A post on the Champions Online Forums by a member of the Online Community Team for Cryptic's upcoming MMORPG indicates that yesterday's indications on VG247 that open beta testing for Champions Online will begin on August 17 is subject to change (actually "most likely going to change"), nor is the accompanying information about changes to the beta level cap accurate (thanks Shacknews). Word is:

These dates are by no means finalized, and are working dates that are most likely going to change. I'm not sure why this information was posted, but we will post the dates for things like Open Beta as we set them.

Additionally, the "level cap" in that article is incorrect. There is currently no level cap for characters in the beta. (Besides hitting the maximum level of 40, that is.)