Feds Seize Sports Streaming Domains in New Super Bowl Crackdown

[CyberAff]

In a new round of seizures the US authorities have taken control of domain names belonging to several popular sports streaming sites including Firstrowsports.tv, Firstrowsports.com and Soccertvlive.net. All affected sites now redirect to a notice from DOJ/ICE. In common with last year?s campaign, the new round of seizures appears to be part of another ?Super Bowl Crackdown? targeting sites that link to unauthorized sports streams.

US authorities began another round of domain name seizures a few hours ago, targeting several sports streaming sites.

Thus far, neither the Department of Justice nor Homeland Security?s ICE unit have officially commented on the seizures, but it can?t be a coincidence that sports streaming sites are being targeted a few days before the Super Bowl is due to be aired.

The targets of today?s seizure round include Firstrowsports.tv, Firstrowsports.com, Firstrowsports.net and Soccertvlive.net, but more may be added in the coming hours (see update below). The former apparently remains operational via Firstrowsports.eu.

For the first time, seized domains also include the .TV extension as Firstrowsports.tv is now displaying the familiar seizure banner. The .TV domain belongs to islands of Tuvalu, but is operated by the US-based company Verisign.

Last year there was a similar round of domain seizures during the lead up to the largest American sports broadcast. At the time the feds seized a dozen domains including Firstrow.net and Atdhe.net.

Both sites continued to operate under different domain names, several of which have been taken down today.

Seizure Banner

The seizures in 2011 also targeted domains linked to the website Rojadirecta, owned by the Spanish company Puerto 80. Despite being declared legal by two courts in Spain, the US authorities ruled that Rojadirecta was a criminal operation. The company has been fighting in US courts to get the decision overturned, but so far without luck.

Another target during the seizures last year was ChannelSurfing.net, which was operated by the Texan Brian McCarthy. The 32-year-old McCarthy was later taken into custody on suspicion of criminal copyright infringement, and he is currently awaiting his trial.

The extent of the fallout of the new ?Super Bowl Crackdown? will become apparent in the coming days. It will, however, once again fuel the censorship debate which exploded last month with the SOPA/PIPA protests and the MegaUpload shutdown.

Source: (URL)

CyberAff Reviewed by CyberAff on 4th Feb 2012. Feds Seize Sports Streaming Domains in New Super Bowl Crackdown http://torrentfreak.com/images/firstrow.jpg In a new round of seizures the US authorities have taken control of domain names belonging to several popular sports streaming sites including Firstrowsports.tv, Firstrowsports.com and Soccertvlive.net. All affected sites now redirect to a notice from DOJ/ICE. In common with last year?s campaign, the new round of seizures appears to be part of another ?Super Bowl Crackdown? targeting sites that link to unauthorized sports streams. US authorities Rating: 5

[Drinkordie]

http://rt.com/usa/news/quiroa-superb...ht-stream-471/

“Even without SOPA having been passed yet, the federal government always had tremendous power to do some of the things that they want to do. So if this is what can occur without SOPA being passed, imagine what can occur after SOPA is passed,” Project PM founder Barrett Brown tells RT.

[CloudShadow]

Actually Firstrowsports is back online at Firstrowsports.eu

[ceekeigh]

Wow even sports streaming websites, wtf.

[gsk6u]

Site is up and kicking already

http://torrentfreak.com/seized-sport...meback-120203/

Even Ex.ua made an amazing return

http://torrentfreak.com/ex-ua-makes-...meback-120203/

[WebCare360]

That is really sad new. Seems we already have 2-3 related threads about this:

http://www.besthostingforums.com/14-...ringement.html

http://www.besthostingforums.com/14-...opyrights.html