Channels on freenode fall into one of two categories. Primary channels, which
begin with a single # character, are reserved for on-topic projects. If you’d
like to take over one of these channels, then you’ll need to be associated in
-some way with the project in question. Topical, or ‘about’ channels, begin with
+some way with the project in question. For abandoned project channels that
+have moved or are no longer available to the public, you may request the
+ownership of the channel be transferred to you. Please make said requests in
+the #freenode IRC channel. Topical, or ‘about’ channels, begin with
two # characters, and these are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis to
the first person who registers it with ChanServ. As with nicknames, however, we
reserve the right to remove or alter registrations where we believe they have
privilege, not a right, and may be withdrawn where we believe that this has not
been the case.
-Unlawful activities and related support activities are considered off-topic, as are
-inappropriate advertising, heavy media file trading, proprietary game software modding,
-warez, porn and various forms of antisocial behaviour, including (but not limited to)
-political, racial, ethnic, religious or gender-related invective.
+Off topic channels are required to act in good faith in accordance to the freenode
+community as a whole. Unlawful activities and related support activities are considered
+off-topic, as are inappropriate advertising such as unused channels for the purpose of
+polluting the channel list results, transmission of illicit content such as warez or
+illegal content, spam, or squatting a namespace preventing others from utilizing it.
In accordance with UK law freenode has no tolerance for any activity that could be construed
as: