October 7, 2012

On October 3, 2012, PIR received three Search and Seizure Warrants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement, issued by the US District Court for the District of Maryland. The warrants were based on affidavits by agents of the DHS and order the seizure and civil forfeiture of 167 domain names in the .ORG domain. All the names relate to the sale of allegedly counterfeit prescription drugs from Internet pharmacies operating outside the United States. 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 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.