MTV minus the M... and the TV

So MTV has finally returned to its roots, and in a fantastic move has put every music video in its collection online for free. Woo hoo! So why do I have a lo-res, YouTube version of Genesis' criminally underheard Tonight Tonight Tonight here?



Because the MTV videos cannot be shown outside the U.S. due to copyright restrictions.

I've never understood the logic behind this. What possible downside is there to offering something outside the U.S. for gratis that is freely available inside the U.S.? There are ways around it anyway, by using proxy servers or web proxies like The Cloak.

Dumb.

(The Genesis video above is worth watching both as one of their better late-era songs -- it's really the only good song on Invisible Touch -- but also for the humour value of watching the guys in their silly-looking '80s trench coats. I really like the Blade Runner vibe in the early half of the vid, though, before it sags a bit near the end. The song itself is pure genius.)