The Internet has become the centre of activity between Copyright Offenders and Copyright Defenders, and every shade in between. The unfortunate truth is that it has carried over into the real world in very negative ways. I would like to address a couple of confusing, difficult, and unnecessary challenges facing the industry, consumers, and regulators.

I initially wanted to be more eloquent, but I will instead get right to the point. International copyright barriers on an open international telecommunications network disenfranchise corporate consumers and cripple public domain works with the same rights management. My example was a second copy of "Ringtone" by Wierd Al Yankovic which I cannot describe because I cannot access that is LISTED on YuTue while I am signed into my account. There is no way to buy into American access from Canada. I now have at least one problem with Wierd Al, and his record company (Sony Music, through Volcano Records) that likely insisted on the limit. I was troubled by this, because I supported his "Atlantic Records Sucks" campaign out of support for artists that were slighted and blacklisted by Warner Music Group.

I guess this means I'll have to spend more time (and less money) with my liberated peers at CCMixter and other Public Domain/Creative Commons web entities.

My other recent confusion has been surrounding PBS and their use of Saturday Night Fever and other corporate disco tracks as a program/fundraising element. Turns out that PBS does not work in the public domain or for public interest, they are another corporate entity with a slightly different revenue source. That made me confused, but I still enjoy PBS through WNED 94.5FM when I haven't brought any music with me.

This brings me to my latest and most pressing concern as a Canadian taxpayer - why are CBC programs not made freely available in a "Canada-Only" Public Domain License. When tax dollars are spent on programming (Private Production Studios), distribution (via OTA, Rogers Cable, Bell Satellite), and all the legal work in between I'm confused about how CBC programming is relevant. They have great web news programming, that is not easily accessible via RSS. gain the news is great on TV, but is surrounded by programming I like but never get directly from CBC - I usually have to wait until it goes into syndication on a station ran by the Rogers Telecom Monopoly through CTV or one of its lacklustre subsidiaries.

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