Posted on 11/27/2010 11:43:16 AM PST by PhilosopherStone1000
Following on the heels of this week’s domain seizure of a large hiphop file-sharing links forum, it’s clear today that the U.S. Government has been very busy. Without any need for COICA, ICE has just seized the domain of a BitTorrent meta-search engine along with those belonging to other music linking sites and several others which appear to be connected to physical counterfeit goods.
While complex, it’s still possible for U.S. authorities and copyright groups to point at a fully-fledged BitTorrent site with a tracker and say “that’s an infringing site.” When one looks at a site which hosts torrents but operates no tracker, the finger pointing becomes quite a bit more difficult.
When a site has no tracker, carries no torrents, lists no copyright works unless someone searches for them and responds just like Google, accusing it of infringement becomes somewhat of a minefield – unless you’re ICE Homeland Security Investigations that is.
This morning, visitors to the Torrent-Finder.com site are greeted with an ominous graphic which indicates that ICE have seized the site’s domain.
(Excerpt) Read more at torrentfreak.com ...
2009jerseys.com 51607.com amoyhy.com b2corder.com bishoe.com borntrade.com borntrade.net boxedtvseries.com boxset4less.com boxsetseries.com burberryoutletshop.com cartoon77.com cheapscarfshop.com coachoutletfactory.com dajaz1.com discountscarvesonsale.com dvdcollectionsale.com dvdcollects.com dvdorderonline.com dvdprostore.com dvdscollection.com dvdsetcollection.com dvdsetsonline.com dvdsuperdeal.com eluxury-outlet.com getdvdset.com gofactoryoutlet.com golfstaring.com golfwholesale18.com handbag9.com handbagcom.com handbagspop.com icqshoes.com ipodnanouk.com jersey-china.com jerseyclubhouse.com jordansbox.com lifetimereplicas.com louis-vuitton-outlet-store.com lv-outlets.com lv-outlets.net lv-outletstore.com massnike.com merrytimberland.com mycollects.com mydreamwatches.com mygolfwholesale.com newstylerolex.com nfljerseysupply.com nibdvd.com odvdo.com oebags.com onsmash.com overbestmall.com rapgodfathers.com realtimberland.com rmx4u.com scarfonlineshop.com scarfviponsale.com shawls-store.com silkscarf-shop.com silkscarfonsale.com skyergolf.com sohob2b.com sohob2c.com storeofeast.com stuff-trade.com sunglasses-mall.com sunogolf.com tbl-sports.com throwbackguy.com tiesonsale.com timberlandlike.com topabuy.com torrent-finder.com usaburberryscarf.com usaoutlets.net
"A spokeswoman for ICE confirmed the seizures in the following statement. “ICE office of Homeland Security Investigations executed court-ordered seizure warrants against a number of domain names. As this is an ongoing investigation, there are no additional details available at this time.”"
Question for any attorneys here:while it is illegal to sell counterfeit goods and it is illegal to purchase illegal goods, by what law is it illegal to answer a question about where counterfeit goods might be found? Is it illegal to advertize counterfeit goods? Particularly when the goods are advertized as being counterfeit? And since when can a judge simply issue a warrent to shut down a site without first having a trial?
I suggest that my fellow FReepers get the real e-mail address of at least two other FReepers so we can regroup when Dumb0's thought police come next for Free Republic.
Well, the ICE+DHS have just become the BATFE of the internet. Any freepers work for the afore-mentioned “agencies”? Should quit now before you have to writhe in embarrassment as your superiors wrap themselves in gov’t issue toilet paper to celebrate their “accomplishments”....
So much for innocent until proven guilty. Back to the old ways we left Europe for.
We should all send our real emails to Jim so he can notify all of us what is the next step!
If things weren’t scary a few months ago, then they certainly are now.
If this is their manner of seizing domains, it's about as lazy as it can get, probably requires little court intervention (since it is the registrars they're working with), and overall, pretty easy to get around (just direct your DNS to a name server who has the archived IP addresses.)
All in all, they're setting the stage for a dual level internet, where you use outlaw DNS servers to access the websites the government doesn't want you to see, then flop back to regular ones before you do your banking or other legal activity.
ts only fasicm when Bush did it.
Mark
So why don’t they do this with WikiLeaks.com?
The statutes supplied talk about “trafficking in counterfeits” and “attempted transactions”, nowhere do they have authority to act pre-emptively. They can seize anything used in the transaction or attempted transaction but only after a trial.
Because Bambi cares more about his large Hollywood donors than he does about American Service Men and Women? Just a thought.
Actually, it appears that it’s part of the TOS for godaddy.com and networksolutions that they will comply with a federal agency in countering the theft of intellectual property. Whereas Wikileaks.org isn’t registered with either registrar.
Wow, I really wish I knew what you were talking about.
I think I need your knowledge when the poo hits the fan.
Scary thought that DU agrees with us on something, but they are questioning everything now & condeming the government for having too much control in our lives!!!!!
Meanwhile the real threats are getting their backs wet crossing the Rio Grande to come
here to steal our tax dollars and rape our people.
Typical leftist idiocy.
I’m confused? I’m not in favor of websites that encourage copyright infringement, but where does ICE get legal authority to seize these sites under existing law?
The Senate Judiciary Committee passed COICA Nov 18, but Sen Ron Wyden said he will block a Senate floor vote. There isn’t a similar bill in the house. COICA is not law only it’s only S.3804 passes out of committee. Plus COICA’s enforcement if passed would be DOJ as written; from text S.3804: Requires the AG to maintain a public listing of domain names that the Department of Justice (DOJ) determines are dedicated to infringing activities but for which the AG has not filed an action. Allows parties to petition the AG to remove such a domain name from the list and obtain judicial review of the final determination in a civil action
The article I read referred to COICA violation re these websites. COICA has not passed, its not law, and doesn’t appear to be likely to pass this year.
What law is ICE enforcing?
>> I’m not in favor of websites that encourage copyright infringement
Neither am I.
>> but where does ICE get legal authority to seize these sites under existing law?
go to http://www.torrent-finder.com and read the notice. They got a warrant in U. S. District Court. All of the applicable laws are given by number, for your researching pleasure.
>> What law is ICE enforcing?
Again: go to the link. The specific laws they are enforcing are spelled out by U. S. C. number.
Thanks for the link. Just wondering since I couldn’t find it anywhere.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.