This one kind of hurts.
Governor Blagojevich's initiative to criminalize distribution of video games to kids has a nice website at www.SafeGamesIllinois.org
Unfortunately, some people use www.SafeGamesIllinois.com and the governor's people or their PR firm forgot to buy the .com domain name.
The Tribune is reporting here that state employees have directed reporters and others to the .com site, where someone has posted a site that reads:
Governor Rod Blagojevich, who can't budget more than one Illinois State Police Office to patrol the Edens Expressway (in both directions) from the reckless and excessively high-speed drivers (probably because he had 12 ISP guards on his security detail). . . .
and links to Amazon where you can buy all the games listed on www.SafeGamesIllinois.org.
Ouch.
On a policy note, I wonder if Amazon and other etailers would be covered under this law. Probably.
The clout lobbyists already have their contracts from the national groups to kill this one, I'll bet. They are going to make a killing (so to speak).
And my prediction: this won't pass. It will be like the Governor's initiative to get Coke and other junk food out of schools. That state law died on the vine.
1 comment:
Dan, A good bet would be the governor's people didn't "forget" to register the .com domain. Rather, someone beat them to the punch. According to www.whois.sc, all three domains were registered on Dec. 16, 2004. How the third party knew to register the .com on that day is anyone's guess at this point.
As for the legislation, it comes off as just another one of those things the governor does to try and make himself look good. Unfortunately, like so many other such things, it fails.
I can't imagine how this law would have jurisdiction over Amazon, or any other online sellers, unless maybe they have a place of business in Illinois.
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