By Tony McVeigh/ Paco Long-Mendez
Frankfort, KY – The Kentucky Supreme Court has heard arguments in the state's attempt to seize the domain names of 141 Internet gambling sites. An appellate court says domain names are not gambling devices, as defined by Kentucky law, and therefore not subject to seizure. Attorney Eric Lycan, arguing for the state, disagrees.
"I don't believe that just because someone can use the Internet, means they can break in the law in Kentucky in the way they could not do if they were here on a street corner. And that's why I take the words of this court in the Gilly decision to heart when it says, the words contrivance or device must be interpreted broadly to effectuate the intent of the legislature."
Attorneys for the domain name owners agree with the appellate court and say the case never should have gotten this far in the first place because the trial court lacked jurisdiction. A ruling from the supreme court is not expected for several weeks.