Jail Time for Misleading Domain Names

Bootsy Collins writes "The Miami Herald is running a story on the first-ever prison sentencing (and, for that matter, prosecution and conviction) under the Federal Truth in Domain Names Act. This act, combined into the larger Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to end the Exploitation of Children Today Act (PROTECT) of 2003, made it a violation of U.S. Federal law to use a misleading domain name with the intent to deceive someone into viewing obscene material -- larger penalties if attempting to so mislead minors, but up to two years even if adults are the object. In the case in question, a man was convicted for registering thousands of domain names which were close misspellings of popular web sites for kids. Attempting to surf to those sites would redirect to a site entitled 'Dorm Sex Party.' Before being arrested, the convicted typosquatter made about a million dollars for the referrals." He's been on Slashdot before.

Comments

Question....

[vwjeff]

I wonder if www.whitehouse.com is considered misleading. I'm sure many people have been tricked (including myself). I must say however that www.whitehouse.com is much more interesting and informative than www.whitehouse.gov.

Re:I for one am glad

[rock_climbing_guy]

Don't forget about www.whitehouse.com

Dear God, Not The Children!

[michaeltoe]

Sorry... but it had to be done.