Senator Wyden Asks DHS To Explain Domain Seizures 243
An anonymous reader writes "With Homeland Security continuing to seize domain names without warning and without giving site operators a chance to respond to charges, it appears that at least some people in the US government are quite concerned about this turn of events. Techdirt has a copy of the full letter Senator Wyden has sent to both Attorney General Eric Holder and ICE director John Morton, asking a series of pointed questions concerning the domain seizures and how they impact due process, free speech and sovereign rule in foreign countries."
Re:When you're downloading MP3s... (Score:5, Informative)
In an affidavit written by Special Agent Andrew Reynolds, he uses his ability to download four specific songs on the domain name dajaz1.com as justification for seizure of this domain name. According to press accounts, the songs in question were legally provided to the operator of the domain name for the purpose of distribution.
So it doesn't even matter if the distribution is legal or not anymore.
Re:Probably futile response but... (Score:5, Informative)
Well, you could write him a check for his re-election campaign. I would but I'm broke.
Re:At least someone is looking out for us. (Score:5, Informative)
Wyden and Merkley (Senators from Oregon) both deserve praise for their efforts to put the people back in control of our government and preserve our rights. Merkley (the freshman senator) particularly has shown a strength of character that is unexpected for a first-timer.
Let's hope they stand as an example to the bought-and-paid-for corporatist weasels that currently hold the seats from many other states.
Re:When you're downloading MP3s... (Score:4, Informative)
Actually, "Don't Download This Song" was put up for free download by Al. I'm going to go out on a limb and assume he secured distribution rights (which isn't as obvious as it sounds, stupid #@)@( record company contracts)
Re:The three questions I found most interesting (Score:5, Informative)
If these domain owners had been 'sued' that would reasonable. Having your say, court of law and all that.
The domains were simply 'taken' by the US without any due process associated with being 'sued'.
Re:At least someone is looking out for us. (Score:5, Informative)
Compulsory link to the broken window fallacy [wikipedia.org]
Forcing gas companies to hire employees to pump gas for you provides jobs for those pumping the gas, but that also means gas costs more in Oregon than other places, and money spent on gas in money not spent on other commercial pursuits. Granted, since it is next to California, Oregon gas prices don't look that bad, but California is a distorted comparison in this case. You'll note that Oregon has the 10th most expensive gas in the nation [oregongasprices.com]. I'm sure plenty of people will attempt to rebut this, and a quick look around google/bing (they're the same now, right?) didn't turn up much regarding a linkage between full service and gas prices.
Interestingly, the Oregon ban on self-serve has been challenged several times - by the gas industry. It seems the gas station owners want to cut the personnel cost and sell more gas by lowering the cost. In Oregon a referendum to do so was voted down. It appears the citizens of that state are happy to pay a little more at the pump to provide jobs that could otherwise be spread out amongst other industries.
Exactly (Score:5, Informative)
Re:At least someone is looking out for us. (Score:3, Informative)
Well, that or the people who objected couldn't afford the gas to drive to the polling place and vote for the ban of the ban.
Oregon has a vote by mail system. As in they send you the ballot and you have a couple weeks I believe to fill it out and send it back to them by 1. putting a stamp on it and mailing it or 2. dropping it in a ballot collection box.
It makes it really simple to vote as you don't have to go find a polling place and you don't have to take off work/school/whatever on one specific day with everyone else.