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KY Internet Domain Seizures

By Tony McVeigh

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkms/local-wkms-866129.mp3

Kentucky Public Radio?s Tony McVeigh

Frankfort, KY – The year-long legal battle over Kentucky's attempts to seize the domain names of Internet gambling sites resumes this week in Frankfort. Kentucky Public Radio's Tony McVeigh has details.

-Verbatim-
The state says Internet gambling sites illegally rob Kentucky of millions of dollars in much needed revenue and wants to seize the domain names of 141 gambling sites.

Franklin Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate last year agreed to let the lawsuit proceed, and prepared to hold a hearing on the domain name seizures.

But attorneys for the gambling sites, joined by the American Civil Liberties Union and others, appealed to the Kentucky Court of Appeals and won.

The appellate court said domain names don't constitute gambling devices as defined by Kentucky law, and therefore are not subject to forfeiture.

The state appealed the ruling to the Kentucky Supreme Court, where oral arguments are scheduled for Thursday.