When the Snowe bill came along to threaten domain owners we noted that would be just the first of many gambits aimed at separating domain owners from their assets. Now comes one

that is even more outrageous as the state of Kentucky is demanding that registrars turn 141 gambling related domain names over to that state, despite the fact that Kentucky has no jurisdiction or valid claim to those domains. Scarier still, two registrars, Enom and GoDaddy, have reportedly turned customer domains over to Kentucky, before they have even had an opportunity to address this attempt to hijack their domains (Editor's note: the next day Godaddy said those reports were false and they had not turned over any domains.) The Internet Commerce Association met yesterday 

afternoon in New York just before the T.R.A.F.F.I.C  conference got underway and ICA President Jeremiah Johnston (who is an attorney) released this statement on the matter:

"The Internet Commerce Association is aware of the extreme concern of ICA members regarding the action of the Kentucky Attorney General ordering the seizure of 141 gaming related domain names. It appears that there may be no statutory basis for this unprecedented action, that Kentucky may lack sufficient jurisdictional grounds and that it also may violate the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution. The ICA intends to immediately investigate this matter, including outreach to affected ICA members as well as to those registrars subject to the Kentucky order. Once we have gathered additional information, the Board will consider further appropriate action to confront this dangerous precedent."

Michael Berkens has been on top of this issue from the start and is posting regular updates on his blog, The Domains, which is highly recommended reading on this and other industry issues.
(Posted Sept. 24, 2008) To refer others to the post above only you can use this URL:
http://www.dnjournal.com/archive/lowdown/2008/dailyposts/09-24-08.htm