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Filed under: Internet, News, Podcasting

Broadcast treaty could (still) kill podcasts

We thought the provisions in the WIPO broadcast treaty which would add a layer of intellectual property rights were kaput, over, dead-as-a-doornail. Wrong. In May a new version of the treaty was introduced and, contrary to widespread belief about the changes which had been planned, language still exists in the WIPO treat which -- if passed -- would create a brave new world of copyright madness.

As currently written, the treaty would remove fair use rights on things like excerpts of television and radio broadcasts for the purpose of explanation, examination or critical commentary; something even the DMCA hasn't torn asunder.

Also at stake is your PC, the all purpose content creation device in front of which you currently sit. Signatory countries -- which include the "G8" -- would be required to enact legal protections for content which could easily mean that your PC's feature list falls squarely under the control of government, rather than innovative developers. This part of the treaty would stifle new technology in distribution and throw a giant wet blanket on indie content producers.

Sign this online petition and help play a small part in making sure your PC's future remains free.

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Featured Time Waster

Forumwarz - a potentially offensive time waster

I pwn UAfter spending the better part of an hour on Forumwarz I still can't decide if it's just sick or if it's kind of fun. It's a bit like a car wreck on the highway. I know I shouldn't be looking but I can't quite turn away.

It's sick, it's twisted, it's the internet on it's worst level and darn it, it's kind of fun. At least for a little while.

Forumwarz is a parody role-playing game that takes place on the internet - or at least the Forumwarz version of it. Your goal is to complete missions that are given to you through a mock up of GoogleTalk called Sentrillion.

Your first "friend" is ShallowEsophagus who begins giving you missions to pwn various forums by being a troll. Depending on the character type you are assigned at start up, you have tools like drooling on the keyboard or bashing your head on the keyboard that you can use to destroy forum threads and eventually, pwn a forum.

Future missions involve buying illegal software from the Russians, pwning more difficult forums and other internet oddness.

Completing missions gives you cash, called Flezz in game, and items that you can pawn or use in other missions. The game is NOT for those easily offended. It's crass, coarse and there are frequent f-bombs in the fake chat sessions.

This is also a game for a more mature audience as it requires you to shop at the Drugs R Fun store to get various concoctions to improve your playing, engage in certain cyber activities to get more Flezz and just generally use a more adult perspective.

If you can get past that, here are the more enjoyable and time-wasting aspects.

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