A reasonably heated discussion on the subject occurred not too long ago. It didn't end on too much of a positive note, hence I've embarked on this thread. The point is to convey the Directorate's policy regarding weapons, equipment, products and such taken from RL and dropped into RL.

I'ma break it down, as different items are due different levels of protection. Some are actually relevant ICly, while others are not so much.

Weapons and Military Equipment
In an ideal environment, in-game nations would be equipped with completely fictional, custom, designed-by-us. This is not policy because making it policy would be insane. People are lazy. People are fan-boys. People are practical. For whatever reason, some are inclined to just take a real-life weapon, drop it in-game, rebrand it, and call it a day.

There is nothing inherently wrong with this. The Directorate does not object to this. John will not be murdered or gutted or assassinated or otherwise secret-policed to death for doing it.

However, it is a different story to do that and claim the real-life weapon.

But wwhhhyyy?

Because John made nothing. At best, he retyped some things and added formatting; at worst, he copy+pasted things into a specific order. Neither is really enough to convince the Directorate to say "Oh, this is totally something that belongs to John and John only. No one else can have it without going through him."

Buuuuuttt whhhyyy?

Because John took something that might as well be generic. He took something that just many people may and do want. John really has no right to use it and deny it to others. It would be unfair to others to give a generic design sole to John.

Oh. But what if John's country is a really big deal?

That is not an excuse for John to claim a real-life weapon as completely his, sorry. It doesn't change the underlying fact that the real-life weapon isn't his and another really-big-deal country might want it.

But, honestly, in-game, it would be legitimate for one country to design a specific thing that then gets exported out to everyone. It's the nature of things. Capitalism. Survival of the fittest. And such.

To some extents, yes. This is why the the Directorate would have no qualms with John protecting his in-game design.

Wot.

There is a difference between in-game and real-life designs. Even if the image and the specs are the same. The in-game model is fictional and specific to one nation. The real-life design belongs to the real world. That the fictional model looks like the real-life model is an unfortunate side-effect of Siora being a fictional world and persons being unable to dedicate the time and resources to designs an entirely new item. Which is what would happen in a legitimate world. Realistically, it is incredibly unlikely that a Sioran would design the exact same specific model an Earthling did. It's just highly improbable.

Some concepts--like communism--could very well evolve, but they're not the subject here. But because of that previous sentence the Directorate has no problems with communism, monarchism, and democracy existing in Siora as they do in real life. Because they're so basic they could and would have evolved. A specific model of the execution of various technologies is not such so basic. "Ideology  are fundamental, models are distinct." If that makes sense.

But I digress. John could protect his in-game design. That is special. That is "his". If another country were to try to step on his design, he would be in the right to go curbstomp them. But the real-life model is not his design. Unless John happened to be the real designer of that model, he had nothing to do with its development and has consequently no rights to it.

But John did design his own. Lets call it the Gamazoobajinga. And the real-life design the Unicornia. And the Gamazoobajinga is effectively the Unicornia rebranded. Assuming said, :

• Were Billylania (owned by Billy) to design a weapon based on the Gamazoobajinga, Johnlania could sue its ass for patent infringement. Or whatever it is. I don't actually know. This would be appropriate because the other country would be stealing the Gamazoobajinga, both of which are in-game actions. John has rights here because he has rights over the Gamazoobajinga.
  
• Were Billy to spawn within Billylania the Unicornia, to whatever extent--even if it's limited to simply using the same image--Johnlania could do nothing. It might look like the Gamazoobajinga, but that's only because both John and the second player do not have the time or resources to dedicate to developing their own graphics or specifications. John has no rights here because he holds no rights over the Unicornia.
  

• Spencerlania imports the Gamazoobajinga: great, no problemo; life goes on.
  
• Rebeccalania and Johnlania co-develop the Gamazoobajinga X: great, no problemo; life goes on.
  
• Billy's Billylania legitimately develops a weapon based on the Unicornia: John can do nothing because he has no rights over the Unicornia.
  
• Will is new. Will's Willlania develops a weapon Will says is "based on the Gamazoobajinga", and it is in fact the Unicornia. John talks to him, because they had not reached a previous agreement. Will is surprised to learn that the Gamazoobajinga is property of Johnlania.
  • Will proceeds to remove all references to the Gamazoobajinga: great, no problmeo; disaster averted. He can do this because it was an honest mistake given the in-game culture.
    
  • Will is a dick and keep the references to the Gamazoobajinga but refuses to tie it to Johnlania: Will gets bitch-slapped by the Directorate which then proceeds to set him straight. He will be forced to tie it to Johnlania or remove the references to the Gamazoobajinga. But Will can still base it on the Unicornia because John still has no rights over the Unicornia.
    

• First, John gets a big thumbs up and maybe even a medal from the Directorate. Really, good work John. I'm proud of you.
  
• Spencerlania imports the Babooniza: pretty spiffy, both of you.
  
• Rebeccalania and Johnlania work together to develop the Babooniza V: you go, guys.
  
• Will steals the Babooniza by having Willlania develop something based on the Babooniza without John's consent and then refuses to work with John: Will is bitch-slapped so hard. Just, so hard. Fuck you, Will. The Directorate punishes Will for stealing John's work and spitting on his labor.
  
