ATTN: Anyone using a U.S.-based domain Registrar is STUPID!

[AdamSelene]

Anyone using a U.S.-based domain registrar is seriously STUPID and negligent, especially if the domain is gambling-related, anything mildly controversial, or even any business that might be subject to patent troll lawsuits.

BoDog.com lost their domain when Seattle(WA)-based registrar eNom handed over the domain to patent troll 1st Technologies, following the order of an ignorant Washington State judge, based on a default judgment by a corrupt Las Vegas, Nevada court.

Wikileaks.com had thier domain locked by San Mateo(CA)-based registrar Dynadot, following the order of a California federal judge.

Now, the governor of Kentucky is attempting to seize control of 140 domains of Internet poker rooms, sportsbooks and casinos.

 

[AdamSelene]

The Costa Rican english newspaper (AM Costa Rica) made it front page news today, but apparently this news is about 2-3 weeks old.

In any case I don't recall seeing it here.

(Sept 21st)
WASHINGTON D.C.– A ruling issued last week in Kentucky by the Franklin County Circuit Court orders the seizure of over 140 internet gaming websites. The lawsuit, supported by Gov. Beshear, was filed by Justice and Public Safety Cabinet J. Michael Brown. A forfeiture hearing on the matter is scheduled for Sept. 26.

 

[AdamSelene]

Here's the seizure order: http://www.thedomains.com/wp-content/order-of-seizure-of-domain-names.pdf



