I just realised that Sony has blocked my IP address from the Playstation video store, since I am not located in the US. This is a pity, since I was able to use the video store right after its launch the other week, and found it rather interesting. I actually bought as well as rented a couple of items. I wonder why they do this? To me it seems rather stupid and obsolete to use restrictions like this. The internet is global, and everything that can be distributed digitally at low cost should utilise this, without imposed restrictions by national borders.

I find it particularly disturbing that it is Sony who does this, since they are the only console manufacturer to have done away with region restrictions in their current hardware (yeah, PS2 still has it, but I don't consider that current). When they first did this, I gave them a big applause. When I saw that many online stores refused to ship certain software titles to certain regions, I was slightly disappointed. Now I am very disappointed. I am still able to buy games from the US store, but for how long? I better make sure to re-download the games I deleted the other day, or I might lose them forever.

Hell, why even have my PS3 online, now that online distribution is not yet what I believe it should be. The movies they refuse to sell to me are available for free through other less legal channels.

And to think the media industry is complaining about piracy...