NationStates Jolt Archive

Dear United Nations,

It has come to our attention from the Population that they have concern about the new HD-DVD format that many companies plan to ship around the United Nations. These companies wich make VHS, DVD and other formats for people to buy, announced that anyone who has HDTV must have HDMI Inputs to be able to watch HD-DVD movies in High Definition. All other inputs will be downconverted to non HD signals.

HDMI has security ecryptions that make it illegal for Companies and Consumers to make HDMI to Component Converters to allow HD signals to be watched on Component Inputs. That means that anyone without an HDMI input on their HDTV will NOT be able to watch the HD-DVDs in true High Definition.

These companies are trying to prevent Piracy but they are also hurting Consumers. Most HDTVs do not have HDMI inputs wich means people will have to buy new HDTVs and it will cost each person thousands of dollars. There are other, and better, ways to prevent piracy....and this is not one of them.

We would like to submit a proposal to the U.N. that will protect consumers around the world.

This Proposal is the called The United Nations High Definition Protection Act.

We RECOMMEND the following rules:

1. The U.N. recognises that Component Inputs must be able to send and recieve HD signals on HD-DVDs and Players.

2. High Definition Signals will not be limited to only one Input.

3. All HDTVs from now on, must have both Component and HDMI Inputs installed into them.

4. No company will create Encypted codes onto the HD-DVDs to prevent Component from being used for High Definiton Signals.

5. Companies are allowed to prevent piracy as much as they can as long as they do not hurt consumers in the process or break any of these rules.

6. We RECOMMEND that any Country, Nation, Kingdom, or other types of Governments within the U.N. that break any of these rules must be punished with a 100 Million Dollar fine And/Or the country be removed from the U.N.

7. We RECOMMEND that companies that break these rules be punished with removal of their right to sell in the United Nations.

Thank you for listening, Dear Nations of the U.N.

So, is this a good proposal?

I like the idea of standardized HD (considering it comes in 16 flavors).

I also like the idea of I also like the idea of an UN global network (for warnings and to foster Free trade).


In other words I think this has a place, but as an amendment to a much more sweeping HD proposal.

Maybe a UN Broadcasting network (UNBN has nice ring to it)

I didn't look over the full proposal, but what category do you think it would be? :)

Im at a loss as to why this is relevant to the United Nations. Surely this is indeed a concern for Nations on a National and Regional basis. However i fail to see how it applies to the NSUN.

I am in full surport of this proposal!

Im at a loss as to why this is relevant to the United Nations. Surely this is indeed a concern for Nations on a National and Regional basis. However i fail to see how it applies to the NSUN.

Free Trade. The interoperability of technology is very important in Free trade.

Although the Commonwealth of Kayros is loath to dictate how companies may build their products, we do support this measure in the sense of equalizing trade (as mentioned in a previous message).

However, we would recommend going a step further, and requiring all member nations to repeal any laws that prohibit the so-called 'cracking' of copyright-protection mechanisms. Allow individual companies to delve into this if they wish, so long as the consumers still maintain control over their media, but allow them to circumvent it if the companies do, indeed, make it difficult.

- K. Martin, Ambassador to the United Nations
- The Commonwealth of Kayros

Hey, I like that!

I question NS application and am concerned whether there might be a RL != NS conflict. However, I concede your point. I am, however, uncertain whether I agree for a variety of reasons - mainly that....well.... having worked with a fair number of Electronics, I question the feasability of such a resolution and, further, am concerned about the removal of such a standarization system. Currently, I'm work at a place that repairs and refurbishes computers. For the most part, everything is standardized, but there are a handful of companies and components (the worst are older IBM monitors and just about anything Compaq) where the parts are specially designed JUST for that computer. Things such as HD rails or face plates are often not replacable. However, you can't substitute one for the other - making such repairs difficult and tedious. Further, we have attempts right now to make resolution that standardize electrical outlets world wide. At this stage, that is an impossibility - as it would require a rewiring of pretty much every country in the world. However, right now as HD TVs are JUST coming onto the market, I consider this a feasable idea since the number of people getting them are few and far between.

It is because there was a lack of standardization for HD TVs 5 years ago that makes this problem exist. We need to standardize MORE things that are coming rather than remove the standards of things that already exist.

Addendum:

I'd like to draw a parallel between the standardization of HD TVs and....Resolution 24 (Metric System) which we are still debating because many nations feel they should have the right to use the outdated Imperial system.

Im at a loss as to why this is relevant to the United Nations. Surely this is indeed a concern for Nations on a National and Regional basis. However i fail to see how it applies to the NSUN.
I agree, and it reeks of RL.

Why is this even being discussed? Can members of the UN have control over our own damn economies any more or are the Socialists now going to try to convince me that meddling in Krioval's industrial sector constitutes "free trade"? Free trade is leaving well enough alone and letting the market take its course. Try it from time to time. Or, if not, let those who want to try it do so.

Vardun Kital
Director of Commerce
Armed Republic of Krioval