[FONT=&quot] <nobr>ENTERED</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>SEP 1 8 20081</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>FRANKLIN CIRCUIT COURT</nobr>
<nobr>SALLY JUMP, CLERK</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY</nobr>
<nobr>FRANKLIN CIRCUIT COURT</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>DIVISION II</nobr>
<nobr>CIVIL ACTION NO.: 08-CI-1409</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY</nobr>
<nobr>ex rei. J. Michael Brown, Secretary,</nobr>
<nobr>Justice And Public Safety Cabinet,</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>PLAINTIFF</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>vs.</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>ORDER OF SEIZURE OF DOMAIN NAMES</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>141 INTERNET DOMAIN NAMES</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>DEFENDANTS</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>This matter having come before the Court on motion of the Plaintiff, Commonwealth of</nobr>
<nobr>Kentucky ex rei. J. Michael Brown, Secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, for an</nobr>
<nobr>order pursuant to KRS 528.100 for seizure and forfeiture of internet domain names used to</nobr>
<nobr>promote, conduct and/or advance illegal gambling within the Commonwealth of Kentucky; the</nobr>
<nobr>Commonwealth having presented evidence and argument; and the Court being sufficiently</nobr>
<nobr>advised;</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AND ADJUDGED as follows:</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>1. Probable cause did and does exist under KRS 528.100 to believe that the Domain</nobr>
<nobr>names listed as Domain Defendants on Exhibit A attached hereto were and are being used in</nobr>
<nobr>connection with illegal gambling activity within the Commonwealth of Kentucky in violation of</nobr>
<nobr>KRS Chapter 528.</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>2. A sufficient basis did and does exist for the seizure and forfeiture of the Domain</nobr>
<nobr>Defendants by the Commonwealth.</nobr>
[/FONT] <hr><table border="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="right" bgcolor="#eeeeee">[FONT=arial,sans-serif] Page 2[/FONT]</td></tr> </tbody></table>
[FONT=&quot] <nobr>3. The Domain Defendants are properly seized by the Commonwealth of Kentucky</nobr>
<nobr>pursuant to KRS 528.100.</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>4. The domain names shall be immediately transferred by their respective Registrars</nobr>
<nobr>to an account of the Plaintiff, Commonwealth of Kentucky, at each Registrar or, if Plaintiff so</nobr>
<nobr>specified, to such other Registrar as Plaintiff may designate. The domain names* configurations</nobr>
<nobr>shall otherwise remain unchanged. The domain names shall not subsequently be transferred,</nobr>
<nobr>moved, cancelled or otherwise affected except by instruction of the Plaintiff or this Court</nobr>
<nobr>pursuant to KRS 528.100 and/or KRS 500.090.</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>5. The Commonwealth shall electronically serve tins Order upon each Registrar via</nobr>
<nobr>the procedures set forth in each Registrar's written policies and the written policies of ICANN</nobr>
<nobr>and by overnight courier.</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>6. Seizure of the property in rem constitutes notice to any persons who may claim an</nobr>
<nobr>interest, pursuant to KRS 500.090, in the seized property. The Commonwealth shall</nobr>
<nobr>nevertheless also use reasonable efforts to give notice by overnight courier, email or facsimile to</nobr>
<nobr>the party identified by the WHOIS information as claiming ownership of each domain name.</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>7. On September , 2008, at m., this Court shall conduct a</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>hearing to determine if any party has asserted rights as an owner of the seized property pursuant</nobr>
<nobr>to KRS 500.090, and whether said party qualifies for return of the property pursuant to that</nobr>
<nobr>statute, failing which the property shall be disposed of by the Commonwealth pursuant to KRS</nobr>
<nobr>500.090.</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>DONE AND ORDERED this // J) day of September, 2008.</nobr>
[/FONT] <hr><table border="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="right" bgcolor="#eeeeee">[FONT=arial,sans-serif] Page 3[/FONT]</td></tr> </tbody></table>
[FONT=&quot] <nobr>CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>I hereby certify that a true copy of the foregoing has been sent by U.S. Mail, postage</nobr>
<nobr>prepaid, to the following this day of September, 2008:</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>D. Eric Lycan</nobr>
<nobr>William H. May, III</nobr>
<nobr>William C. Hurt, Jr.</nobr>
<nobr>Hurt, Crosbie & May, PLLC</nobr>
<nobr>127 W.Main Street</nobr>
<nobr>Lexington, Kentucky 40507</nobr>
<nobr>Attorneys for Plaintiff</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>Robert M. Foote</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>Mark Bulgarelli</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>Foote, Meyers, Mielke & Flowers, L.L.C.</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>28 North First Street, Suite 2</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>Geneva, Illinois 60134</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>Attorneys for Plaintiff</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>Clerk, Franklin Circuit Court</nobr>
[/FONT] <hr><table border="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="right" bgcolor="#eeeeee">[FONT=arial,sans-serif] Page 4[/FONT]</td></tr> </tbody></table>
[FONT=&quot] <nobr>EXHIBIT A</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>123bingo.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>777dragon.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>7sultans.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>absolutepoker.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>aceshighcasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>alljackpots.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>allslots.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>arthuriancasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>atriumcasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>aztecrichescasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>bellavegas.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>bet21 .com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>betroyalcasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>bigtimebingo.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>bingoknights.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>bingoville.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>bingoworkz.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>blackjackballroom.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>bodoglife.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>bonuslevelslots.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>bookmaker.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>bugsysclub.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>cakepoker.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>capitalcasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>captaincookscasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>caribbeangold.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>casinobar.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>casinoclassic.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>casinoextreme.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>casinofoi1une.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>casinograndbay.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>casinokingdom.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>casinoshare.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>casinous.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>cirruscasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>ukcasinoclub.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>clubusacasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>cocoacasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>coolcatcasino .com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>countycasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>crazypoker.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>crazyvegascasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>desperatehousewivesbingo.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>doylesroom.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>dsipoker.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>englishliarbour.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>ezbets.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>firstwebcasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>fortunejunction.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>fortuneroom.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>fulltiltpoker.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>galaxiworld.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>gamblingboard.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>goldencasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>goldgatecasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>goldenpalace.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>grandmondial.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>higlnollerslounge.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>indiancasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>inetbet.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>itsrealpoker.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>ivegas.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>jackpotcapital.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>jackpotcity.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>jackpotkingscasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>jackpotwheel.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>jupiterclub.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>kingneptunescasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>lakepalace.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>lasvegasusacasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>linesmaker.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>luckycoincasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>luckynugget.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>luckypyramidcasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>magicislandcasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>mapau.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>maplecasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>miamiparadisecasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>mightyslots.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>millionairecasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>musichallcasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>mysportsbook.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>oneclubcasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>orbitalcasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>orchidcasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>paradise8.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>phoeniciancasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>pitbullpoker.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>platinumplay.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>playersonly.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>pokerhost.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>pokerroyaleonline.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>pokerstars.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>pokertime.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>powerbet.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>redflush.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>redstarpoker.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>reeferpoker.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>riopartycasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>riverbelle.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>rivernilecasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>roadhousereels.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>royalbetcasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>royalvegas.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>rushmorecasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>sbgglobal.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>showdowncasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>simonsayscasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>slotfever.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>slotocash.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>slotsoffortu ne .com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>slotsplus.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>sportsbetting.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>sportsbook.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>sportsinteraction.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>sunpalacecasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>sunvegas.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>superslots.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>thisisvegas.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>thunderluckcasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>tridentlounge.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>truepoker.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>ultimatebet.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>usabingo.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>vegascasinoonline.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>vegaslucky.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>vegasmagic.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>vegaspalms.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>vegasusacasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>vegasvilla.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>vicsbingo.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>viploungecashio.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>virtualcitycasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>wildjack.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>win4real.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>winabingo.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>worldwidevegas.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>wsex.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>yukongoldcasino.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>valueactive.com</nobr>
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] <nobr>microgammg.com</nobr>
[/FONT]

