This is confusing me. CEG-TEK has not been active since last summer.
As I wrote in December, CEG-TEK started to change the internal makeup of their company, and they changed the clients they were taking to more ‘mainstream’ movie clients. …But then they went *SILENT*.
[In passing, I want to note that CEG-TEK had a shake-up as well over the summer. They were changing their business model from sending DMCA notices and soliciting small $300 settlements for copyright infringement claims for just a few titles to sending notices only to “more egregious downloaders” which in turn would increase the per-person settlement amount paid to CEG-TEK on behalf of their clients. They also appear to have been changing their client base by transitioning away from little porn companies to more well-known copyright trolls (e.g., Millennium Films, LHF Productions, etc.) — copyright holders who threatened to sue downloaders (and in at least one circumstance did sue at least one client of mine in federal court.) The point is that they were changing their image from being a company who’s clients didn’t sue to a company who’s clients do sue…] – Excerpt from the “CEG-TEK and Lipscomb – Star Crossed Lovers” article, 12/21/16.
CEG-TEK has been silent since the Girls Gone Wild fiasco in July, 2016, where their once-flawless DMCA machine started sending hundreds of duplicate notices to the same internet users. At the time, I joked that ‘perhaps they were being so effective at stopping piracy that they were probably putting themselves out of business’.
Then the following month, I noticed an across-the-board drop in activity from CEG-TEK. As far as I knew, they even stopped sending DMCA letters to accused internet users through their ISPs. I noted the defeat of a once-great foe, and even wrote a cautionary article revealing my observed changes in the “Unintended Consequences of Winning the Bittorrent Piracy War” article.
Since August, 2016… silence. September… silence. October… silence. November… silence. December… silence. January… silence. February… silence. March… some activity.
In the past few days, I’ve noticed a significant ‘uptick’ in visits to the CEG-TEK articles. I don’t even watch the keywords enough to notice the little changes, but this one looked significant. That’s enough to pique my interest and ask you, the reader, whether CEG-TEK has risen from the dead.
Please do share if you have received a DMCA notice of copyright infringement from Ira Siegel, from CEG-TEK (a.k.a. “Copyright Enforcement Group”), or some new attorney affiliated with their cause.
What could CEG-TEK be up to?
To me, this uptick means one of two things: 1) They started sending DMCA settlement demand notices out again, or 2) CEG-TEK is considering taking on a new partner (something I was gravely concerned about early last year). When the opportunity passed and I learned from CEG-TEK shared that they would not pursue this option, I wrote the “CEG-TEK and Lipscomb – Star Crossed Lovers” article to share the disaster that could have happened if someone like Lipscomb took over CEG-TEK’s DMCA notification system and “copyrightsettlements.com” website.
The confusing part is that their “copyrightsettlements.com” website forwards back to http://www.cegtek.com, which for the moment has been taken down and only shows the following notice:
Settlement opportunity services are currently not provided through CEG TEK.
So, what is going on with CEG-TEK?
-Rob
— CONTACT FORM: If you have a question or comment about what I have written, and you want to keep it *for my eyes only*, please feel free to use the form below. The information you post will be e-mailed to me, and I will be happy to respond.
NOTE: No attorney client relationship is established by sending this form, and while the attorney-client privilege (which keeps everything that you share confidential and private) attaches immediately when you contact me, I do not become your attorney until we sign a contract together. That being said, please do not state anything “incriminating” about your case when using this form, or more practically, in any e-mail.
I believe it is the duty of the copyright holders to “police their own copyrights,” meaning, if a company sees a file sharing tracker or website hosting an unlicensed copy of their copyrighted work, BY ALL MEANS, issue a DMCA takedown notice to the website or to the file sharing tracker, and that torrent will be GONE AND UNAVAILABLE for downloaders to take the content.
[2017 UPDATE: Carl Crowell has created a new entity called RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT which has reverse-engineered CEG-TEK’s proprietary DMCA copyright infringement notice system. Many of you have visited CEG-TEK links thinking that RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT was CEG-TEK, but really they are an ‘evil twin’ competitor. Since the two entities operate almost the same way, and since Crowell has solicited (and likely taken) most of the clients on this list, this article is relevant.]
2016 UPDATE: I wrote this article in June, 2014. Immediately afterwards, a number of the companies changed their names which confused the issue of who was a copyright troll suing defendants, and who was not a copyright troll. It is now almost two years later, and while I usually do not update older posts, since this article does still come up from time to time, I am updated a few of the copyright holders’ names. -RZC
Rather than doing this, copyright holders hire CEG-TEK to target EVERY SINGLE DOWNLOADER with a letter forwarded by various ISPs, privacy providers, or university IT departments who are cooperating with CEG-TEK (sometimes for profit). Account holders receive “notice of infringement” letters sent directly to them either via an e-mail, FedEx, or a screen pop-up link along with a notification that they have violated the ISP’s terms of service. CEG-TEK’s letters now ask for $250-$300 per download, and they direct the accused downloaders to the “Copyright Settlements” website (http://www.copyrightsettlements.com) with a link which pre-populates the assigned Case Number and Password into the website.
