Case for .net Marketing Sees another Negative Outcome

NZ High Court ruling opposes .net marketing Despite the fact that a New Zealand court earlier this year ruled in favor of the .net marketing, the New Zealand High Court this week overturned the ruling. Initially, a suit was filed against New Zealand broadcasters TV Works, broadcaster of TV3 and C4, for conducting non-gambling .net promotional advertising for online poker giant Pokerstars' Asia Pacific Poker Tour. Justice Ron Young in the case ruled that the Asia Pacific Poker Tour was gambling as defined by the Gambling Act. This decision overturned a District Court ruling which acknowledged that APPT participants were playing for a prize and not gambling, so that APPT advertizing did not actually violate the regulation which bans publicizing or promoting gambling outside New Zealand. The Internal Affairs Dept welcomed this week's decision, as it was the one that filed an appeal against the District Court ruling on a point of law. On the other side, Justice Young said he cherished some sympathy for TV Works because the legislation was far from clear and it had actually believed that its actions were in line with the law. The District Court will get the case back for further consideration of TV Works' guilt. Finally, Justice Young said that "Whether any penalty should be imposed in the District Court in view of these circumstances will be a matter for the Judge if the charges are found proved.”