A rather long article in the NY Times on copyright
and those opposing its continuous extension.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/25/magazine/25COPYRIGHT.html?pagewanted=1

(The NY Times archives its articles after a few days
and it takes money to view its archive, so read it now!)

A UK internet company (CD Wow) was recently obliged to
stop sourcing CD's from outside Europe where they are
considerably cheaper by the threat of legal action by
the BPI, Britains own RIAA. They were, apparently,
breaking copyright....
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3416437.stm

And at least one linux guru sees software patents as a
threat
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3422853.stm

A.