Federal authorities in Los Angeles have seized the domain names of five websites suspected of offering illegal downloads of copyrighted movies, music, television programs and computer software. The operation was the second phase of a national crackdown by the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security on the distribution of pirated goods over the Internet.

The local seizure orders are among those executed against 82 domain names of commercial websites based around the world whose owners are engaged in the illegal sale and distribution of counterfeit goods and copyrighted works. The operation targeted online retailers of diverse counterfeit goods, including sports equipment, shoes, handbags, athletic apparel and sunglasses, as well as illegal copies of copyrighted DVD boxed sets, music and software. Federal law enforcement agents made undercover purchases from online retailers suspected of selling counterfeit goods, and in many instances, the goods were shipped directly into the United States from suppliers in other countries using international express mail.  If the goods were confirmed as counterfeit or otherwise illegal, seizure orders for the domain names of the websites that sold the goods were obtained from U.S. magistrate judges. Individuals attempting to access the websites will now find a banner notifying them that the domain name has been seized by federal authorities.

The five Internet domain names rendered disabled are www.torrent-finder.com; www.Rap-GodFathers.com; www.RM-X4U.COM; www.dajaz1.com; and www.onsmash.com.  In addition to seizing the domain names of the websites, in the case of www.RapGodFathers.com, authorities also seized the website’s server and all of its digital content.

Collectively, the five websites accounted for more than 185,000 daily page views. Some of the music and movies offered by the sites had not yet been made available for purchase or home viewing.  The most widely viewed website, www.torrent-finder.com, was ranked among the 5,000 most popular websites in the United States. In late October, this site offered users access to first run movies such as “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps”, “The Social Network” and “Red”.

“American business, including the entertainment industry, is under assault from counterfeiters and pirates,” U.S. Attorney André Birotte Jr. said.  “The activities of intellectual property thieves threaten to burn out America’s economic engine by removing the financial motive for innovation. The illegal distribution of copyrighted material compromises our leading role in the creative and high technology fields.”

For information, visit www.justice.gov/dag/iptaskforce.