Hacking Young Minds

The Business Software Alliance's "copyright-crusading cartoon ferret" appears in "marketing campaigns to teach kids to be good cybercitizens," and its "antipiracy comic book and teacher's guide" is mailed to grade-school classrooms. The Motion Picture Association of America sponsored "an essay contest in which students competed to write the most creative plan to convince their peers not to download content illegally." Concerned by industry-funded "claims ... that far exceed what copyright is all about," the American Library Association is developing its own copyright issues classroom materials. The National Education Association applauded the ALA, saying students should not "parrot for some corporate agenda."