Kentucky Judge Orders Seizure of Gambling Domains

Strategy: Order Their Seizure and Tell Defendants to Travel to Ky to Say Why KY is Wrong.

[Webwork]

Article is here. [kypost.com]

I've scanned a purported copy of the court's seizure order an it includes domains such as GoldenPalace.com, AbsolutePoker.com. SportsBook.com, SportsBetting.com and FulltiltPoker.com.

I have a hunch that a great deal of procedural and substantive law research did not precede the filing of this legal action.

[IanTurner]

Wow - that is one of the dumbest legal actions of the century. Especially as the owners of the domains do not reside in Kentucky.

It is also one of the great arguments for ICANN to be under United Nations jurisdiction.

I happen to live in a country where internet gambling is legal (not that I am involved in the business) - so I would like someone to explain how the Commonwealth of Kentucky, or the United States for that matter, thinks it has jurisdiction over people who are not its citizens. (absolutepoker.com appears to be registered in Portugal, sportsbetting.com in the Netherlands and fulltiltpoker.com in the UK)

Or is Kentucky just being so open that they would be happy to let the Saudi Arabian government seize jackdaniels.com as alcohol is illegal under their jurisdiction.

[sonjay]

It's all about the horses:

Unlicensed Internet gambling significantly undermines and threatens horseracing, Kentucky's signature industry and a key tourism industry

[Philosopher]

This really is incredibly stupid. I've been following this fairly close since word came out. It has got to be some sort of stunt as I can't imagine they actually believe this is going to go through and if they do somehow succeed I have no doubt it would later be overturned. Would they then have to pay some sort of restitution for the income they would have caused the various properties to lose during this fiasco? That would be hilarious.

[wheel]

The reports say two domains have been seized because they were registered at an american registrar. Moral of the story - consider offshore domain reg companies I guess.

[Demaestro]

If someone registered a domain in the USA and used it for gambling then they would have lost it anyway as that would be illegal.

What I find funny is how they keep calling the services/sites illegal sites.... however that isn't true and it is appalling how often they repeat it.

Or is Kentucky just being so open that they would be happy to let the Saudi Arabian government seize jackdaniels.com as alcohol is illegal under their jurisdiction

The is the best example of how silly this is.... Imagine the outrage if Saudi had an article about the illegal drinking websites promoting alcohol to children and society.

[Fotiman]

I would like someone to explain how the Commonwealth of Kentucky, or the United States for that matter, thinks it has jurisdiction over people who are not its citizens.

Note, it's not the Commonwealth of Kentucky, OR the United States... it's some political yahoo who thinks he speaks for the people. This whole thing is extremely stupid and I actually do hope that they are temporarily successful, then have it overturned and are forced to pay an arm and a leg of restitution to the affected sites.

[driller41]

Theft by a state administration - the internet never ceases to amaze.