Website www.cegtek.com Founded 2009 | Type of business Private | |
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Key people Jon Nicolini (CTO)Kyle Reed (COO) Services Copyright infringement detection and remediation | ||
CEG TEK International (formerly Copyright Enforcement Group) is a Los Angeles-based copyright monetization firm. The company also conducts and releases studies about unauthorized distribution of motion pictures, music, and other forms of digital media.
CEG TEK International primarily represents motion picture studios, including Nu Image and Millennium Films, and protects their digital content online. The company monitors P2P file sharing. Electronic notices are sent to Internet Service Providers and their customers, which offer a release of liability in exchange for a settlement amount. CEG TEK International claims users who pay for their infringement are less likely to share illegal content in future.
Controversy
It has been claimed that CEG TEK's activities can be classified as copyright trolling. Some claim that CEG TEK abuses the system by which DMCA copyright infringement letters are distributed by internet service providers. Opponents to CEG TEK's practices claim that these letters are more than notification letters but are instead designed to intimidate and extort money from internet users regardless of their actual activities online. Proponents of this claim believe this is done in order to generate profit for CEG TEK and their clients. Those who question the business practices of CEG TEK often note that they have not opened any Federal copyright infringement cases. Some internet users also claim that CEG TEK targets individuals with additional letters demanding further settlement demands once funds are initially paid.