Michigan completes MediaSentry probe
p2pnet news view RIAA | P2P:- The state of Michigan says it’s concluded its probe into ex-RIAA private investigator MediaSentry, stating »»»
… while it appears that the activity alleged in the complaint whereby Media Sentry’s action to detect and locate Internet users who may be downloading music requires a licence under the Private Investigators Licensure Act, there is insufficient evidence collected in the investigation that proves that Media Sentry was paid for such services.
This February, p2pnet ran a letter from Randy Kruger, the father of Brittany Kruger, a Michigan student falsely accused by Vivendi Universal, EMI, Warner Music and Sony Music’s RIAA of being an illegal online distributor of copyrighted music.
“Dear RIAA,” said Brittany, explaining exactly what it’s like, “to be an American student hounded by the Big 4 labels,” we said, going on, “Because, say Mitch Bainwol, Cary Sherman, Cara Duckworth, Jonathan Lamy and all the other good people at the unAmerican (literally) Big 4’s RIAA, say Brittany has shared with other people. And that, they say, just cannot be allowed.”
“My name is Brittany Kruger,” eh said.
“I’m not a criminal. I’m not a tough person. I cry almost every night these days, and I’m scared to death of what is going to happen to me in the future.”
As with all too many RIAA cases, ‘evidence’ supplied by MediaSentry was used in RIAA efforts to paint Brittany as a criminal and thief, when no crime was committed and nothing was stolen.
MediaSentry was said to have been operating in Michigan, as well as elsewhere in the US, without appropriate authorisation and Brittany’s father, Randy, demanded Michigan launch an investigation.
MediaSentry’s practices and methods have been questioned repeatedly and successfully by experts. When it was dumped by the RIAA, it was sold to a rival company for a pittance. But it’s still being presented by the RIAA as a credible source of data and information.
Now, says the Michigan department of energy, labour and economic growth, “while it appears that the activity alleged in the complaint whereby Media Sentry’s action to detect and locate Internet users who may be downloading music requires a licence under the Private Investigators Licensure Act, there is insufficient evidence collected in the investigation that proves that Media Sentry was paid for such services. The investigation has not established all of the elements to prove a violation.
However, it says, “the complaint may be reopened if the department receives additional information and/or evidence that would support continued investigation”.
Stay tuned.
Jon Newton – p2pnet
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win ~ Mahatma Gandhi
July, 2009
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July 16th, 2009 at 10:50 am
Can someone over in Michigan lend the Department of Energy, Labour and Economic Growth a long stick with which to lift the stones under which they will find the RIAA lurking with all the evidence they need of MediaSenty’s payment for its ’services’. Can they really believe that they did it pro bono!
Dave
July 16th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Christ corruption runs deep. One way or another they are always somehow just able to get away with it.
July 16th, 2009 at 11:08 am
*there is insufficient evidence collected in the investigation that proves that Media Sentry was paid for such services*
Are they fucking serious?
July 16th, 2009 at 11:56 am
@ Michigan Mona
They’re serious. And we see the same kind of nauseating, mind-bending stuff happening routinely with the RIAA.
And no one in the administration gives a damn.
Cheers!
July 16th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
So, I’m to understand that in Michigan I can spy on whomever I wish, gather as much information I want
without license or restraint, as long as no one has PAID me to do it ?
I wonder if they even bother listening to themselves when they say stupid ass shit like this.
July 16th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
@Dreddsnik
The government and the cartels are really taking the piss with these actions and statements and they know it.
Nauseating indeed, as Jon said.
July 16th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Oh cool, perhaps I can ask Mediasentry to do research for me, free of charge. I suspect I know what the answer will be.
Of course they were flipping paid, Michigan department of energy, labour and economic growth must be on drugs, or bought off.
July 16th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
This is ludicrous. I’m so sick and tired of these people having free rein to do whatever they want just because they’re big. Is there a single branch of my government that listens to the people? Apparently not. It’s time for US voters to stop voting on party lines and really look at what these people stand for.
July 16th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
“Is there a single branch of my government that listens to the people?”
Nope. Not there, here or anywhere.
But their day cometh. And fast. Thanks to the net.
Cheers!
July 16th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
@ SteelWolfe,
Our government is so deep in the shit, that the only way I see we will ever fix it is to dump every single career polititians dumb ass out of office. Then elect people who dont want to be politicians, and get them to run the
country for us. Our system is fataly ill, and i see no hope of recovery otherwise!
stw
July 16th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
I thought the whole point of an investigation is to gather evidence and, for a department like this, to render a decision. How is a member of the public supposed to gather the kind of evidence they seem to need without appropriate subpoena power?
It sounds like someone got to them.
July 16th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
I remember that the RIAA claimed the payment details and the contracts with MediaSentry are this super special secret stuff already back many moons in LINDOR.
If I remember correctly they produced the evidence that DLEG allegedly does not have/know off that Media Sentry was indeed payed by RIAA back then in camera to the judge(s) Trager and/or Levy in New Yourk City.
Someone can give the DLEG guys the phone numbers of those 2 judges/their clerks so they can ask them for “judicial help” to fax the DLEG guys the evidence of payments?!
July 17th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Oh… MediaSentry did it for free? Wow, what a bunch of amateurs then… Now I understand why their proves are so bad as they are, and Why RIAA have fired. Hey wait a minute, if RIAA have fired them, there must be a kind of contract somewhere?? Im confused…
July 19th, 2009 at 2:38 am
“Mitch Bainwol, Cary Sherman, Cara Duckworth, Jonathan Lamy”
Targets! To try my new toy! Yami!
July 19th, 2009 at 2:46 am
corrupted judge, Corupted judge, corrupted judge, Corupted judge, corrupted judge, Corrupted judge.
So now ther is no law. Good!
Now we can do whatever we want.
Yepee!