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FBI seized PokerStars.com, FullTiltPoker.com, UB.com,... domain names

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191–200 of 402 posts

Re: FBI seized PokerStars.com, FullTiltPoker.com, UB.com,... domain names

#191

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If constitutionality can't be deduced by the constitution, then what deduces it? The opinion of some judges? If our fate is in the hands of a few judges (it is), doesn't this void our "democratic principles"? I can't help but feel our understanding of government isn't much more than catch phrases and sentiment. Patriotism, we the people, one nation under god, the greater good, public servants, all total bs. If we cri…

Your rant is misguided and childish. The law is dynamic because it must be applied in areas where no prior written text has a straightforward conclusion. A simple example is wiretapping laws. Because of historical stare decisis interpretations of the Constitution, it is ruled a violation of the 4th Amendment for the government to wiretap a citizen without a court order. Nowhere in the Constitution is this protection…

> you seem to hold the Constitution as the preeminent law of the land

To the contrary, my point is this document is ambiguous and subject to interpretation. So, who interprets it? The judges of course! The very people this document is supposed to protect me from. Seems a bit circular. Fast forward to year 2012, and judges say it's OK to seize domain names. How can the constitution defend my right to free speech and also defend the government's right to seize domains?

Re: FBI seized PokerStars.com, FullTiltPoker.com, UB.com,... domain names

#192
post #189
post #9

For those that are skeptical, check the nameservers: http://network-tools.com/default.asp?prog=dnsrec&host=po... http://network-tools.com/default.asp?prog=dnsrec&host=fu... http://network-tools.com/default.asp?prog=dnsrec&host=ub... All of the domains point to nameservers at cirfu.net, which appears to be the FBI's Cyber Initiative and Resource Fusion Unit ( http://itlaw.wikia.com/wiki/Cyber_Initiative_and_Resource_F…

what's even more instesting, is that cirfu.net also has this notice up, which is very very strange. Surely they wouldn't take their own site down for gambling offences

and that the ip cirfu.net is currently on is owned by amazon. (from my angle)

Re: FBI seized PokerStars.com, FullTiltPoker.com, UB.com,... domain names

#193
post #22

This is a disaster. A very sad day for the internet. We are entering into pastor Niemoller territory here: first they came for the file-sharing websites, next they came for the online gambling websites, and I would guess that Bitcoin is probably next in line, and following that, Magic: the Gathering online and the MMORPGs.

I had the opportunity to see Pastor Niemoller's cell once. Out back, behind the building, they had the execution wall. Your reference to Bitcoin is apt, as the government siezed $7M in gold, silver and platinum from a political organization who was advocating the use of generic silver and gold rounds instead of depreciating paper currency.... and just a few weeks ago succeeded in railroading the leader of that organi…

links please?

Re: FBI seized PokerStars.com, FullTiltPoker.com, UB.com,... domain names

#195
post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The law he cites rather explicitly said "in the resemblance of coins of the United States or of foreign countries, or of original design" are all covered. Metal coins of original design are still illegal to manufacture (though I'd agree they shouldn't be).

Interesting, as I have a number of Chuck E. Cheese tokens that appear to fit this description. Why don't we ever hear about FBI raids of kids' pizza / video game parlors?

I suspect that if the use of Chuck E. Cheese tokens as a medium of exchange were to become widespread in a given locale (one with the profile of Las Vegas) the Secret Service would take a similar interest.

As it is, come on. Their budget is finite.

Re: FBI seized PokerStars.com, FullTiltPoker.com, UB.com,... domain names

#196
This will only get worse, and the US has no issue with doing this with International sites. Remember rojadirecta.org? It's a Spanish site, owned and operated in Spain, that fought for 3 years a legal battle, and won. Then the DOJ just came and in one day seized the domain. No appeal, no warning, their whole legal battle for nothing. They have been offline ever since. The Internet is at the complete mercy of the guys in ICE.

Re: FBI seized PokerStars.com, FullTiltPoker.com, UB.com,... domain names

#197
post #7

Reagan is the one who signed "asset forfeiture" into law. I remember at the time reading newspaper articles claiming this was "just going to be used to keep drugs off the streets" and how "law enforcement are outgunned and now can defend themselves against drug dealers". It was obvious to me then that this was a violation of due process. Also, it is not authorized by the constitution, and thus every act of seizure un…

> There is a federal law that makes it a felony to violate constitutional rights under color of law. Never heard of that. Link?

42 USC 1983

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/42/usc_sec_42_00001983----...

Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State or Territory or the District of Columbia, subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress, except that in any action brought against a judicial officer for an act or omission taken in such officer’s judicial capacity, injunctive relief shall not be granted unless a declaratory decree was violated or declaratory relief was unavailable. For the purposes of this section, any Act of Congress applicable exclusively to the District of Columbia shall be considered to be a statute of the District of Columbia.

Re: FBI seized PokerStars.com, FullTiltPoker.com, UB.com,... domain names

#198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Currency refers to physical money. A gift card isn't "money" because it's only a medium of exchange at a few specific places. Credit cards aren't currency because they are simply pointers to a line of credit, which isn't physical money. The Liberty Dollar guy was found guilty of imitating U.S. currency . The OP believes the application of the law is unjust because, mentally, he's equivocated currency with other numis…

I believe it is you who is wrong. Wikipedia's first sentence on 'currency' is this: In economics, currency refers to physical objects generally accepted as a medium of exchange. I don't claim to have the requisite knowledge on the argument at hand, so I won't speak to that, but it appears that the assertions you're arguing as fact are incorrect.

What the heck? That's exactly the same as what I said.

Money is an object or record that serves as a medium of exchange.

Re: FBI seized PokerStars.com, FullTiltPoker.com, UB.com,... domain names

#199
post #178

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are right - as long as the nomination is exchangeable for U.S. currency and all transactions are taxed accordingly. But on the note of the parent: > Where does one draw the line between bartering with chips and paying with chips? It's not bartering when you are trying to get around things intentionally.

I like how you just assert-- sans any evidence or argument-- that they are trying to "get around things intentionally". You don't even say what things. Don't bother, I don't care. I'm just amazed at the BS this topic has elicited from people, and I am done defending these guys. All the BS is just proof of why the country is going to hell- why the FBI was able to steal $7M in gold, silver and platinum and get away wit…

[deleted]

Re: FBI seized PokerStars.com, FullTiltPoker.com, UB.com,... domain names

#200
post #107
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Neustar, Verisign, and Afilias operate the actual registry for most of the commercial TLDs (.com, .net, .me, .info, etc), and are all within US jurisdiction. Further, they all hold hefty government contracts.

.me is operated by "doMEn, d.o.o., a Montenegrin joint venture (doing business as .ME Registry), whose partners include Afilias Limited, GoDaddy.com, Inc., and ME-net d.o.o." ( http://www.domain.me/about.html ), so it seems like it's not under the US jurisdiction.

However the backend is run by Afilias who are subject to US jurisdiction, even though they have their group parent company incorporated in the Republic of Ireland (for tax purposes).
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