Sadly, Mark, the connection you make between IP and Zombies is perfect. Have you seen Lessig's presentation Architecture of Access to Scientific Knowledge? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2me7hptVGzI . He makes an important and nuances argument on IP/copyright in education and research settings...

Thanks, George; I love Lessig's work and will make time to watch this asap.

In the meantime, I've seen that Michael Geist posts an unexpectedly upbeat (as in not wholly negative) take on the implications of #elxn41 for IP regulation change:

The copyright bill is - as I described at its introduction last June - flawed but fixable. I realize that it may be reintroduced unchanged (the Wikileaks cables are not encouraging), but with the strength of a majority, there is also the strength to modify some of the provisions including the digital lock rules. Clement spoke regularly about the willingness to consider amendments and the Conservative MPs on the Bill C-32 committee were very strong. If the U.S. has exceptions for unlocking DVDs and a full fair use provision, surely Canada can too. [...] The end of the Bloc is great news on digital files as it was the Bloc, more than any other party, that promoted ISP levies, iPod levies, and a range of other new copyright fees.

So maybe it's still too soon to tell if this particular copyright zombie will be more of a Rage virus victim or a handy Fido.