The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has stepped up its fight against cybersquatting and trademark infringement by blocking the domain name of a popular Spanish TV firm.
According to the DHS, the move will stop Rojadirecta.org from broadcasting sporting events from around the world online.
DHS’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement department went ahead with the seizure, in spite of a ruling in two separate Spanish courts that the Web site did not infringe any copyright or laws.
Anyone visiting is redirected to a DHS holding page that warns users the site has been blocked, saying, “It is unlawful to reproduce or distribute copyrighted material, such as movies, music, software or games, without authorization.”
Other Web addresses used by the peer-to-peer broadcaster — including rojadirecta.es and rojadirecta.me — are still in operation.
However, rojadirecta.com has also been seized by the DHS.
In related news, rap star 50 Cent recently hinted that he was behind the temporary seizure of WorldStarHipHop.com.