An encouraging note is the semi-organized storm of protest that has stalled UCITA.

In Ed Foster's recent InfoWorld Gripe Line column, he expressed amazement that UCITA didn't die when the ABA denounced it, and that the committee keeps claiming to have fixed it but makes no substantial changes. This is easily explained by Microsoft's support. They very much want it passed, and passed "as is", because it dovetails neatly with their other licensing and control issues. Eventually they'll rename it to lose the UCITA label, but it won't be substantially changed.

Even so, UCITA has passed only in AOL's territory (AOL is also a supporter), not in Microsoft's territory.

The same resistance has to be brought against anything else from the Hollings / Feinstein / RIAA / MPIA / Microsoft Axis of Evil. Once again, "working on" Microsoft's public image and generating public suspicion of anything they are involved in will pay dividends. Eventually legislators will learn to recognize items that are going to generate a lot of flack.