Skipping TV ads illegal in Japan?

Ok, everyone's joked at one time or another that the TV commercials during some show or other (probably the Super Bowl) were better than the actual programming. But we didn't actually mean it, did we?

In the U.S., broadcasters and advertisers have long been worried about the effects of TiVo and other digital recorders on ad-watching. That anxiety is spreading to Japan, where broadcasters are now saying that skipping commercials is actually a violation of that country's Copyright Law.

To combat the ungrateful public's growing ad-skipping, the country's National Association of Commercial Broadcasters has designated Aug. 28, the anniversary of the first ad played on Japanese TV, as "TV Commercial Day." They'll aim to highlight the benefits of TV advertising to viewers.

I've got a short list for them: they make great bathroom breaks and exercise periods (even if it's just a walk to the fridge), and it's the best time to make popcorn in the kitchenÂ…