Once again, the Commonwealth of Kentucky is claiming ownership of Internet domain names: pokerstars.com, fulltiltpoker.com, absolutepoker.com, and ultimatebet.com. Filing a Verified Claim and Statement of Interest or Right in Property Subject to Forfeiture In Rem in the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York, Kentucky, on behalf of Secretary of Justice and Public Safety J. Michael Brown claims all right, title and interest in those online poker websites including any proceeds from any sale or disposition of said domain names.
Originally filed in 2008, but as yet unresolved, Kentucky is still attempting to seize the domains on behalf of victimized state citizens.
With word of a possible sale of Full Tilt Poker, it's possible that Kentucky wants to restate their claim and thus a portion of funds when the Department of Justice negotiations a settlement with the offending sites as part of their Black Friday indictments and civil charges.
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is currently seeking:
- Reinstatement of its rightful interest in the aforesaid defendant property.
- That it be allowed to defend the instant forfeiture action.
- That the domain names be ordered restored and released to the commonwealth.
- That the commonwealth be awarded such other and further relief as the court may deem just.
It is odd that Kentucky feels that it has claim above all other states and jurisdictions, but it is pressing its claim once again. As Kentucky states it "is the true and bona fide sole owner of the property and entitled to possession, and that no other person is the owner of or entitled to possession of the property."
