Sports Domains Seized by Federal Government

Just in case you are not already freaked out enough by the increasing reach of the United States federal government, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has just seized some more Web domains without a trial for allegedly facilitating access to pirated streaming sports content.

Given the way the Egyptian government has abused it's power by shutting down the nation's Internet as a measure to control civil unrest, American citizens should be alarmed by how freely the United States government is seizing domains from companies it suspects are breaking the law.

The US government has already seized domains of companies it suspects of selling counterfeit merchandise. Now it is going after streaming sport content. What will be next? If the United States government is willing to ignore due process to seize domains under these circumstances, where will they draw the line? We are only a few steps away from the seizure of Web sites critical of the government and politicians that ICE determine might be breaking some law.

Here is a list of the Web sites seized by the US government on February 2, 2011.

atdhe.net
channelsurfing.net
firstrow.net
hq-streams.com
hq-streams.net
ilemi.com
iilemi.com
iilemii.com
rojadirecta.com
rojadirecta.org


Just to demonstrate how ridiculous and ineffective all of this is, ATDHE.net is already back online as ATDHE.me.

Homeland Security Seizing Domains Without Trial

The Department of Homeland Security has chosen to seize many domain names with little or no warning. The site seized by the Department of Homeland Security include sites that help people download torrents for copyrighted material, such as movies and music. The seized sites also include those that deal in suspected counterfeit designer goods like purses and watches.

The sites were simply seized without a trial, and this should horrify business owners. Apparently, if the Department of Homeland Security thinks your business aids people in acquiring counterfeit or pirated goods, Homeland Security can simply take your domain, essentially putting you out of business.

There is something even more terrifying to consider here. The practice of seizing domain names without a trial could be used to infringe on the First Amendment. Imagine if an online news site posts a video, photo, audio clip, or passage of text and the Department of Homeland Security thinks the owner of the domain posted the copyrighted content without proper permission. What is to stop the Department of Homeland Security from simply seizing the domain of the suspected site?

Imagine if the Department of Homeland Security decided to shut down sites that are critical of the government. All they would have to do is browse the site, find some piece of copyrighted content that appears to be used without proper permission, and seize the domain without a trail. This would allow the Department of Homeland Security to effectively shut down almost any site. Even if a site had proper permission to display every piece of its content, it would not matter. Since there does not need to be a trail, the owner of the Web site would not get a chance to defend itself, and the Department of Homeland Security could simply shut it down. The Department of Homeland Security effectively now has the power to eliminate free speech on the Internet.

When the Department of Homeland Security was created, we were told it was to protect us from terrorists and foreign invaders. How exactly is shutting down suspected torrent trackers and sellers of counterfeit goods protecting us from terrorists? The Department of Homeland Security is completely out of control. Today it is torrent trackers and counterfeit purse sellers. Who will be next?

For your reference, below is a list of the domain names currently known to have already been seized by the Department of Homeland Security. Certainly, many, many more will follow.



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