|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Here's the The Lowdown
from DN Journal,
updated daily
to
fill you in on the latest buzz going around the domain name industry.
The Lowdown is
compiled by DN Journal Editor & Publisher Ron
Jackson. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
U.S.
Officials Arrest New York Man and Seize 16 Domain Names
Allegedly Used to Sell Counterfeit Goods
|
In
the summer of 2010
U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
began a series of Homeland
Security Investigations targeting
people involved in the illegal movement of
people and goods into, within and out of the United
States. As part of that campaign ICE has
taken down websites and seized 141 domains
that the agency said were being used for illicit
activities.
|
|
In
the latest phase of their operation
completed late last week, 31-year-old
Ryan Breen of Savannah, New York
was arrested and charged with using the
Internet to traffic in counterfeit goods.
If convicted, Breen faces a maximum
penalty of 10 years in prison and a
$2 million fine.
Breen
was identified as the owner and operator
of a website that sold unauthorized
apparel from the FX Network TV
series "Sons of Anarchy."
The unnamed website offered to sell
counterfeit t-shirts using the show's
trademarked brand.
This
sixth phase of ICE's "Operation
In Our Sites" also
resulted in the seizure of 16 domains
used for websites that ICE said sold
knockoffs of 13 well-known brands,
including Dolce
& Gabbana, Gucci, Lacoste,
Nike, Oakley, Ralph
Lauren and Ray-Ban among
others. The domains seized were: |
|
|
|
During
the course of the operation, federal law
enforcement agents made undercover purchases
from online retailers suspected of selling
counterfeit goods. Purchased counterfeit items
included: shoes, boots, sneakers, jackets,
shirts, hats and sunglasses.
|
|
Once
the materials were confirmed to be
counterfeit or otherwise illegal, HSI
agents obtained seizure orders for
the domain names from federal magistrate
judges. In most instances, the
counterfeit goods were shipped directly
into the United States from |
|
suppliers
in other countries using international
express mail. The 16 websites have been
shut down, and now show a banner stating
that the domain name of that website has
been seized by federal authorities. This
nationwide operation was spearheaded by
the HSI-led National
Intellectual Property Rights
Coordination Center (IPR
Center). |
ICE
Director John Morton said, "American
business is under assault from
counterfeiters. These counterfeits represent a
triple threat by delivering shoddy and sometimes
dangerous goods into commerce, by funding
organized criminal activities, and by denying
Americans good-paying jobs. HSI and our partners
at the IPR Center will continue to work together
to keep counterfeit products off our
streets." More details on the latest
operation are here.
Thanks to Homero Alejandro Gonzalez for
the tip.
|
|
(Posted Aug.
1, 2011)
|
|
|
For
all current Lowdown posts - Go
Here
|
|
We need your help to keep giving
domainers The
Lowdown, so please email [email protected]
with any interesting information you might have. If possible,
include the source of your information so we can check it out (for
example a URL if you read it in a forum or on a site
elsewhere).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home
Domain Sales
YTD Sales Charts
Latest
News The Lowdown
Articles
Legal Matters Dear Domey
Letters
to Editor Resources
Classified Ads
Archive
About Us |
|
|
|
|
