AbsolutePoker.com and PokerStars.com Domains Seized by US Court?
This has to be the most outrageous event I’ve ever known involving Internet property.
It’s a move by Gov. Steve Beshear who has just announced he is trying to shut down illegal Internet gambling in Kentucky.
He has labeled online gambling web sites, “leeches on our communities” and claims the extra spending by locals hurts his legal horse racing industry (betting).
This from our good friends over at Gaming Intelligence Group.com. 23 September 2008
Kentucky Court Orders Seizure of 141 Gambling Domain Names
The Franklin Circuit Court of Kentucky has issued an order of seizure against 141 online gambling related internet domain names including Microgaming.com, AbsolutePoker.com and PokerStars.com.
The civil action was brought before the court on behalf of the Commonwealth of Kentucky by Secretary of the Justice
Michael Brown, seeking seizure and forfeiture of internet domain names used to promote or provide illegal gambling within the state.Having considered the evidence in a hearing on September 18th, the court found that probable cause did exist to believe that the domain names in question were being used in connection with illegal gambling within the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The court also found sufficient basis for their seizure. As a result the court has ordered their respective registrars to transfer the domains to the account of the plaintiff. The notices were served electronically on registrars as per the procedures set out by ICANN.(The List in Full)
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Comment by Mark on 26 September 2008:
26 September 2008 (update 1)
Kentucky Internet Gambling Domains, 22% Already Lost or Changed Name
ImageThursday’s planned forfeiture hearing before the Franklin Circuit Court has been postponed until 3.30 pm today, Friday 26th September. No reason was given for the delay. The hearing is set to decide whether Kentucky can seize 141 online gambling related domain names, however as of this morning, 22% or 31 of the 141 domains have either undergone a name change or have been seized.
These figures confirm that not only is the seizure of the domain names possible, but also increasingly probable, meaning that some of the larger names stand to lose the millions of dollars which they have invested in brand building.
The relative speed and ease with which Kentucky has pursued this matter will also serve to deter US facing operators from investing further in any current or future brands which could meet the same fate.
In Europe the news has been quietly welcomed by some of the larger operators who have complained of an un-level playing field. Most European licensed operators, particularly the public listed ones, were forced to exit the US market following passage of the UIGEA in order to protect shareholders interests.
Gaming Intelligence Group will bring you more on this as it becomes available.
http://gamingintelligencegroup.com/gig/content/view/1400/2/
Comment by online gambling on 21 October 2008:
This is absolutely ridiculous. The federal government needs to step in and let them know that domains are property.