Reglikedomain industry desk

Seizures Show Futility of Nabbing Domain Names — Poker Domain

Even without .com domains, sites can continue to operate.

You can take away a domain name, but you can’t stop people from visiting a web site.

Yesterday’s seizure of five poker firm domain names is another case in point.

Still want to get your fix of Poker Stars? Just go to PokerStars.eu.

It reminds me of when online gambling site Bodog ran into legal problems. The solution? Change the URL from Bodog.com to NewBodog.com.

Sure, it lost some players as a result. But a domain name is simply a pointing device. It makes it easier to visit a site than entering an IP address, so they aren’t necessary to visit a web site.

There’s even a plugin specifically designed to help people looking for domains seized in recent ICE cases. The plugin forwards users to a mirror site.

Also on the wire

Other reporting from the domain desk.

6Policy & Law6 UDRP Cases to WatchFPolicy & LawFound too similar to .shop, will be placed in contention set — Donuts’ .ShoppingIPolicy & LawI’ll Express an Interest In — 8 TLDsFPolicy & LawFrontrunner Joins Game with .Hawaii, .Fish, and More — Another TLDFollowing 15 years of trying, firm uses UDRP to get HoldOn.com domain namePolicy & LawFollowing 15 years of trying, firm uses UDRP to get HoldOn.com domain nameCourt reshapes domain registration in India, adding sweeping fresh obligations for registrarsPolicy & LawCourt reshapes domain registration in India, adding sweeping fresh obligations for registrarsLPolicy & LawLawsuit filed to halt UrbanHome.com transfer following UDRP decisionGets Twiter.com domain it won in dispute — Twitter finallyPolicy & LawGets Twiter.com domain it won in dispute — Twitter finallyCPolicy & LawConfirmed: IDNs will be prioritized in fresh TLD queue