A confusing article that keeps talking about IP addresses, which I don't think is the problem as most home users have a floating IP address assigned by the service provider (Comcast or whoever). It sounds more like the issue was that MaxMind geolocated to this couple's farm for any failed search. My guess is that being in Kansas, this farm's geo coordinates are some sort of mid-point in the U.S.
A beautiful example of a bit of bad coding leading to disastrous real-world results.
It’s not the IP address, it’s the address listed on the IP domain registration. These folks deserve serious restitution. The company’s actions border on criminal negligence. Assigning a real address as the default for registrants? Who does that?