[marcus77]

Homeland Security takes out another threat. I can sleep better tonight.

http://www.kirotv.com/weirdheadlines...28/detail.html

Oregon Toy store Owner Gets Visit From Homeland Security Agents

POSTED: 10:11 am PDT October 28, 2004
ST. HELENS, Ore. -- So far as she knows, Pufferbelly Toys owner Stephanie Cox hasn't been passing any state secrets to sinister foreign governments, or violating obscure clauses in the Patriot Act.

So she was taken aback by a mysterious phone call from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to her small store in this quiet Columbia River town just north of Portland.

"I was shaking in my shoes," Cox said of the September phone call. "My first thought was the government can shut your business down on a whim, in my opinion. If I'm closed even for a day that would cause undue stress."

When the two agents arrived at the store, the lead agent asked Cox whether she carried a toy called the Magic Cube, which he said was an illegal copy of the Rubik's Cube, one of the most popular toys of all time.

He told her to remove the Magic Cube from her shelves, and he watched to make sure she complied.

After the agents left, Cox called the manufacturer of the Magic Cube, the Toysmith Group, which is based in Auburn, Wash. A representative told her that Rubik's Cube patent had expired, and the Magic Cube did not infringe on the rival toy's trademark.

Virginia Kice, a spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said agents went to Pufferbelly based on a trademark infringement complaint filed in the agency's intellectual property rights center in Washington, D.C.

"One of the things that our agency's responsible for doing is protecting the integrity of the economy and our nation's financial systems and obviously trademark infringement does have significant economic implications," she said.

Six weeks after her brush with Homeland Security, Cox told The Oregonian she is still bewildered by the experience.

"Aren't there any terrorists out there?" she said.

[Infidel_Kastro]

MArcus, you have brought new definition to the term "misleading" and "idiocy" This was a LEGITIMATE investigation by Customs, thats there job, but to to post a story, whose journalistic integrity is suspect to me for slanting the story this way, under the guise that is some sinister plot by Homeland Security is ludicrous. This would be the equivalent to saying that Homeland Security using thier helicopters, reported and captured suspects off the Coast of California, when in reality, the Coast guard, a component of Homeland Security, and former member of the Dept. of the Treasury, rescued some victims from a sinking boat of the coast with helicopters.

[Wino]

Not much different than GWB's political ads being 'slanted', edited to misconstrue the truth, words taken out of context, designed to scare the population, etc. Take a 'chill pill' IK, just 4 more days!

[Infidel_Kastro]

Originally Posted by Wino

Not much different than GWB's political ads being 'slanted', edited to misconstrue the truth, words taken out of context, designed to scare the population, etc. Take a 'chill pill' IK, just 4 more days!

I'm grumpy this morning, I need a soft drink.

[Wino]

Originally Posted by Infidel_Kastro

I'm grumpy this morning, I need a soft drink.

NO, you needed to get laid!

[Infidel_Kastro]

Originally Posted by Wino

NO, you needed to get laid!

Oh dear sweet lord in heaven, Wino's turned and he thinks I'm cute.
Uh, Wino, we're just friends, ok.

[marcus77]

Originally Posted by Infidel_Kastro

MArcus, you have brought new definition to the term "misleading" and "idiocy" This was a LEGITIMATE investigation by Customs, thats there job, but to to post a story, whose journalistic integrity is suspect to me for slanting the story this way, under the guise that is some sinister plot by Homeland Security is ludicrous. This would be the equivalent to saying that Homeland Security using thier helicopters, reported and captured suspects off the Coast of California, when in reality, the Coast guard, a component of Homeland Security, and former member of the Dept. of the Treasury, rescued some victims from a sinking boat of the coast with helicopters.

The fact that the agents identified themselves as "Homeland Security" and not "Customs" or "Dept of Treasury". Also, since this visit was based on a copyright infringement complaint filed and not a court finding, it also seems over the top. Isn't this what lawyers are for? You don't say, "Hey, I think they are infringing on my copyright, could you send some Homeland Security officers to 'shake-up' the people selling those items?" Sorry, but the reporter didn't put a "slant" on this story, and that's what I find puzzling and a bit humorus. The reaction to the filled complaint of the makers of Rubix Cube was too over the top in my opinion.

