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Internet Gambling: 1st Technology Denied, Kentucky to Seize Domain Names |
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Written by Thomas Jensen
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Monday, 22 September 2008
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 Some good news for the internet gambling industry, it turns out that 1st Technology suffered a major defeat in court recently. Point-Spreads.com has obtained a letter from the United States Patent & Trademark Office that dismisses 1st Technology's request to vacate a re-examination request of U.S. Patent No. 5,564,001. A copy of the USPTO ruling can be found here. Apparently the USPTO felt the declaration of Scott W. Lewis was improper and it will be expunged from the official file which is currently under review for the validity of the method patent in the first place.
So what does that mean? While it does not get Bodog back their domain names, 1st Technology cannot use the method patent to extort money from other internet gambling companies while the validity of the method patent is under review by the USPTO.
By using the US legal system to secure "royalty/licensing" payments for their method patent, 1st Technology has really been a major cause of damage to beleaguered internet gambling industry over the last several years. 1st Technology has used U.S. Patent No. 5,564,001 to obtain "royalty/licensing" payments from various gaming operators that were not in a position to fight the attacks. While this is great news for operators currently being attacked by 1st Technology, it will not help Bodog get their domain portfolio back.
This latest ruling by the United States Patent & Trademark Office brings the 1st Technology method patent one step closer to being overturned.
While this is great to hear, its not over yet. Point-Spreads.com has also learned that the state of Kentucky has been monitoring the way 1st Technology was able to successfully grab the Bodog domain names and has put a plan in motion to seize 141 gambling operators domain names including the domains names WSEX.com, SportsBetting.com, PokerStars.com and FullTiltPoker.com just to name a few. Here is a complete list of domain names and a copy of the motion to seize domain names filed by the State of Kentucky this past Friday.
Internet gambling operators using United States based registrars to hold their domain name portfolios better look into transferring those domain names to a registrar in jurisdiction that licenses gaming companies fast. It is unknown at this time if Kentucky will be successful in its attempts to seize the domain names. Point-Spreads.com will continue to monitor this story as it unfolds.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 22 September 2008 )
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