 

[AdamSelene]

Here's some of the more notable domains on the list:

bodoglife.com
bookmaker.com
doylesroom.com
goldenpalace.com
pokerstars.com
sbgglobal.com
sportsbook.com
truepoker.com
ultimatebet.com
wsex.com

 

[Katman]

Adam,

the problem is that every name that ends in .com, .net. and .org have to be registered with Verisign because they have the monopoly on those names from ICANN. So it doesnt matter if you register it with a non-us registrar because in the end, the non-us registrars have to get it from Verisign. Since Verisign is an American company then they are under US jurisdiction.

The only way to get out of the US jurisdiction is to get a website that ends with anything but .com, .org. or .net like co.uk

 

[AdamSelene]

Hall of Shame

Hall of Shame, companies too stupid to move their domain registration service outside the United States:

DoylesRoom.com (GoDaddy - Scottsdale, AZ)
CakePoker.com (GoDaddy - Scottsdale, AZ)
TruePoker.com (Network Solutions, Virginia)
5dimes.com (Network Solutions, Virginia)


That was 40% of the 10 domains I looked up. There are many more.

 

[AdamSelene]

Adam,

the problem is that every name that ends in .com, .net. and .org have to be registered with Verisign because they have the monopoly on those names from ICANN. So it doesnt matter if you register it with a non-us registrar because in the end, the non-us registrars have to get it from Verisign. Since Verisign is an American company then they are under US jurisdiction.

The only way to get out of the US jurisdiction is to get a website that ends with anything but .com, .org. or .net like co.uk

There are several dozen cases, at least, of U.S. domain registrars locking domains, deleting domains, and changing ownership of domains, with and without court orders.

There are exactly ZERO cases of Verisign modifying the .com glue records. The day Verisign gets the court order, you have a slight point, but Verisign will flight that order with all their political and legal power, as they can't afford to have a legal department handle complaints on 77 million + domains.

 

[TTinCO]

There was quite a bit of discussion about this a couple of weeks ago here http://64.40.117.4/showthread.php?t=616784&highlight=kentucky

 

[pubguy]

The AM Costa Rica story says that doylesroom.com is registered in Costa Rica. How can some backwards thinking judge in Kentucky seize the domain name? Another point is the hypocrisy of Kentucky.

In an editorial, the Courier-Journal was not fully behind the governor: "Kentucky is an imperfect agent for any type of gambling crackdown. Horse racing is one of its signature industries, and its governor is eager to legalize casinos."

 

[AdamSelene]

There was quite a bit of discussion about this a couple of weeks ago here http://64.40.117.4/showthread.php?t=616784&highlight=kentucky

Oh well, that's what I get for only reading the CR Chat/Bookie room.

So I guess the news is that it finally made the Costa Rican news ;-)

 

[Stocks]

Damn I own over 200 gambling domains all regged with godaddy. The US gov is starting to piss me off cant they be normal like the rest of the world and fuck off.

 

[AdamSelene]

Boycott eNom

FYI, the two domains that have already been transfered to the Commonwealth of Kentucky Justice Cabinet, highrollerslounge.com and luckypyramidcasino.com, were both registered with eNom (Seattle). eNom seems particularly trigger happy to give up customers' domains. It was they that gave up BoDog.com.

http://whois.domaintools.com/highrollerslounge.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/luckypyramidcasino.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/bodog.com