Striking over future profits

Are you suffering withdrawal pains from new episodes of your favorite late-night TV talk shows?

The Hollywood writers' strike has entered its second day, meaning Jay Leno and David Letterman, among other hosts, are off the air (at least with new shows) for awhile. The TV and movie landscape could change considerably if the strike wears on.

And it's all because of this medium on which you're reading this blog.

It seems that everyone with any connection to the entertainment industry wants a bigger piece of the Internet pie.

One portion of the strike had to do with writers disagreeing over their share of royalties from Internet availability.

Hopefully this won't end up like Internet radio, where record companies have demanded a ridiculous, profit-destroying royalty rate. Fortunately, it appears Congress may step in and bring things within reason.

Internet radio's an extreme example of how all involved in entertainment, from performers to distributors, are trying to grab as much profit as possible.

That's somewhat understandable, but let's hope the home consumer doesn't get burned in the process. Limiting availability, or demanding ridiculously high prices for access, goes against the very freedom the Internet stands for.