[Wino]

Originally Posted by Infidel_Kastro

Oh dear sweet lord in heaven, Wino's turned and he thinks I'm cute.
Uh, Wino, we're just friends, ok.

Actually I think you and DiSaidSo are one and the same! Shades of Norman Bates!!

[Infidel_Kastro]

Originally Posted by Wino

Actually I think you and DiSaidSo are one and the same! Shades of Norman Bates!!

No, but we made one beautiful little girl.
She is the absolute love of my life, and the reason why I don't climb into bell towers with a high powered rifle. She's also Republican.

[DiSaidSo]

Originally Posted by Infidel_Kastro

No, but we made one beautiful little girl.
She is the absolute love of my life, and the reason why I don't climb into bell towers with a high powered rifle. She's also Republican.

Trust me, we are NOT the same. I'm kind, gentle, and charming. And IK is....um.....

Gabzilla's a Republican?

[Infidel_Kastro]

Originally Posted by marcus77

The fact that the agents identified themselves as "Homeland Security" and not "Customs" or "Dept of Treasury". Also, since this visit was based on a copyright infringement complaint filed and not a court finding, it also seems over the top. Isn't this what lawyers are for? You don't say, "Hey, I think they are infringing on my copyright, could you send some Homeland Security officers to 'shake-up' the people selling those items?" Sorry, but the reporter didn't put a "slant" on this story, and that's what I find puzzling and a bit humorus. The reaction to the filled complaint of the makers of Rubix Cube was too over the top in my opinion.

Marcus, at the least they would have identified themselves as ICE Agents. Do you think the Secret Service identifes themselves as Homeland Security agents? And BTW, the story doesn't mention at all what they identified themselves as Homeland Security agents.
As far as in vestigation, you don't need a court to order an investigation. ICE agents can go into a store and confiscate suspected contraband items, such as fake Louis Vitton bags, etc. its there job.
Oh, one last thing about copyright enforcement, if you do not protect your copyright, i.e. file complaints to ICE or other agencies in reagrds to protecting your copyright or patent, you lose it. Its not up to agencies to go around and find counterfeit items, the holders of copyrights and patents have to file reports or complaints in order to protect their rights.

[Infidel_Kastro]

Originally Posted by DiSaidSo

Trust me, we are NOT the same. I'm kind, gentle, and charming. And IK is....um.....

Gabzilla's a Republican?

Oh yeah.

[marcus77]

Originally Posted by Infidel_Kastro

Marcus, at the least they would have identified themselves as ICE Agents. Do you think the Secret Service identifes themselves as Homeland Security agents? And BTW, the story doesn't mention at all what they identified themselves as Homeland Security agents.
As far as in vestigation, you don't need a court to order an investigation. ICE agents can go into a store and confiscate suspected contraband items, such as fake Louis Vitton bags, etc. its there job.
Oh, one last thing about copyright enforcement, if you do not protect your copyright, i.e. file complaints to ICE or other agencies in reagrds to protecting your copyright or patent, you lose it. Its not up to agencies to go around and find counterfeit items, the holders of copyrights and patents have to file reports or complaints in order to protect their rights.

You are correct in that the story does not say exectly how they identified themselves, yet I am led to belief because of the woman's reaction to the call that they did. But, of course, because of the lack of solid evidence that says of how they identified themselves to the woman, logically, I have to agree with you.

And, I did not know about the ICE's role in suspected contraban items, thanks for the info.

[DiSaidSo]

Originally Posted by Infidel_Kastro

Oh yeah.

Well, she is blindingly brilliant after all. But then again, what would you expect from such great minds as ourselves?

Not humility, that's for sure.

[Wino]

Originally Posted by Infidel_Kastro

No, but we made one beautiful little girl.
She is the absolute love of my life, and the reason why I don't climb into bell towers with a high powered rifle. She's also Republican.

OMG!!! They're multiplying!!! Run for your lives!!!