problem of the Internet

intellectual property & digital rights
obviously a layer umpteen issue but it's too hot not to touch
lessig covers this topic quite well
if you haven't read his books yet, do so over the holidays
internet not a dichotomy between  commercialization & open standards
trichotomy, with 3rd piece: regulation, property rights and protection
sysadmins will be in position of reading subpeonas from RIAA (some of you already have)
instantaneous sharing: best and worst thing about the Internet
biggest threat is the "downside of the upside"
what can be done to help
not blocked on technology (or computer science.  or sysadmins) 
blocked on our lack of social consensus how to incorporate the reality of digital ubicopyright into our model for appropriate human interaction 
we should keep "starving artist" two words
not just about artists. as sterling would point out, we haven't sorted out the impact
e.g, neglected side effect: increases effective value of in-person contact
live concerts/interactions now become vastly more valuable than the next step down
even for people not using their PDAs to look up band facts or check mail
so talk/write to/for legislators.  tell them what you know
else they decide without us