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Is RIAA's MediaSentry Illegal in Your State?

Posted by Zonk on from the only-you-can-prevent-mediasentry dept.

NewYorkCountryLawyer writes "Is Warner Music, EMI, Vivendi Universal and Sony BMG 'investigator' MediaSentry operating illegally in your state?. The Massachusetts State police has already banned the company, and it's been accused of operating without a license in Oregon, Florida, Texas, and New York. Similar charges have now been leveled the organization in Michigan. Michigan's Department of Labor and Economic Growth, in response to a complaint, has confirmed that MediaSentry is not licensed in Michigan, and referred the complainant to the local prosecutor."

6 of 200 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Freedom by plague3106 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So anyone should be able to walk off the street and present evidence in a court case while claiming they are an expert at gathering said evidence?

  2. Americans and their rights. by muxecoid · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Big corporations think that people are too afraid to seek justice even if law is not on the firm's side. Awareness and cheaper legal services for citizen would help. Corporations surely do not want the customers to be aware of their rights.

  3. Re:Freedom by spun · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Why should someone need a license to investigate something? I have no love for the RIAA, but that law seems to be a much bigger threat to individual freedom than the RIAA itself. I'm curious, in your political philosophy, is there any activity that should be licensed? Should it be by government or private group? I accept the necessity of licensing driving, practicing medicine, general contracting,plumbing, electrical work, architecture, and many other professions, and I don't see any difference in licensing investigators. We want to make sure they are following best practices so no one gets hurt.
    --
    - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
  4. Re:Not banned in MA by NewYorkCountryLawyer · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Legally they've been told to "cease and desist". If they're violating the "cease and desist" letter, well that's a whole new crime, isn't it?

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    Ray Beckerman +5 Insightful
  5. Re:Freedom by Kierthos · · Score: 4, Insightful

    No. Because, you see, if it's illegal, and they break the law, they can be punished for it.

    If it's not illegal, but it's just shoddy work, they will continue to do whatever the RIAA requests with no real fear of legal ramifications.

    The RIAA is not required to hire good investigators, but they are required to operate by the same code of laws that we do. Which, in this case, means their investigators have to be legally certified to operate in the jurisdictions that they are investigating in.

    --
    Mr. Hu is not a ninja.
  6. Re:Freedom by TubeSteak · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I still don't understand why it should be illegal for them to investigate. You give good reasons why the results of their investigations should not be admitted into court, shouldn't that be enough? You want a really good reason why private investigators should be licensed?
    Here it is: A large part of private investigating involves stalking.

    Since private investigations are going to happen no matter what, it is good and proper to legalize and regulate the practice. This protects the PIs "hey officer, I'm just doing my job, I'm not stalking these people" and it protects the public from any wackjob who thinks he's the Steven Segal of investigating.

    Licensing the practice also allows you to force the investigators to be bonded aka insured.
    This is also a good thing.
    --
    [Fuck Beta]
    o0t!