Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

[matusiak <dave AT matusiak.org>]

hey all --

I just had a strange experience and I'm interested to know if anyone 
else has had similar.  Basically, I mail a good bit of stuff to folks 
around the world -- pictures, data cd-roms, stuffed animals, etc.  In 
15+ years of doing this, I've never been asked to have my package 
inspected before postage will be sold.

Well, at the PO today, I had to send off 5 soft mailers.  The only 
contents were a paper slip (short personal note) and a cd-rom.  Of 
course, I had them sealed and addressed before I ever left the house, 
so they were not "open" when I went to purchase postage.

Thankfully, the clerk I was dealing with appeared to be very new to the 
job.  After getting me squared away with postage, never questioning 
what I was sending other than "CD-ROMs", I was ready to pay and get on 
with my day.  At that point, I noticed a large-print note on the 
counter top.  It clearly stated that ANY MEDIA (incl. books, tapes, 
CD-ROMs, magazines, etc) being sent in the mail had to come to the PO 
in an UNOPENED package that MUST BE inspected before postage is sold.

Well, we were clearly past this stage, but I curiously asked about the 
policy.  The new clerk said it was just for "books," but I pointed down 
to the clip art images of cds and tapes and books and the words "ALL 
MEDIA" and asked for clarification.  At this point, the other feistier 
clerk piped up and started making like they were gonna saw open my just 
completed packages.

I contested saying that the original clerk should have informed me of 
the new policy and that our transaction was completed.  The 
ferociousness of my argument obviously paid off because she quickly 
retreated from this position.  All in all, I got to send my packages 
with little bother, but they reinforced that IN THE FUTURE ALL MEDIA 
must be inspected before being sent.

Does this not sound like a way to track copyright infringers to you?  
Like I said, I've been mailing for many, many years and never had a 
problem.  Now, all of a sudden (and a good 2 1/2 years after terrorism 
central) they want to inspect all media being mailed via their service? 
 WTF?

Besides my above guesstimate, I have no idea what they are trying to 
prevent or what trick they are attempting to pull, but I feel as though 
my civil liberties just got a lot more restricted.  Anyone else have 
this experience?

dave m.