February 4, 2012
On 4 February 2012, PIR received a warrant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), issued by the US District Court for the District of Maryland The warrant was based on affidavits by agents of the DHS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and orders the seizure and civil forfeiture of ten domain names:
- nikeheelsfor-women.org
- nikeheelsforwomens.org
- nikeheelshome.org
- nikeheelsjordanshoes.org
- nikehighheelsbiz.org
- nikejordanheelshotsale.org
- nikejordanhighheelsbiz.org
- nikejordanshighheels.org
- nikesjordanshighheels.org
- womensnikeheelsshoes.org
Pursuant to the instructions of the DHS, PIR transferred the registrations to specified IP addresses.
The .ORG domains now resolve to web sites established by the DHS with a message that they have been the subject of seizure. The legal authority for the seizure is two sections of the US Statutes, Criminal Code, that provide for seizure and forfeiture of property used in violation of the criminal provisions of copyright and trademark law.