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AT VOTE: Repeal "Public Domain"

Posted on Nov 10 2006, 10:09 PM

Repeal Resolution:

QUOTE

Repeal "Public Domain"

A proposal to repeal a previously passed resolution

Category: Repeal

Resolution: #60

Proposed by: Safalra

Description: UN Resolution #60: Public Domain (Category: Free Trade; Strength: Strong) shall be struck out and rendered null and void.

Argument: The General Assembly,

Noting the passage of United Nations Resolution #60, 'Public Domain',

Acknowledging that the establishment of the public domain and mechanisms to place a work into the public domain are important parts of copyright law,

Unconvinced of the case for requiring that member States place their government works into the public domain, when the use of liberal licences provide similar social benefits,

Deeply concerned that the resolution places freeware and shareware works into the public domain, when traditionally these licences allow authors to maintain copyright while permitting free distribution of their works,

Condemning the hardship the resolution has caused for shareware authors who had relied for their income on works published prior to the passage of the resolution,

Noting that clause 5 of United Nations Resolution #163, 'UN Copyright Convention', make the other provisions of the resolution redundant,

1. Repeals United Nations Resolution #60, 'Public Domain';

2. Urges delegates to consider existing definitions and usage when defining terms in future resolutions.

Original Resolution:

QUOTE

UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTION #60
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"

Votes For: 8,694
Votes Against: 6,706

Implemented: Mon May 31 2004

Original Discussion

This post has been edited by Bazalonia on Nov 10 2006, 10:12 PM