Kentucky seeking to seize 141 gaming domains

[alfred666]

According to point-spreads.com it looks like Kentucky is trying to go after 141 (partially high profile) domain names ...
http://www.point-spreads.com/downloa...in%20Names.pdf
(hope it's ok for point-spreads and this board to link directly to this doc, if not, please edit)

The only other reference about this available on the net so far is
http://www.kypost.com/content/news/c...2-5713979b3d6c

Alf


<QUOTE POINT-SPREADS.COM>
Some good news for the internet gambling industry, it turns out that 1st Technology suffered a major defeat in court recently. Point-Spreads.com has obtained a letter from the United States Patent & Trademark Office that dismisses 1st Technology's request to vacate a re-examination request of U.S. Patent No. 5,564,001. A copy of the USPTO ruling can be found here. Apparently the USPTO felt the declaration of Scott W. Lewis was improper and it will be expunged from the official file which is currently under review for the validity of the method patent in the first place.

So what does that mean? While it does not get Bodog back their domain names, 1st Technology cannot use the method patent to extort money from other internet gambling companies while the validity of the method patent is under review by the USPTO.

By using the US legal system to secure "royalty/licensing" payments for their method patent, 1st Technology has really been a major cause of damage to beleaguered internet gambling industry over the last several years. 1st Technology has used U.S. Patent No. 5,564,001 to obtain "royalty/licensing" payments from various gaming operators that were not in a position to fight the attacks. While this is great news for operators currently being attacked by 1st Technology, it will not help Bodog get their domain portfolio back.

This latest ruling by the United States Patent & Trademark Office brings the 1st Technology method patent one step closer to being overturned.

While this is great to hear, its not over yet. Point-Spreads.com has also learned that the state of Kentucky has been monitoring the way 1st Technology was able to successfully grab the Bodog domain names and has put a plan in motion to seize other gambling operators domain names. Here is a copy of the motion to seize domain names filed by the State of Kentucky this past Friday.

Internet gambling operators using United States based registrars to hold their domain name portfolios better look into transferring those domain names to a registrar in jurisdiction that licenses gaming companies fast. It is unknown at this time if Kentucky will be successful in its attempts to seize the domain names. Point-Spreads.com will continue to monitor this story as it unfolds.
</QUOTE>

[RobWin]

Interesting...seems they have managed to list most all of the MG and RTG casinos, did notice though that 3Dice was not on that list, curious if 3Dice has registered theirs under another jurisdiction...other than a United States based registrar...

[Mousey]

Oh, for craps sake....

Intimidate, coerce, extort... Wonder what wiz at the DOJ helped think this one up?

This looks more like harassment than anything. What's the point? Just to make things a little harder for the casinos? Isn't that harassment?

1. to disturb persistently; torment, as with troubles or cares; bother continually; pester; persecute.
2. to trouble by repeated attacks, incursions, etc., as in war or hostilities; harry; raid

[Mousey]

Associated Press
Ky. governor seeking to block online gambling
By JOE BIESK 09.23.08, 7:39 AM ET

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Kentucky's pro-gambling governor is looking to make sure all bets are off for more than 140 online gambling Web sites that operate in the state known for the world's biggest horse race.

Gov. Steve Beshear said his administration has asked a Franklin County Circuit Court judge to give the state control of 141 gambling Web site domain names. Beshear said he's looking to restrict Kentuckians' access to Web sites with names that include some of the most popular gambling sites for U.S. players: bodoglife.com, doylesroom.com and fulltiltpoker.com.

A hearing is scheduled for Thursday before Judge Thomas Wingate.

Beshear believes Kentucky....

*********

And another...

Beshear seeks to block Internet gambling sites
Suit seeks to block use of illegal sites
By Stephenie Steitzer

...
But David Stewart, a Washington, D.C., attorney who is an expert in gambling law, doubted that Beshear's strategy will work.

"This is -- forgive me for being blunt -- a stunt," Stewart said...

[Elgoog]

[AussieDave]

Well boys and girls I just got word that a ruling has been handed down and the 141 .com domains are to be forfeited.

It's a sad day when things have to come to this extent.

