Is RIAA’s MediaSentry illegal in YOUR state?
p2pnet news | RIAA News:- Is Warner Music, EMI, Vivendi Universal and Sony BMG ‘investigator’ MediaSentry operating illegally in your state?
The Massachusetts State police have already banned the company, it’s been accused of operating without a licence in Oregon, Florida, Texas and New York, and now similar charges have been levelled at it in Michigan.
A complaint was filed by a Recording Industry vs The People reader with the state’s Department of Labor and Economic Growth resulting in confirmation that MediaSentry has no official authorisation to carry out so-called ‘investigations’ there.
“We encourage parties to pursue complaints against unlicensed parties and the local prosecutor,” says the response.
“The prosecutor can prosecute these cases as felonies, with a maximum penalty of a $5,000 fine and/or up to four years in prison.”
The Big 4 and their RIAA are already on very shaky ground with MediaSentry.
You can help by making enquiries to find out if it’s licensed to act as a Big 4 ‘investigator’ where you live —- even if you’re in Canada, Europe, or anywhere else the company is ‘working’.
If you come up with anything interesting, email us at p2pnet @ shaw dot ca, or Ray Beckerman at rbeckerman @ vanfeliu dot com.
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UPDATES >
9:43 am Pacific: We’ve just heard from Cecil that according to the North Carolina Secretary of State’s office, MediaSentry isn’t licensed to investigate in that state.
10:44 am Pacific: “Looking at the Ohio Homeland Security webpage, the Private Investigation and Security Services Commission has an online searchable database for licensed private investigators,” says Bill. “The page is http://www.dps.state.oh.us/ALRS/alrshomepage.aspx, while the PISSC page is : http://www.homelandsecurity.ohio.gov/pissc.htm. I plugged in MediaSentry, SafeNet, inserting spaces, dashes, etc, etc. and there is no record I can find. This doesn’t mean they haven’t secured licensure under another name or a misspelling or something of that sort, but it’s certainly a data point.”
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Also See:
Massachusetts – Cease & Desist, RIAA MediaSentry ordered, February 5, 2008
Oregon – Tanya Andersen RIAA complaint dismissed, March 10, 2008
Recording Industry vs The People – MediaSentry not licensed in Michigan, March 10, 2008
very shaky ground – MediaSentry: RIAA can of worms, March 10, 2008
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March 11th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Searched in GA and found nothing.
https://secure.sos.state.ga.us/myverification/Search.aspx?facility=Y
March 12th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Searched California, nothing for MediaSentry or SafeNet.
http://www2.dca.ca.gov/pls/wllpub/wllqryna$lcev2.startup?p_qte_code=PI&p_qte_pgm_code=2420
March 13th, 2008 at 8:26 am
http://www.nd.gov/pisb/holders.html
not in North Dakota either.
March 20th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Mediasentry is NOT licenses in Louisiana. Here is the page from the Secretary of State’s database, they are not listed. http://www400.sos.louisiana.gov/cgibin/?rqstyp=CRPBC&rqsdta=MediaSentry+
March 12th, 2009 at 11:38 am
MediaSentry i have some docs TO SHOW TO THE WORLD I NEED HELP its all ready rar up im am filling a compliant tues next week. there in deep s@it
plus i need help if there any MediaSentry in new jersey please