Bodog.com is no more!

[jhansen]

http://www.shoemoney.com/2007/08/28/...-in-judgement/

Earlier today the Bodog website (bodog.com) went down. Many people thought it was just technical issues. A good friend inside Bodog pinged me and told me that the site was actually yanked out from under Bodog’s hands earlier today.

Apparently, some guy in the US who was awarded a patent for something to do with taking bets online filed a lawsuit against Bodog awhile back. Bodog didn’t respond because they are not a US company. So a judge awarded a default judgment of 50 million.

Yesterday, the guy with the judgment used it to seize control of Bodog’s domain names from Enom. Almost all of their sites are now offline, and now they are going to loose all of their SERPS.

I am sure this will make some big news tomorrow. You can see Calvin's explanation here.

So if your looking for bodog here is the new bodog.

Crazy eh?

[KaneCo]

I was getting worried! Really wanted to have a lot of action this weekend, first week of football.

Thats kind of weird enom just let them take the domain name. Isn't there international law against this or something.

[Focus]

holy sh*t, that dude better make sure he has a bodyguard! lol wow....nuts

[copper]

So, all those casino/poker sites can be shut down if their registrar
is located in USA? Even when casino/poker owner, co., and servers
are located in other places such as Cayman Islands?

WOW

[DomainMagnate]

holy sh*t, that dude better make sure he has a bodyguard! lol wow....nuts

One bodyguard won't help, better have an army

That's some big money.. wonder how will it turn out

I hate to see the domain offline.. they could redirect it to my parking account instead.. for just an hour

~MG

[jhansen]

Mel Molnick Steals Bodog.com

Ayre's trademarked Bodog.com brand joins a long list of other internet gambling related domain names that have been targets to Molnick including Ladbrokes.com, Sportingbet.com, Betsson.com, BetInternet.com and CasinoWebCam.com.

The biggest difference with Bodog is that the name is a registered trademarked owned by Calvin Ayre for years. So a precedent setting legal battle over the rights to the Bodog.com domain name could be looming on the horizon. However, it might prove to be more cost effective for Ayre to reach a settlement with football starting this upcoming weekend, clearly something that Melnick's legal advisers were planning on when they went after the most recognized brand in the internet gambling industry on Monday.

[DNQuest.com]

This is not a domain issue, but an attempt to satisfy a judgement on a default jedgement. Appearently, this guy filed a lawsuit agaistn Bodog and they did not respond since they are not a US company. The "patent" holder won a 49mil judgement by default (becuase they did not respond), so he went after assets. The domain in located in the US.

Many poeple say "don't respond" or ask "what could happen", well if a TM holder goes the route the ACPA and you do not respond, they will issue a default judgement and possible monetary damages. They can take the judgement and go after any and all assets to satisfy the judgement. This case is not a domain case, it is an asset seizure case.

Now, the "patent" for online betting, I do hope that the patent is recinded, it is just ridiculous. But it has not been challenged (yet), but until it is, he has a right to protect his patent.

[Rockefeller]

I tried posting this last night but after several attempts, I gave up. More specifically, the guy filed a lawsuit against Bodog saying that he "holds the patent to taking bets online." Bodog didnt respond to the suit because they aren't located within the US. A judge made a $50 million default judgement against Bodog and handed control of the domain names over to the guy.

I emailed the guy last night and asked him if he was selling the domain names...I got this response:

"We may be open to private sale offers for a limited time at a particular point, please indicate your purchase price range and we will consider your offer at the appropriate point. "

[HomerJ]

well, if the Bodog name is trademarked, then I don't see how this Molenick guy will be able to do anything with it. He certainly can't monetize it, otherwise Calvin Ayre would swoop in to file a trademark infringment suit to get the name back, no? So what is this domain asset really worth to Molenick? Its definately worth something for Ayre to get it back in time for football season ... it almost seems a little bit extortionary, for lack of a better term. This guy now has a name he can't do anything with, but knows the owner desperately wants it back.

[GAMEFINEST]

hot diggity damn..

[jberryhill]

otherwise Calvin Ayre would swoop in to file a trademark infringment suit to get the name back, no?

Depends on the court order of assets to be seized. Such assets could include the goodwill associated with the mark, but that wouldn't apply abroad.

[Rockefeller]

Depends on the court order of assets to be seized. Such assets could include the goodwill associated with the mark, but that wouldn't apply abroad.

Can we expect that Bodog will counter sue for lost revenue?

[DNQuest.com]

I would assume not. Bodog did not show in court. Bodog had to know know what was going on. That jsut sat back and did nothing. Sorry, I don;t really feel for him at the moment. As I said, it is always worth reponding to lawsuits, you could lose a lot.

My bet is Calvin ponie$$$$ up with a settlement real soon....

[ibjp]

it will be interesting to see how this plays out. the guy got 1000's of domains.

[ck89102]

I own a Bodog typo that earned me record income yesterday. I thought it was strange until I saw this post. Folks are looking for them.

[Dave Zan]

I own a Bodog typo that earned me record income yesterday. I thought it was strange until I saw this post. Folks are looking for them.

Lucky you.

[jberryhill]

That jsut sat back and did nothing. Sorry, I don;t really feel for him at the moment. As I said, it is always worth reponding to lawsuits, you could lose a lot.

Slow down there Willis. It's not as if the US has invaded EVERY country on the planet... yet.

Why should a foreign actor show up for a US patent infringement suit?

(well, in this instance hindsight is 20/20, but my advice to someone outside of the US accused of violating a US method patent would be "ignore it". My advice now would be, "Ignore it and make sure you have no US assets.")

[DNQuest.com]

I guess i was ambiguous , I meant it more for responding to domains if challenged in court since we all own .COMs.. Yes, Non-US residents can ignore US lawsuits as long as they have no US assets (.COMs are a US asset) But I guess John said that already .

[DomainMagnate]

Is there a trusted .com registrar which is not located in US.. just in case

~MG

[shopperx]

This is the biggest reverse domain hijacking i've ever seen..