UMass Poker Site Targeted by Administration

A poker website using official trademarked logos of the University of Massachusetts is under fire as the school’s administration fights to have the site shutdown.   

UMassPoker.com describes itself as a place for poker players to discuss strategy as well as local games on and around the UMass campus.  The problem is that the proprietors of the site are using the school’s logo and name without permission, as well as for an activity that the administration does not support.  School officials want the site shut down.   

While it has yet to be closed completely, most of the site’s content is no longer available.  Visitors are simply greeted with the message, “This website is offline,” followed by the e-mail address of the site administrator.  The message forums are still up and running, however, with infrequent postings. 

School spokesman Ed Blaguszewski has threatened to take UMassPoker.com to court if it does not comply with a cease-and-desist order.  Brett Burdick, the site’s moderator and UMass-Amherst graduate, was a bit confused by all the fuss.  "We never got any grief over it," he told the Associated Press.  "There's sites just like this all over the country on college campuses." 

In addition to the improper use of school trademarks, school officials want the site shutdown because they believe gambling is bad for students.  "This is an issue across the country for colleges and universities," said Blaguszewski.