In September 2008, Kentucky seized a list of gambling-related domain names, claiming that the domains were being used “in connection with illegal gambling activity” in the state. Having strict regulations regarding gambling, Kentucky seized 141 domains claiming the domains in violation of the state’s laws, and further are a drain on the state’s economy as the funnel money away from in-state betting such as horse races. Word spread immediately throughout the domain name community, with the ICA offering to help the gambling industry with the case.

For the past 18 months, co-founder of Afternic.com Michael Collins served as the Executive Director of the Internet Commerce Association. In this time, the ICA dealt with several large issues, such as the Snowe Bill, and the recent success in the Kentucky Court of Appeals. On January 22, 2009 Collins formally stepped down from his position in an e-mail sent to ICA members. Although he will no longer be serving as Executive Director, Collins promises in his e-mail to continue to volunteer his time for the ICA and urges other concerned domainers to do the same.

A discussion on one of ICANN's forums linked to a document at the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration – a letter which warns ICANN's chairman that the new gTLD rollout procedures might not yet be ready for prime time.

File this roundup under 'good job,' 'good review,' and 'good news,' respectively.

ICANN announced today that the newly-proven tactic for combating domain name tasting, namely that of fining registrars with unacceptably-high AGP deletes, is being expanded via a new Add Grace Period Limits Policy.

The SMX family of conferences grew this week when Search Engine Land announced SMX Search Analytics, debuting March 31 through April 1, 2009.