• Billy tries to claim Billylania legitimately developed the Babooniza independently: No. Bad Billy. Don't be a Will. While Billy can design a weapon that meets the same purpose he cannot give it the same image and specifications because those are John's work. Using them without his consent would be a dick move.
  

• Firstly, let me just say that I really like how you've been improving John. I mean, going above and beyond to get the author's explicit permission to use the image. Way to go. I am legitly honestly proud of you. Love you, man. No homo.
  
• Spencerlania and Rebeccalania again do their thing. You guys are still okay.
  
• Will's still a dick and again tries to steal John's work. He tries to claim his country developed the Super-omega-weapon-system-14, which is effectively the Super-omega-weapon-system-16 but with slightly different specifications. It even uses the same image: you are just one incredibly massive dick, Will. Bye-bye. Administration bans Will for being a troll. Life goes on.
  
• Billy claim his country developed the Super-omega-weapon-system-24, which is the Super-omega-weapon-system-16 but better. Its stats are indeed improved, and it uses a different image: **sigh** Really Billy? You're kind of a dick too. He's asked to change the name, because Super-omega-weapon-system-16 is John's name. If it's reasonable his country could've made a better design, than he is allowed to keep it. If it's not reasonable, then he's asked to lower them. However, this only applies if the item is generic--say, a missile. If even the purpose itself is special...then, honestly, the Directorate can't really do anything. Because that's legitimate. Designing different weapons to meet the same purpose is kind of a thing that happens. However, if it's really, really, really John's idea, then everyone secretly thinks Billy's a dweeb for copying the concept. I know everyone does that. Don't lie.
  

The Process:

1. Open a thread titled "Discussion on <thing you want>" in this forum
   
2. Discuss technology with your peers
   
3. Await Directorate verdict
   

What is an Expansion Campaign?
An Expansion Campaign is the primary medium available by which a Player Country may achieve MOAR POWER. More specifically: its the chief way one's country can gain more lands, slaves, and cash. Because that's totally a thing countries want more. An Expansion Campaign can be set at any reasonable point in in-game history, though limitations may be applied as we explore non-Modern Tech role play further. Additionally, while the ultimate goal of an Expansion Campaign is the accession of moar resources, an Expansion Campaign whose plotline is bare-bone "veni, vidi, vici" is liable to be Denied (though not always!). As is one where you craft the situation specifically to play The Big Damn Hero (note, however, the specific language).

Role of Historical RP
You may have noticed the mention of "any...point...in history" up there. It means exactly what it means—Expansion Campaigns are not required to be set in the modern-day. They may be set during the height of your imperial power, or even during the glorious days of Rome (earlier than that though may be too far back though). Of course: limits may apply, and certainly, your Country would need to have a reasonable chance of keeping that land until the modern day—especially since other Players are totally allowed to intervene in your Campaign, and may even be permitted to fight you over it at the height of their imperial power (assuming said height is after you gained the land, at least). We'll have to explore the system and its capabilities as we go.

A reasonably developed history, at least during the period the Expansion is to be set in, may be required to embark on a Historical Campaign.

Post-Expansion Effects
Post-Expansion gains (population, land, GDP) are at the Directorate's discretion, needless to say. Further effects, in the way of required "post-conflict" Role Play, modifications to your primary population and GDP, or other stuff the Directorate may feel appropriate, may be applied depending on the situation developed for the Campaign and its evolution as the Campaign went on.

Regarding Participants
The Expanding Player may be permitted to play the Campaign alone, though, since we are here to play together, is nonetheless encouraged to design things in such a way as to permit others—either as individual Players or in their role as in-game Countries—to participate. Additionally, if your Campaign does involve a second in-game state (quite likely), a second Player to control it is encouraged. And let us not forget that in-game countries have their own interests; so if a country has a reasonable in-game cause to intervene, the Directorate certainly condones the Player controlling it to do so. As cool as the Expanding Player's plan may be in his head, plans rarely (never?) survive contact with reality fully intact.

Further Notes
There are no explicit limits on the number of concur Expansion Campaigns one may have, or the number of total number of Expansions one may go through, though the Directorate may certainly apply limits at its discretion. Eg., if you're swarmed in Role Play, the Directorate may prevent you from taking on more; or if you're so big and powerful and OP that you could take on the world, it may prohibit you from growing larger (though, this one's unlikely).

What to do Post-Approval
After your claim is approved (or as otherwise directed by the Director), you must start an OOC thread titled "OOC: <Campaign Name>" in the Discussion and Planning forum. Failure to do so may cause your RP to be post-poned/frozen. You are encouraged to use the OOC thread to coordinate the Campaign with Players and their Countries, though may otherwise begin role playing.


Form

Siora

Equirectangular Maps
Borders| Topography | Terrain

Cylindrical Equal-area Maps
Borders

First, be sure to have read the Starter Guide and the SMTRP Rules.

Then, just copy+paste+fill the following form in the region you would like to claim in. The current available regions are:
Siora.

Afterwards, go to the Statistics page and fill in the requested information for your country. Be aware that the population and GDPpc you fill in may change after Directorate review. Please keep the information in English. You don't call Moscow by it's Russian name and the maps aren't in Lanlanian, after all. If you need any sort of help, feel free to ask more experienced members on the Discord RP Help Desk. You may also find the Discord embedded on the bottom of the page.