed or used as deterrence for the same motive as expressed in the aforementioned clause, shall be open and shared with all member-nations of the World Assembly;

3. Member-nations have the duty to, (1) diplomatically approach said transgressing nations, with the intention of securing intellectual freedom, (2) partake and/or assist (assistance by action or even simply, cooperative non-interference) in any military or covert action to aid in the protection and/or migration of individuals to asylum-granting member-nations or the facility of the WA Headquarters, when said individual's lives are surely threatened for harboring intellectualism in any form,

The WA doesn't require any such actions of its members in cases where they know (or suspect) that other nations are committing genocide, in its existing resolution on that subject, so why should these "intellectuals" enjoy greater protection than do people in general?

Hhhm, good point. When the ruling comes in, I'll probably have to restructure the resolution focusing on providing access to the works of persecuted intellectuals, that seems 'fairer'.

[Glen-Rhodes]

The WA doesn't require any such actions of its members in cases where they know (or suspect) that other nations are committing genocide, in its existing resolution on that subject, so why should these "intellectuals" enjoy greater protection than do people in general?

Why shouldn't they? Perhaps we made a mistake in the other resolutions. For what it's worth, however, we do detain and prosecute perpetrators of genocide. When it comes to what the proposal is talking about, however, there really isn't a government to go after in most cases. You can't arrest an entire society.

- Dr. B. Castro

[Unibot]

The WA doesn't require any such actions of its members in cases where they know (or suspect) that other nations are committing genocide, in its existing resolution on that subject, so why should these "intellectuals" enjoy greater protection than do people in general?

Why shouldn't they? Perhaps we made a mistake in the other resolutions. For what it's worth, however, we do detain and prosecute perpetrators of genocide. When it comes to what the proposal is talking about, however, there really isn't a government to go after in most cases. You can't arrest an entire society.

- Dr. B. Castro

That's true as well.

[Mousebumples]

You might need to write in a segment to do with international copyright as well - do excuse if I am meandering off topic - but if the works were stored in an international library, then anyone could wander into the library, borrow a book, then rewrite and republish the book under their own name. That is the only condition to gaining my support. Otherwise, a good project

The Universal Library Coalition (GA Resolution #78) is already established and deals with international copyright. That resolution can be read in full here.

[Turtatalia]

You might need to write in a segment to do with international copyright as well - do excuse if I am meandering off topic - but if the works were stored in an international library, then anyone could wander into the library, borrow a book, then rewrite and republish the book under their own name. That is the only condition to gaining my support. Otherwise, a good project

The Universal Library Coalition (GA Resolution #78) is already established and deals with international copyright. That resolution can be read in full here.

Well, not all of us have the freedom or free time to spend every day in the WA Library!

[Eireann Fae]

Well, not all of us have the freedom or free time to spend every day in the WA Library!

Rowan holds up a small device, the codex she uses to look up WA resolutions. "They sell these at the gift shop, you know."

(OOC: Or you could click the sticky that lists the WA resolutions and run a quick search in the thread using the interface at the top left. That works, too :-)

[Mesogiria]

Well, not all of us have the freedom or free time to spend every day in the WA Library!

Rowan holds up a small device, the codex she uses to look up WA resolutions. "They sell these at the gift shop, you know."

(OOC: Or you could click the sticky that lists the WA resolutions and run a quick search in the thread using the interface at the top left. That works, too :-)

"They're always out of them when I go," grumbles Ambassador Rodriguez, pulling out a heavy, leather bound tome. "I was able to pry this loose from my Ministry of State and Foreign Affairs, but it has all these funny Old-Style spellings in it. I waste half my time editing the cursed thing."

[Krioval]

OOC: As a general suggestion, if an author doesn't want their committee used for a subsequent resolution, is there any problem with creating a subcommittee, nominally attaching it to the larger committee, and calling it a day?

[Turtatalia]

Well, not all of us have the freedom or free time to spend every day in the WA Library!

Rowan holds up a small device, the codex she uses to look up WA resolutions. "They sell these at the gift shop, you know."

