stealing music is now a national security issue?

http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9719339-7.html

i particularly like the comments i've seen that suggest we should all get high, shoot up and rob a bank and then just use the stolen money to buy the software and music - our sentences will be lighter ;) i'm all for protecting IP ... but this is getting a bit ridiculous. jail terms for stealing a $300 piece of software like microsoft windows? you'd be lucky to be pursued if you stole $300 cash from someone without causing any other problems. :)

i don't advocate stealing. even digital stealing. i've switched to freeware opensource programs where it was reasonable and stayed with legally purchased software (MS money and MS vista) where there isn't something equally as good out there. (and that's impressive considering how much MS Vista sucks! yes, LINUX is taking over the world ... but, despite being a 'puter geek, i don't work as efficiently in LINUX as windows yet ... maybe i'll buy a mac next time ... hahahaha!)

-s