Super Bowl Bust: Feds Grab 307 NFL Websites; $4.8M

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Super Bowl Bust: Feds Grab 307 NFL Websites; $4.8M

Posted by timothy on Thursday February 2, 2012 @10:58AM from the first-they-came-for-the-pirated-sports-gewgaws dept.

coondoggie writes "Speaking at a National Football League press conference ahead of this weekend's Super Bowl, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency said special agents this week seized a total of 307 websites and snatched up 42,692 items of phony Super Bowl-related memorabilia along with other counterfeit items for a total take of more than $4.8 million – up from $3.72 million last year."

23 of 198 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

China by Nethemas+the+Great · 2012-02-02 11:00 · Score: 4, Insightful

Because we can only transfer money through "legitimate" channels to China. Waste of my tax dollars if ever there was one...

--
Two of my imaginary friends reproduced once ... with negative results.
1. Re:China by joocemann · 2012-02-02 11:40 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  I'd almost bet a testicle that the resources used to acquire these goods was far more than $4.8M.
  Our taxes bought this trash on behalf of private industry---- why?
2. Re:China by Firehed · 2012-02-02 12:29 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Not that I support this kind of action, but it at least proves that bills like SOPA are unnecessary. Rights-holders already have a legal means to deal with infringers. It may be inefficient, but I think most slashdotters would agree that's preferable to the alternative.
  
  --
  How are sites slashdotted when nobody reads TFAs?
3. Re:China by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-02 13:11 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  and I'd like to know when the copyright, trademark holders will be getting a bill for the government's services.
4. Re:China by Samantha+Wright · 2012-02-02 17:11 · Score: 1, Insightful
  
  Ha, ha. No. I promise you it's not just about actual counterfeits. I know precious little about American football (and I have no intention of learning more), but one thing that is apparent is that the NFL, moreso than any of the other national sports leagues, is obsessive about controlling anything that might be linked to a team. If you want to show that you're a fan, either you made your memorabilia yourself, or you bought it from an approved vendor; there is nothing in between. No vague cultural links are permitted. It's like Righthaven, only without the whole "hilariously tragic disbarment forever" part, because they have money and cultural clout, and Righthaven did not.
  It's not a waste of time, it's an IP-related evil comparable to the MAFIAA.
  
  --
  Bio questions? Ask me to start a Q&A journal. Computer analogies available for most topics!
5. Re:China by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-02 19:13 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  and I'd like to know when the copyright, trademark holders will be getting a bill for the government's services.
  So could this be, "I'd like to know when the rape, murder and theft victims will be getting a bill for the government's services" when the perpetrators are captured??
  Counterfeiting is a serious crime. There is no problem if someone makes "football" shirts or running shoes. There is a problem when you start to use someone else's brand to push your goods. That's illegal. It's akin of someone else using your name to get a mortgage on their house.
  This stuff is done FOR PROFIT. This is not some fans stitching together an NFL logo on their shirts.
6. Re:China by Ihmhi · 2012-02-02 22:46 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  I'd like to know why any of you think it's important for the government to make a profit when it comes to law enforcement.
  This retarded mindset is the reason we have speed traps everywhere.
  
  --
  Random Thoughts From A Diseased Mind (Not For Dummies)
7. Re:China by Skater · 2012-02-03 01:31 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  On a related note, I wonder if Slashdot paid for the rights to use the term "Super Bowl" - the NFL defends that term pretty vigorously. This is why places that have, for example, televisions on sale this week have signs up that say, "Get your new TV for the big game!" Grocery stores refer to food for the "big game" party. And so on.
  The other day, I even heard a DJ on Sirius (satellite radio) saying he wasn't sure what he could say in regards to the game. The odd part is that Sirius will be carrying the game, so even within companies that ARE actually affiliated with the NFL, it's not clear.
And nobody made any more money... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-02 11:00 · Score: 2, Insightful

It's unclear what, if any, effect these seizures have on the economy.
Doesn't this prove... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-02 11:01 · Score: 4, Insightful

...that the curren laws are enough to fight counterfeits?
great use of our tax money by peas_n_carrots · 2012-02-02 11:01 · Score: 5, Insightful

I mean, because counterfeit NFL gear is incredibly detrimental to society. Unlike drugs, murder, and other violence. And why spend money on education when money can be thrown towards law enforcement to satisfy the corporate overlords. Another way of looking at it... thousands of jobs have been destroyed so that the uber-rich NFL owners can snatch even more money from the commoners.
1. Re:great use of our tax money by DigiShaman · 2012-02-02 11:09 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  To the Feds, it's not about priorities. It's about taking action to justify their department and funding necessary to maintain the status quo (and then some). It's precisely why the go after the low hanging fruit first and foremost.
  I suppose you could say their priorities are self-serving. Screw dealing with violent offenders and crime. That just too dangerous and politically incorrect.
  
