Reasons the music industry has lost the plot #12 & #35

The campaign leading up to the release of the new Muse album has been really interesting, with an online/real-life game of hunt-the-USB-stick called PROJECT EURASIA

Well, the campaign was interesting until it got to the bit where they actually release the music for sale. Today was the digital release of single "Uprising". Sort of. Or as they put it:

"Following the worldwide radio premieres yesterday, Uprising is now available to download in some countries. Release dates vary around the world"

So just run that by me again.

If I live in the Republic of Ireland I can buy the new single today. And if I hop over into Northern Ireland I have to wait another 34 days before I can buy exactly the same digital file transmitted to me over exactly the same network using exactly the same protocols and exactly the same method of processing payment?

And the reason this works as a consumer experience and protects the band against piracy is...?

If the record industry claim they want to cut down on global file-sharing, they certainly have a funny way of showing it.