With the cooperation of the ISPs in forwarding CEG-TEK’s letters to accused downloaders, there is no longer an anonymity barrier between the accused downloaders and the copyright holders as there once was when CEG-TEK would need a court order to access the identities of the accused downloaders. Now, since various ISPs and universities (e.g., Charter, Suddenlink, CenturyLink, Giganews, etc.; NOTE: Comcast, Verizon, and the other big ISPs appear NOT to be working with CEG-TEK for the moment) have been useless in stopping the copyright holders from contacting the account holders, other than hiring a lawyer such as myself to create a buffer between the copyright holders and the accused account holders, internet users should probably be aware of which companies are using this extortion tactic of “we will sue you unless you pay us money for the video you have downloaded.”
Here is a list I compiled from my own records as to which copyright holders are [at the moment] using Ira Siegel and CEG-TEK to “monetize” their “most pirated” copyrights. I want to point out that I am conflicted as to whether to post this list because the list itself can be deceiving — a title “not” on this list can still be monitored, and by no means am I suggesting that someone avoid these titles and download others. Perhaps by listing which companies are enforcing their copyrights using this extortion-type of “settle or else we’ll sue” method, it might shame the companies into doing something a bit more ethical (e.g., by policing their own copyrights and issuing DMCA takedown letters rather than attacking the downloaders as a means for financial revenue):
Axel Braun Productions – “Batman XXX: A Porn Parody”
Celestial Inc., DBA Lethal Hardcore – Fuck My Mom and Me 17
Cinderella Distributors Inc. – Backdoor To Hollywood 6
Coast to Coast Video – Older Women Younger Men 16
Combat Zone Inc. – Daddy’s Little Princess #2
Daring Media Group – Pretty Woman
Diabolic – Swallowing is Good For You
Digital Sin, Inc. – All About Ashlynn 1 – Incestuous – Little Darlings – My Anal School Girl – My Plaything Ashlynn Brooke – Perfect Little Pussy – The Family That Lays Together – The Innocence Of Youth #3, #5, #6 – This Is My First… A Gangbang Movie
Echo Alpha, Inc. DBA Evil Angel – Fetish Fanatic 12 – Fetish Fuck Dolls 3 – Raw 16 – Rocco’s Perfect Slaves 3 – Rocco’s Young Anal Adventures
Fallout Films – Naughty Girls 2
Froytal Services Limited DBA Babes (now known as “MG Premium Ltd.”) – Abrasador – Amatores – Dancing With Myself – Hearts Racing – Love Encounter – Raving With Pleasure
Froytal Services Limited DBA Brazzers (now known as “MG Premium Ltd.”) – Dani’s Back and Ready to Play – Driving Mrs. Madison Wild – I Can Walk!!! – Miss Titness America – Mommy Got Boobs 15 – Sharing My Roommate’s Cock (Milfs Like It Big) – Slutty Sorority Contest – Teens Like It Big 12 – The Dangers of Working From Home (Kiki Minaj)
Froytal Services Limited DBA Mofos (now known as “MG Premium Ltd.”) – Best Vacation Ever! (Ivy Laine) – Cheerleader Fantasy – Flashing Gets Her Whatever She Wants – Fun And Sex Games – I Make It Rain On Your Tits (I Know That Girl; Dillon Harper) – Jewels for the Duch-ASS – Rub a Dub Gimme a Tug – Swinging Slut Buffet
Froytal Services Limited DBA Twistys (now known as “MG Premium Ltd.”) – Burnin’ Luv – Cum Over And Taste..