  --
  Life is not for the lazy.
2. Re:great use of our tax money by Obfuscant · 2012-02-02 11:19 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Another way of looking at it... thousands of jobs have been destroyed
  Thousands of criminal jobs...
  
  so that the uber-rich NFL owners can snatch even more money from the commoners.
  Those commoners are going to spend the money. Getting rid of the fake websites doesn't mean more people will spend more money, it only changes who they spend it with. Do you think it is better that they wind up with something that has no value should they ever try to resell it? You hate the rich so much that you'll throw your fellow citizen to the wolves who are making fake goods and selling them at real prices?
3. Re:great use of our tax money by BoberFett · 2012-02-02 12:16 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Not to mention that apparently the Super Bowl is enough of a national treasure to spend tens of millions of dollars in law enforcement, but not enough of a national treasure that it belongs to the citizens of the USA.
  So we all get to pay for protecting it but only a select few are allowed to profit off of it. More privatizing of profits while socializing the costs.
4. Re:great use of our tax money by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-02 23:59 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  What makes you assume the pirate shirt is inferior? The real jerseys and the fake ones both come from some place in China. As if one is hand made by skilled chinese jersey artisans and the other is loosely pieced together by unskilled slave laborers from bits of dryer lint or something.
  They're made on nearly identical machines in China. the difference between them is may be the tag on the back, and the quality of the silkscreen, That's probably it.
More bad news? by Artea · 2012-02-02 11:04 · Score: 5, Insightful

Reading Slashdot every day is starting to make me wonder if I'm allowed to do anything besides spend all my money and work (for less) without getting sued or arrested for copyright, patent, counterfeiting, or violating some all encompassing do-what-I-say law.
ACTA? by t4ng* · 2012-02-02 11:07 · Score: 5, Insightful

While everyone was fretting over SOPA/PIPA, Obama secretly signed the ACTA treaty back in October, 2011. Both Obama And Bush declared during their respective presidencies that the text of ACTA was classified due to national security. Both denied FOI petitions. So how does a citizen have any hope of not breaking the law when the laws themselves are kept secret from citizens?
Next time you get burgalized... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-02-02 11:13 · Score: 2, Insightful

Remember.. it is just your property that has been taken. It wasnt murder, drugs or anything violent.
At what cost? by kwiqsilver · 2012-02-02 11:23 · Score: 3, Insightful

Did they bother to calculate how much it cost the federal government to do all of this?
The feds spent $X to seize $Y of counterfeit goods that, if they entered the market, might have reduced NFL revenues by $Z.
Y >> Z is definitely true (the guy willing to pay $10 for the counterfeit, might not pay $50 for the authentic).
I seriously doubt X < Z.
The Obama Administration's Priorities by Adrian+Lopez · 2012-02-02 11:23 · Score: 5, Insightful

Taking down domains without a trial, secretly negotiating international IP treaties (ACTA), threatening American ISPs into adopting a "six strikes" policy...
Judging by its actions, IP enforcement is clearly the Obama Administration's top priority. Is it corruption, or is it just plain disregard for justice and the due process of law?

--
"In prison you just have to shut your eyes and take it. Here you have to shut your eyes and give it."
Re:If... by jdastrup · 2012-02-02 11:24 · Score: 3, Insightful

Are you assuming that if we didn't spend money on a ballgame that we would instead take that money and send it to the IRS? Really?

I think throwing money at a sports game and the genetic (or chemically enhanced) freak of natures (players) is a complete waste of money, but it's entertainment dollars, and I'm sure I spend that on other stuff that sports fans probably think is a waste of time in their opinion. Either way, it doesn't reduce the debt, doesn't feed the hungry, doesn't clothe the poor.
0.1% by the+eric+conspiracy · 2012-02-02 11:30 · Score: 4, Insightful

NFL revenue is about 4 billion. Clearly this is not a threat to their business.
The FBI needs to have it's budget cut if this is the best thing they can do. I mean 4 million is one SUV full of cocaine.
Yeah yea, the feds being bullies by HeckRuler · 2012-02-02 11:38 · Score: 4, Insightful

But what's more shocking is that this is done in the name of football.
It's just a game. No more dignified then tiddlywinks, starcraft, or mumbley-peg. The NFL got the FEDS to bust up counterfeiters? For $4.8 million in loot? Really?

Come on guys, get a grip. I'd like to say that nobody cares how "your team" did, but sadly I can't. All I can say is nobody should really care. It's an activity that does not warrant caring.