(romove FFF to view story)
FFFhttp://www.pokerpages.com/poker-news/news/kentucky-usa-court-orders-seizure-of-141-poker-gambling-domain-names--31137.htm

I guess chasing drug dealers; child porn rackets and the 101 other things that are far worse...is not a big issue

[winbig]

Well boys and girls I just got word that a ruling has been handed down and the 141 .com domains are to be forfeited.

It's a sad day when things have to come to this extent.

(romove FFF to view story)
FFFhttp://www.pokerpages.com/poker-news/news/kentucky-usa-court-orders-seizure-of-141-poker-gambling-domain-names--31137.htm

I guess chasing drug dealers; child porn rackets and the 101 other things that are far worse...is not a big issue

Oh, it's far from over. I'm going to laugh when this gets overturned and Kentucky has to pay some sort of restitution.

[ahtram88]

Hello All-

I was wondering if anyone here knows anything about this:

I received an urgent email from Star Partners saying:

URGENT NOTICE

Due to the Kentucky Court ruling on the seizure of online gaming domains we have had to take urgent steps to our websites domains.

The following domains were affected by the courts ruling:
We have brought the following domains online to replace the .com variant in the interim until we gain clarity on the situation.

Crazyvegascasino.com>>>>>>>>>Crazyvegascasino.co.u k
Crazypoker.com>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Crazypoker.co.uk
Casinous.com>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Casinous.co.uk
Maplecasino.com>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Maplecasino.ca
Sunvegas.com>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Sunvegas.co.uk
777dragon.com>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>777dragon.co.uk
Rivernilecasino.com>>>>>>>>>>>Rivernilecasino.net[/B]

All I have found so far was this:

Kentucky seeking to seize 141 gaming domains

Date: September 23, 2008
By: Marylou

The governor of Kentucky is seeking to block residents from accessing 141 online gaming sites which include Full Tilt, Doyles Room and Bodog. The hearing has been set for this Thursday.

Steve Beshear, Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is determined to protect the states horse racing industry at all costs and to rid Kentucky of internet gambling, both poker and casinos, which he describes as leeches on a recent press conference: Unlike casinos that operate on land or on riverboats in the United States, these operations pay no tax revenues, provide no jobs and yield no tourism benefits. They are leeches on our communities.

The Kentucky lottery and horse racing industry generate millions upon millions of taxable dollars the Kentucky lottery alone generated sales for $778 million in the fiscal year 2008. Beshear is determined that none of those dollars get diverted to poker or casinos, especially those outside of the state. The Associated Press reported: Beshear said Kentuckians are likely spend tens of millions of dollars on illegal Internet gambling sites each year money that might otherwise go to Kentuckys horse tracks, charitable events and the state lottery.

Judge Thomas Wingate will preside over the Thursday hearing, when he is expected to decide the fate of these domains. If Beshear gets his way, all 141 domains will be blocked to Kentucky residents.

Below is a list of the endangered sites as reported by the Gaming Intelligence Group. We will feature more on this issue as soon as there are new developments.

[AudiManinBoro]

Quite a few of the ones i play at :O lol

[Jackpot Factory]

Hi everyone.

David Brickman here, from the Jackpot Factory Group.

From what we’ve heard & read in the news, the Governor of Kentucky, Steve Beshear, has decided to try and freeze the domains of online casinos in an effort to drive them out. This is a fairly aggressive and zealous move which will set a precedent for the internet. Most operators are already moving their operations over to either a UK or EU domain.

IF the sites suddenly stop functioning players will be unable to access their current version of software including the flash casinos. They will need to re-download from a new domain provided by the casino. There is no reason to re-download now since Microgaming still has to provide operators with new software. MGS is making all necessary preparations to deal with this issue.

Not more than 30 minutes ago, I heard from MGS insiders that they are fairly confident this ruling will be reversed in a hearing set for tomorrow.

I will do my best to regularly post news & updates as well as field any questions but please be patient since we’re all kind of busy here.

You can also get updates on my blog:
http://www.jfspokesman.com/index.php?bTag=jflh

All the best,

David Brickman
VP Player Affairs
Jackpot Factory Casino Group
http://www.jfspokesman.com/index.php?bTag=jflh