Here's some interesting reading i found over at About.com's Focus On Windows forum about a new bill before Congress concerning copy protection. This paragraph kinda stood out:

"According to the CBDTPA, any software with the ability to reproduce "copyrighted works" may not be sold in the United States after the Federal Communications Commission's regulations take effect. Even programmers who distribute their code for free would be prohibited from releasing newer versions -- unless the application included federally approved technology."
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,51274,00.html

Here's more on this story as of today (March 28): http://www.wired.com/news/mp3/0,1285,51337,00.html