http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valle ... ain-names-



Homeland Security seizes domain names
By Sara Jerome - 11/26/10 04:25 PM ET

The investigative arm of the Homeland Security Department appears to be shutting down websites that facilitate copyright infringement.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has seized dozens of domain names over the past few days, according to TorrentFreak.

ICE appears to be targeting sites that help Internet users download copyrighted music, as well as sites that sell bootleg goods, such as fake designer handbags.

The sites are replaced with a note from the government: "This domain named has been seized by ICE, Homeland Security Investigations."

For instance, 2009jersey.com, 51607.com, and amoyhy.com have each been seized.

One of the site owners told TorrentFreak that his site was shut down without any notice or warning.

The effort come as Congress considers the Combatting Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act (COICA). Critics, including Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) say it is too heavy-handed. He has vowed to put a formal hold on the bill.

i love acronyms and all but what does ICE stand for?

Immigration and Customs Enforcement

It stands for I Can't Even begin to think about googling that question.

mission creep

It also stands for the Institute of Culinary Education. At least, that's what Google told me.

even going after bootleg bags and jeans??

U.S. Government Shutting Down File Sharing Sites

November 27, 2010

According to multiple reports, the U.S. Government has shut down a number of website domains that direct to illegal file-sharing torrents. According to Torrent Freak, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arm of the Department of Homeland Security has seized and closed down dozens of domain names in recent days.

It appears that ICE is going after sites that direct users to sites that illegally host digital music, as well as sites which sell bootleg merchandise, such as knockoff clothing and handbags.

The webpages have been replaced with a notice saying that "This domain name has been seized by ICE - Homeland Security Investigations, pursuant to a seizure warrant issued by a United States District Court..." and adds that "Willful copyright infringement is a federal crime that carries penalties for first time offenders of up to five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine [and more]."

The owner of "Torrent-Finder" told TorrentFreak that his domain had been "seized without any previous complaint or notice from any court!" A spokeswoman for ICE confirmed to the site that "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."

The Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act, which would give the government greater powers over illegal online piracy, is still making its way through Congress. Earlier this month, the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved the bill, but the full House and Senate are not expected to vote on the bill until 2011.

As long as they don't get Filestube, Megaupload/Megavideo and Zshare, who cares, they'll never conquer piracy.