(OOC: Or you could click the sticky that lists the WA resolutions and run a quick search in the thread using the interface at the top left. That works, too :-)

I'll wander over to the gift shop and have a look - THANKS!

[Darenjo]

"The gift shop is very nice. I haven't visited for a long while. I'll have to go back there sometime.

Anyways, Darenjo needs to know what counts as an 'intellectual' before giving our support, and we would also like to know whether 'cooperative, non-interference' means letting other nations' armed forces tramp around our territory. If so, then we cannot support."

Darenjon GA Ambassador Dr. Park Si-Jung

"Oh, and Rowan, how much do those GA resolution database-things cost?"

[Eireann Fae]

"Oh, and Rowan, how much do those GA resolution database-things cost?"

The girl's face reddens, not sure if she should be totally honest in answering. Seeing as Eireann Fae uses no currency, the delegates had no money, but she couldn't very well admit to stealing the item on the floor of the Assembly. She glanced down at the sleeping Faerie on the desk, then back to the Darenjo Ambassador. "I uh, don't remember. I think Episky bought it..." The girl really didn't like lying, and was clearly nervous in her response. She smiled weakly and surreptitiously glanced at the back of the device. "Oh, I think it was ess twenty four ninety nine. Yeah, that sounds right..." She looks again. What the hell is $? she thinks to herself. Shrugging, she put the codex back in her knapsack.

[Darenjo]

"Oh, and Rowan, how much do those GA resolution database-things cost?"

The girl's face reddens, not sure if she should be totally honest in answering. Seeing as Eireann Fae uses no currency, the delegates had no money, but she couldn't very well admit to stealing the item on the floor of the Assembly. She glanced down at the sleeping Faerie on the desk, then back to the Darenjo Ambassador. "I uh, don't remember. I think Episky bought it..." The girl really didn't like lying, and was clearly nervous in her response. She smiled weakly and surreptitiously glanced at the back of the device. "Oh, I think it was ess twenty four ninety nine. Yeah, that sounds right..." She looks again. What the hell is $? she thinks to herself. Shrugging, she put the codex back in her knapsack.

Dr. Park, having a background in psychology, easily reads Rowan's expression and smiles. He knows that they probably stole it, but since Rowan is young, and since this is the WA, he decides to let it go. Thinking about the cost, and the ridiculous currency that nobody but the WA seems to use (but that Darenjo's in sadly tied to), he deduces that it'll cost him about 250 mukhals - about what he makes in 2.5 hours. "Thank you Rowan for the info. Since it seems that Eduard won't be here anytime soon, I might as well go get one."He proceeds to leave the chamber.

[Quadnairia]

I understand what you’re trying to do with this resolution, but allow me to play devil’s advocate for a moment.

Let’s say scientists in Country A have come up with the Theory of Political Science (TOPS). It’s a well respected theory and explains a great many things. Generally, most feel it fits the view of the Universe as we see it. However, there are a few scientists who don’t agree with TOPS and try to publish a competing theory. They tend to be laughed at by other scientists, and, as a result, they have trouble getting their theory published.

Now, let’s say Country B has some sort of beef with Country A. They’re watching the debate on TOPS closely. Soon, they discover the competing scientists’ problems with publication and either declare that the government of Country A is involved or convince the scientists to say their government is blocking publication. Obviously, there’s no evidence of this, but Country B, a WA member, says that there is. Country B may claim that their diplomatic attempts to affect the situation have fallen on deaf ears, and military action is necessary to protect these scientists.

I know your resolution wasn’t written with this in mind, and it’s probably a far out scenario, but this resolution, the way it is currently written, could cause this sort of reaction. From some of the posts I’ve seen so far, it seems likely.

[Quelesh]

Well, not all of us have the freedom or free time to spend every day in the WA Library!

Rowan holds up a small device, the codex she uses to look up WA resolutions. "They sell these at the gift shop, you know."

(OOC: Or you could click the sticky that lists the WA resolutions and run a quick search in the thread using the interface at the top left. That works, too :-)

Or you could download my handy WA resolution compendium which I link to in this thread. This one's free.