The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has recently set it’s sights on YouTube and Google Video. YouTube seems to be getting the brunt of the attacks as RIAA is now going after people who lip synch to copywrited songs or merely dance to a clip in the background. YouTube apparently is taken steps to prevent any further legal troubles, but those steps may prove to be too much for it’s users.

The first major change with YouTube’s service is that registration now requires your SSN, street address, and phone number. The new information is verified upon sign up and is stored in case of legal issues. YouTube representatives are saying that this new step will help hold copywrite violators more accountable.

Another new change is that all YouTube videos will now begin with a 10-15 second clip that discusses the problems with piracy and copywrite violation. These clips look to be similar to the ads that are cropping up in movie theaters and DVDs that talk about illegally downloading movies.

The last modification of note is that uploading and viewing YouTube movies will require downloading and installing DRM (Digital Rights Management) software. This software will not only be required to play YouTube videos, it will also prevent downloaded MP3s and movies from working properly on the installed computer. DRM software probably became most widely known with Sony’s rootkit disaster.

As expected, YouTube users are in quite an uproar over the proposed changes. Probably the most controversial is the required DRM as many computer users are very strongly against software that restricts their capabilities to use even legally downloaded movies, music, and software.

YouTube reps say that the measures proposed are necessary if they wish to be able to continue to provide their service for free and that further legal troubles with the RIAA would most likely put the company out of business.

Tags: RIAA, YouTube, Google Video, copywrite, piracy

There has been much discussion and debate over the effects games have on gamers, with the latest news being that of a Jack Thompson backed bill that would ban certain types of games from being sold to minors. It isn’t really a suprise that Thompson is, once again, behind such an attack on the gaming industry. What is suprising is that the bill has been approved to go to the Senate for final debate.

You may think a law limiting sales to minors is necessary, which is definitely arguable, but the text in this newly proposed bill is quite ludicrous when it says that it would be illegal to sell, rent, or lease a game to a minor if it met the following three conditions:

1. The average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find that the video or computer game, taken as a whole, appeals to the minor’s morbid interest in violence.
2. The game depicts violence in a manner patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community with respect to what is suitable for minors.
3. The game, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors.

The problem is that this bill has opened the doorway for even more laws restricing game sales and use. Yesterday one such bill was announced that includes the following restrictions on game use:

1. Game useage must be kept at a maximum of 30 minutes a day for minors and 60 minutes a day for adults. The maximum use per week must not exceed 120 minutes for minors and 200 minutes for adults.
2. Minors may only play governmentally approved educational software.
3. Minors may not play any game that has the capability of being connected to the internet. Additionaly, minors are not to play games that are able to be modified.
4. Both minors and adults that play games for more than 90 minutes in a single week must have a therapy session that will determine if there have been any negative effects. If such negative effects are found, the person will not be allowed access to games for at least one month.

The above restrictions are clearly a major step towards controlling the impact gaming has on society. Though there is much opposition to this new bill, the legislative body seems to be leaning towards supporting it.

Drafters of the bill claim that such control will help prevent violent crimes and the increasing “moral degradation” that they believe society is experiencing.

Tags: game bans, game restriction, Jack Thompson

With yesterday being 6/6/06, many thought the day represented the sign of the beast, 666, with the beast being Satan. The day has passed, and Satan was a no show. Many are now citing his absence as proof that he does not exist.

Satan contacted ATN for an interview so that he could explain why he didn’t show up on his day, and to try and convince people that he does, in fact, still exist.

So you exist huh?
Of course.

Then why didn’t you show up on your big day?
Honestly… I didn’t really feel the need. I mean look. Why waste my precious time doing some fancy demonstration when things are already going quite well for me up here.

What do you mean by that?
I really have had the easiest time in the world these last few years. With people blaming video games for just about everything, RIAA stomping out everybody’s rights, and with people actually thinking removing Saddam Hussein from power was actually a mistake. I mean, things have to be going well if people can say with a straight face that ending Hussein’s reign was a bad move.

But what about those that are now claiming you don’t exist because nothing bad happened on “your” day?
I’m really not that worried. My favorite quote is the one that goes something like how my greatest trick was fooling people that I don’t exist.

If that’s the case, what do you think of all your fans out there that worship you?
Sure, I love those wackos that worship me with blood sacrifices, but that doesn’t really help convert people to my side now does it? If you’re on the fence on whether or not to be good or bad, do you think you’d be convinced to turn evil because of some goat sacrifices? Naw, I’d much rather sit back and watch you all destroy yourselves than risk scaring people off with weird rituals.

Do you have any ties with the infamous RIAA?
No comment.

What about Jack Thompson?
No comment! This interview is over, I’ll be seeing you soon.

So there you have it. Apparently Satan likes the way things are going and didn’t feel the need to show himself yesterday. I guess it’s a good thing he didn’t appear, but it’d be nice if he wasn’t so confident that he didn’t need to.

Tags: 6/6/06, 666, sign of the beast, Satan