From the man who brought us "There's no excuse for anyone violating copyright laws" and "If that's the only way, then I'm all for destroying their machines. If you have a few hundred thousand of those, I think people would realize" the errors of their ways, now comes "that's ironic" (from his spokesman).

Wired is reporting that the Senator from Utah's web site made use of a JavaScript product without an appropriate license.

The product, from Milonic Solutions in the UK, enables special pop-down menus for navigation and costs $900 to license, although it is available for free to non-profits (which Senator Hatch probably qualifies for). Either way, though, the Senator's site didn't have the appropriate acknowledgments required by the license for non-profit organizations.

Although Mr. Hatch amended his comments Wednesday in a statement to "I do not favor extreme remedies -- unless no moderate remedies can be found", I think it is appropriate to remind him that the is (in his own words) "no excuse" for copyright violation.