Seized Domains Fight Back

Abigail Phillips
EFF

Since last year, we’ve watched withdismay Immigration and Customs Enforcement's increasing use of domain name seizures as part of its stepped-up IP enforcement strategy. Today, one of the seized domains is taking the issue to court.

Puerto 80, the Spanish company behind Rojadirecta.com and Rojadirecta.org, which were seized in January of this year, today filed apetition in the Southern District of New York for the return of those domains. The Rojadirecta site, which is made up of user forums and link indexes, has been found by two Spanish courts specifically not to violate copyright. The substantive brief in support of the petition outlines not only the reasons why the domains should be returned, but also the absurd roadblocks Puerto 80 has encountered in its efforts to work with government authorities to get this matter resolved without judicial intervention.

We're very glad that Rojadirecta is fighting back so that this and other domain name seizures can receive more careful judicial consideration. We'll be following the case closely and expect to weigh in as amicus as well.

Attachment                                                                       Size
Petition for Release of Seized Goods Final.pdf            96.55 KB
MPA ISO Petition For Return of Property.pdf              208.51 KB

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U.S. Gov't Starts New Round of "Pirate" Domain Seizures

Torrent Freak

US authorities have resumed 'Operation In Our Sites' and have seized several domain names associated with copyright infringement or counterfeit related crimes. Among the new targets are two sites that linked to copyrighted films hosted on third party streaming sites such as megavideo.com and veoh.com. Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has yet to officially announce the new operation.

Over the past several months a series of domain name seizures by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) made headlines across the Internet.

Game Over for Online Poker? FBI Seizes Top Poker Domains

Scott Oliver

WeLoveCostaRica

Game over? FBI shuts down three of the largest poker sites in probe that could mean the end of online gambling - and the loss of thousands of well paid jobs - in Costa Rica.

In a surprise move today: "Three of the largest online poker sites have been shut down by the FBI in a probe that could bring about the death of the internet gambling industry."

White House draft bill expands DHS cyber responsibilities

Jason Miller
Federal News Radio

Under a White House plan, the Homeland Security Department will have far-reaching oversight over all civilian agency computer networks.

The proposal would codify much of the administration's memo from July 2010 expanding DHS's cyber responsibilities for civilian networks.

The White House, however, is taking those responsibilities further, according to a source familiar with the document. The administration drafted a legislative proposal to give DHS many, if not all, of the same authorities for the .gov networks that the Defense Department has for the .mil networks.

UK Government discusses blocking copyright infringing websites

Communications Minister Ed Vaizey has held talks behind closed doors with rights holders and ISPs about introducing web blocking for sites that breach copyright

DHS in the US has already seized thousands of domains
"suspected" of violating Copyright laws.

Dinah Greek
Computer Active

The Government is considering forcing internet service providers (ISPs) to block websites that make it possible for people to illegally share copyrighted material.

Communications Minister Ed Vaizey confirmed on the Open Rights Group blog that he has been involved in behind-closed-doors discussions with copyright holders and ISPs about introducing these measures after a legal challenge from BT and Talktalk to the Digital Economy Act (DEA).

The entertainment industry wanted the law to force ISPs to write warning letters to alleged file sharers but ISPs say they fear this would breach data protection laws.

This issue is now subject to a judicial review in the High Court and the Government has put on hold the requirement for ISPs to write warning letters.

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5 Ways DHS Violates the Constitution with Website Domain Seizures

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More Government Idiocy: Internet Black Lists

Karl Denninger
Market Ticker

There's dumb - and then there's really dumb, predicated on people who simply don't understand what they're doing, and should be barred from authoring legislation until they consult with some people who do know what they're doing.

The Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act (COICA) was introduced just one week ago, but it's greased and ready to move, with a hearing in front of the Judiciary Committee this Thursday. If people don't speak out, US citizens could soon find themselves joining Iranians and Chinese in being blocked from accessing broad chunks of the public Internet.

Help us stop this bill in its tracks! Click here to sign our petition.

COICA creates two blacklists of Internet domain names. Courts could add sites to the first list; the Attorney General would have control over the second. Internet service providers and others (everyone from Comcast to PayPal to Google AdSense) would be required to block any domains on the first list. They would also receive immunity (and presumably the good favor of the government) if they block domains on the second list.

The lists are for sites "dedicated to infringing activity," but that's defined very broadly -- any domain name where counterfeit goods or copyrighted material are "central to the activity of the Internet site" could be blocked.

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