Here's part of the deal: Take YouTube, a large commercial interest. Add their lobbying, that is participating and influencing a limited, largely invitation-on

Here's part of the deal: Take YouTube, a large commercial interest. Add their lobbying, that is participating and influencing a limited, largely invitation-only discussion of what video distribution is and will be on the Web. (I say largely invitation-only, because 10's and 100's of thousands of us can mount campaigns "of the masses" without moving the needle, or generating only a temporary reaction until the powers that be can slip their changes through another avenue or after simply wearing us out.) Now, they are no longer "just" a commercial provider, free to choose what they wish to host. They are defining the very nature of Web video (and, more broadly, content) distribution -- to suit their own purposes. THAT's why you worry when big players start doing stuff. Because it tends to become "the law".