The Captain Falls!

For those of you long-time visitors who remember our first (and only) encounter with Captain Copyright, it's time to break out your polybags -- Captain Copyright has fallen, never to return!

Surprisingly enough, the Intrepid Protector of Intellectual Property was not defeated by his arch-nemesis, Rampant Piracy. No, the Major of Monopolization was backstabbed by his own allies, the Canadian Copyright Licensing Authority.

According to Ars Technica, when Captain Copyright first began his noble crusade, ordinary non-spandex-wearing Canadians questioned the Captain's impartiality and actually wondered if teaching a one-sided intellectual property curriculum was the best use of precious school time. The CCLA then commissioned the creation of new education materials on "Creative Commons, fair dealing and the public domain," and planned to submit the Captain's updated arsenal for review by an education advisory panel.

Unfortunately, the final battle will never make it to print; the CCLA doesn't describe exactly how the Sentinel of Syndication was defeated, but merely states

It is difficult for organizations to reach agreement on copyright issues at this time and we know that, in the face of continuing opposition, the materials will not be used in the classroom. Under these circumstances there is no point in our continuing to work on this project.

...which sounds to me like a fancy-schmancy way of saying that they couldn't simultaneously try to represent all groups involved in copyright disputes and still have Captain Copyright deliver their set one-sided spiel.

Ah well, another costumed crusader cut down before his time. Maybe he can keep Major Bummer company...