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Internet Poker Site Told to Shut
According to a report filed by the Associated Press (AP) news agency this week, a poker promotional website has been asked to cease operations after using the logo and identity of a top American university without permission.
UMasspoker.com allegedly contains the trademarked UMass-Amherst lettering and Minuteman athletic logo from the University of Massachusetts and depicts the Minuteman peering over stacks of cash, dice, cards and poker chips. University officials have sent a cease-and-desist demand to the site’s operators claiming that they misused the logo and identity of the University in order to attract traffic.
'If they don’t comply then we go to court,' said Ed Blaguszewski, a spokesperson for the University. 'The UMass name and logo are university property and they cannot be used without the University’s permission. This website is not an appropriate use.'
AP stated that the site appears to be the work of students and recent graduates and bills itself as an information exchange about poker strategy and cash games and tournaments both on and off campus.
Brett Burdick, a recent UMass-Amherst graduate stated that he has been the site’s moderator for the last year.
'We never got any grief over it,' said Burdick. 'There are sites just like this all over the country on college campuses.'
An advisory issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts two years ago in response to the rising popularity of poker games such as Texas Hold’em stated that most poker tournaments are illegal unless operated by a licensed non-profit organisation. According to that advisory, it’s illegal to promote, operate or play in a poker tournament in the state if players pay an entry fee and bet with cash or other prizes awarded to winners.
source: OnlineCasinoNews |
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