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    U.S. Authorities Seize Domain Names

    U.S. Authorities Seize Domain Names

    In preparation for Cyber Monday, the Department of Justice and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have seized 130 domain names over the past 24 hours, according to Torrent Freak, a popular BitTorrent site. The seizures come just days before Cyber Monday, the Internet's version of Black Friday.

    RELATED: Tech Companies Not Taking a Stand on Censorship Are Being Blacklisted


    Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Gillian Christensen declined to state how many domains had been seized, but told the AFP that, "these seizures are a part of an ongoing law enforcement operation." The seizures are part of "Operation In Our Sites," which is seeking to shutdown sites that illegally sell counterfeit and copyrighted goods and merchandise.

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    Visitors to the seized sites are met with a message that states: "This domain name has been seized by ICE -- Homeland Security Investigations, pursuant to a seizure warrant issued by a United States District Court." It also runs down the consequences of copyright infringement (a sentence of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine) and trafficking in counterfeit goods (10 years and up to a $2 million fine). The domain seizures can be disputed though, as the ever controversial SOPA bill has yet to be passed.

    RELATED: Reasons Not to Upset Reddit


    The seizures come a year to the day after 82 domains were seized by federal authorities. Unlike last year's sites, some of which provided access to but did not actually host illegal content, most of this year's domains charge visitors. The sites mainly deal in luxury goods and sports apparel.

    RELATED: Citing SOPA-Like Charges, The Feds Just Shut Down Megaupload


     

     
    • curtis  •  Kansas City, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Sorry guys but I guess that you have missed the memo. The government officially owns everything. Everything from the oil in the ground to the air that we breath and everything in between. The common person is only allowed to "own" something until the government and big business decides that you don't know how to use it or they can make a profit from it. They don't call it stealing, it's procurment for the betterment of the people. Welcome to the new world order.
      • Pete I 6 mths ago
        What did you expect with a socialist president?
      • Collin Davis 6 mths ago
        You think it was the president's fault this #$%$ happened? Get real dude.
      • Kenny 6 mths ago
        Pete I ,it's the fascist right wing that blocks anything for the working class that condones this type of behavior
    • spincity  •  Denver, United States  •  6 mths ago
      why is homeland security involved with this? gestapo equals homeland security
      • gary 6 mths ago
        I think it was called the patriot act when Dumbya signed it into law right?
      • JP 6 mths ago
        And that Obummer renewed.
    • Richard D  •  Oak Lawn, United States  •  6 mths ago
      So copyright infringement is now the domain of homeland "security?" I'd like to see where that is spelled out. So protecting shoppers from cheap knock-offs (and everyone buying them knows they are fake) has a higher priority than terrorism, illegals and the like? It's nice to see them protecting the income and profits of the 1% - Homeland Security - the private billionaire police squad. Protecting the security of their income.
      • Shuckapeafarms 6 mths ago
        That's what it's all about and who's responsible for it??? WE the SHEEP, who sit back and complain but do nothing about it!
    • Michael Dickson  •  6 mths ago
      Who, even 20 years ago, would have imagined a headline like that? Seizing domain names.
      • Mantis 6 mths ago
        I'm Al Gore, and I invented the Internet.
    • Douglas  •  6 mths ago
      And exactly why should our tax dollars be spent protecting some corporations trade mark rights? Shouldn't the corporations be simply suing those who they believe have infringed on those rights instead of the government doing it with our taxes? Taxes most of those corporations no longer contribute to.
      • chrisf 6 mths ago
        blatant proof of a corporate owned government!!!!!!
      • Myrtok 6 mths ago
        If someone steals from you should you use your own money to investigate and sue them, or should you be able to call the cops and have them take care of all that with tax money? You think the cops should prosecute the guy who stole your bicycle? Me too. I also think they should go after the people violating our trade mark, copyright, and patent laws. Protecting the rights of ALL people is the proper function of government, and yes, that includes people who you don't like very much.

        Think about your complaint for a minute. How are you damaged by this? Is the government somehow infringing upon your rights by making it tougher for you to buy products that are manufactured and sold in violation of our trademark and copyright laws? Do you really think you have a right to participate in illegal activity?
      • servemyown 6 mths ago
        I think the point being Myrtok is that, if I made a bumpersticker (a private citizen) and people kept buying and asking for more, then a company man sees one of them on a care and knows they never gave permission for that phrase (that they had COPYRIGHTS to) to be used for bumper stickers..........do you think the cops will come after me first or will a lawsuit be brought up against me via the company lawyers. Then, the cops will come and seize that disputed property. That is how it is SUPPOSE to work............ not the other way around. Homeland security and ICE are not suppose to watch out for copyright infringement for the large corporations. Oh, that's right. The supreme court gave them individual's rights......forgot...........wow, how did that happen............another story
    • Ioan  •  Chicago, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Simple ! FEAR and CONTROL. Wait for the next steps to the NEW WORLD ORDER !
    • Frank  •  Miami, United States  •  6 mths ago
      After reading all the comments i came to realize that america is filled with idiots.
    • Sloth  •  San Antonio, United States  •  6 mths ago
      wow...so it begins.....
    • Michael  •  Pharr, United States  •  6 mths ago
      maybe they should walk up and down the streets of either New York or Los Angeles, they are always selling phony crap.
    • James  •  6 mths ago
      Homeland Security? All this effort "to shutdown sites that illegally sell counterfeit and copyrighted goods and merchandise." Yet they still are not doing anything about all the illegal child porn sites. Their priority is obviously being paid for by big business.
    • Collin Davis  •  Post Falls, United States  •  6 mths ago
      With only a little extrapolation, this is analogous to book burning.

      There is only so much oppression that the American soul can take. It won't be pretty.
    • d707  •  Miami Beach, United States  •  6 mths ago
      ...then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me...
    • Anonymous  •  6 mths ago
      Don't steal. The government hates competition
    • Deez  •  Tucson, United States  •  6 mths ago
      " I love the smell of Fascism in the morning " ~US Government
    • RandyW  •  Tampa, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Do not look directly at your screen.... Big Brother is watching.
    • Mark  •  6 mths ago
      This week they seized domain names. Last week they seized an 881 pound tuna. Not to worry everyone... The Patriot Act will save us all. Who needs those Constitutional Rights thingys anyway. I'll just trust them to tell me what's best for me. Problem solved.
    • badmuther  •  Crescent City, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Who is going to protect me from my government???
    • Daniel  •  Los Angeles, United States  •  6 mths ago
      this country is communist or what? we are going to end up like north Korea.
      Our privacy is gone with patriotic law, control over the internet,control on the news what we see etc.etc.etc.
    • Richard D  •  Oak Lawn, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Team America World Police to the rescue again. Not.
    • chrisf  •  Camden, United States  •  6 mths ago
      LOL so they leave GE alone who paid no taxes on 30 billion last year but tackle these sites. Crack pot!
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