BULLETIN - A Kentucky judge has rendered a decision in the case of that state's attempt to seize 141 gambling related domain names. Judge Thomas Wingate denied motions filed by representatives for the domain owners that the case by thrown out. Wingate scheduled a final hearing on the seizure order for 10am November 17th and said any operators of the sites in question could keep their domains if, prior to that final hearing, they installed a blocking mechanism that would prevent Kentucky citizens from visiting their sites. Wingate dismissed the idea that the global Internet was not subject to Kentucky law, writing that the Internet is "not above the law, whether or an international or municipal level." 

Wingate added "The challenge here is to reign in illegal activity and abuse of the Internet within the framework of our nation's and Commonwealth's existing common law norms and principles, until expressed guidelines from state and federal legislative bodies say otherwise." The Internet Commerce Association has posted a statement from ICA President Jeremiah Johnnston pointing out the extreme danger this decision poses to not only domain owners, but Internet commerce at large.  You can read the entire text of the decision in this 43-page PDF file.
(Posted Oct. 16, 2008)