Kentucky is remaining silent

In America, lawyers representing the state of Kentucky are still refusing to release the names of new individuals being targeted as part of its lawsuit designed to seize ownership of 141 Internet domain names.

First announced late last month, lawyers representing the southern American state have filed a motion asking the Franklin County Circuit Court to add the names of US citizens and companies to its lawsuit seeking the forfeiture of the domain names.

Kentucky’s previous effort to seize website names including AbsolutePoker.com, BodogLife.com, DoylesRoom.com, FullTiltPoker.com and PokerStars.com was blocked in January of last year by the Kentucky Court Of Appeals ruling in favour of a number of industry groups including the Interactive Media Entertainment And Gaming Association (iMEGA), the Interactive Gaming Council and Sportsbook.com. However, the state appealed and a final decision from the Kentucky Supreme Court is pending after the body heard oral arguments in October.

“These lawyers lost a very public battle with us in the Court Of Appeals and probably sense the same result from the State Supreme Court, so they’ll do anything to keep this thing alive,” said Joe Brennan, Chairman for iMEGA.

“They were counting on a big payday from our members in the form of settlements to get their own property back but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. Since they don’t get one nickel from the state to pursue this, it’s clear that the drive for big money has taken over and any sense of fair play or due process has gone out the window.”

According to iMEGA, the state’s attorneys are remaining quiet as to the identities of any of the potential defendants despite numerous requests from lawyers representing the industry’s trade associations.

“In response to one such request, William C Hurt, Jr, a lawyer from Hurt, Crosbie And May in Lexington, wrote that no one had the right to any information or even to challenge the motion,” read a statement from the Washington, DC-based trade association.

“I do not believe anyone has standing to file a response or motion to strike,” wrote Hurt.