GGW Direct, LLC DBA “Girls Gone Wild” – ALL NEW COLLEGE GIRLS EXPOSED VOL 1 – ALL NEW COLLEGE GIRLS EXPOSED VOL 2 – ALL NEW COLLEGE GIRLS EXPOSED VOL 3 – ALL NEW COLLEGE GIRLS EXPOSED VOL 4 – ALL NEW COLLEGE GIRLS EXPOSED VOL 5 – ALL NEW COLLEGE GIRLS EXPOSED VOL 6 – Baby Bash Live & Uncensored – Bad Girls 2 – BEACH BABES 3 – BEHIND CLOSED DOORS – Best Breasts Ever – BEST BREASTS EVER 2 – Best of Blondes 2 – Celebrity Look-A-Likes – CO-ED TRYOUTS – CO-ED TRYOUTS 2 – CO-ED TRYOUTS 3 – DADDY’S LITTLE GIRLS – Endless Spring Break 3 – Endless Spring Break 4 – Endless Spring Break 5 – Endless Spring Break 6 – Endless Spring Break 7 – Endless Spring Break 9 – Endless Spring Break 10 – Endless Spring Break 11 – Endless Spring Break 12 – Endless Spring Break 13 – Endless Spring Break 14 – EXTREME ORGY 1 – EXTREME ORGY 2 – EXTREME ORGY 3 – FIRST TIMERS – FIRST TIMERS 2 – Freshman Class – FRESHMAN ORIENTATION 1 – FRESHMAN ORIENTATION 2 – FRESHMAN ORIENTATION 3 – FRESHMAN ORIENTATION 4 – GGW – Extreme Sex – GGW – On Tour 1 – GGW – On Tour 2 – GGW – On Tour 3 – GGW – On Tour 4 – GGW – On Tour 5 – GGW – On Tour 6 – GGW – On Tour 7 – GGW – On Tour 8 – GGW – Sweet Young Sex Maniacs – GIRL POWER – GIRL POWER 2 – GIRL POWER 3 – GIRL POWER 4 – GIRL POWER 5 – GIRL POWER 6 – GIRL POWER 7 – GIRL POWER 8 – GIRL POWER 8 – GIRL POWER 9 – Girls On Girls – GIRLS WHO CRAVE SEX – GIRLS WHO CRAVE SEX 3 – Girls Who Like Girls – GIRLS WHO LIKE TOYS – Horny Cheerleaders – HORNY SCHOOL GIRLS – HORNY SCHOOL GIRLS 2 – HORNY SCHOOL GIRLS 3 (PRIVATE TAPES) – HORNY SCHOOL GIRLS 4 – Hottest Texas Coeds – ISLAND ORGY – MARDI GRAS INVASION – My 18th Birthday – Road Trip – ROCKS AMERICA – Sex Race – SEX STARVED COLLEGE GIRLS 2 – SEX STARVED COLLEGE GIRLS 3 – SEX STARVED COLLEGE GIRLS 4 – SEX STARVED COLLEGE GIRLS 5 – SEX STARVED COLLEGE GIRLS 6 – SEX STARVED COLLEGE GIRLS 7 – SEX STARVED PANTY RAID – Sexiest Moments Ever – Sexiest Moments Ever 2 – SORORITY GIRL ORGY – SORORITY GIRL ORGY 2 – SORORITY GIRL ORGY 3 – SORORITY GIRL ORGY 4 – Spring Break 2007 – SPRING BREAK SEX RIOT – The Perfect Pair – THE SEIZED VIDEO – Ultimate Rush – Usually a siterip or a torrent containing 25+ titles. – Wild World – Wildest Bar in America
Giant Media Group, Inc. DBA Devil’s Film (they have changed this name more than once, but have kept the “Devil’s Film” trade name.) – Ass Full Of Cum 4 – Best Of Gangland Cream Pie – Cum On My Hairy Pussy 2 – Cum On My Hairy Pussy 16 – Don’t Tell My Wife I Buttfucked Her Best Friend – Gangland 70 – Gangland 85 – Gangland Cream Pie 24 – Gangland Cream Pie 25 – Gangland Cream Pie 26 – Gangland Cream Pie 27 – Gangland Cream Pie 28 – I Wanna Buttfuck Your Daughter 10 – My Wife Caught Me Assfucking Her Mother – My Wife Caught Me Assfucking Her Mother 2 – My Wife Caught Me Assfucking Her Mother 5
Girlfriends Films Inc. – I Dream of Jo 4 True Passion – Mother Daughter Exchange Club 27 – Poor Little Shyla 2 – Tides of Lust – Lesbian First Timers – Lesbian Seductions 46
Intense Industries – Fucking Your Socks Off
JM Productions Inc. – Suck Off Races 3
JW Releasing Ltd – Kinky Business
Kick Ass Pictures Inc. – Foot Fetish Daily 9
LFP Internet Group, LLC DBA Hustler – Barely Legal 2 – Barely Legal 16 – Barely Legal 19 – Barely Legal 84 – Barely Legal 100 – Barely Legal 127 – Barely Legal 128 – Barely Legal 131 – Barely Legal 134 – Barely Legal 138 – Barely Legal 139 – Barely Legal 140 – Barely Legal Little Runaways – Barely Legal: All Stars 5 – New Wave Hookers – The Opening of Misty Beethoven – This Ain’t Game of Thrones
Manwin Content RK Limited DBA Reality Kings (now known as “MG Content RK Limited”) – 2 For 1 Pink – A Lavish Load – Belle Bottom – Bouncing Deluca (Big Naturals; Angel Deluca) – Cum Hard – Dirty Minds – Full Figure (Monster Curves; Katie Banks) – Getting Hardy – Girlfriends Revenge (GF Revenge 6) – Hello Alexis – Leather and Lace – Licking Lessons – Jasmine Wolff (Moms Bang Teens 2013-12-30) – Naughty Kennedy – Kennedy Leigh (Moms Bang Teens 2014-01-20) – Pussy Love (Money Talks – Esmi & Lily) – Riding Riley – Ripping Through – Sexy All Star – Sexy Stella – Sweet Veronica – Tits and Hips – Ass In Heels – Angell Summers (EuroSexParties 2013-05-30) – Busty Bikini Babes 1 – Finger Licking Good – Lick It
Manwin DP Corp. DBA Digital Playground – Bad Girls 5 – Bad Girls 6 – Bridesmaids – Code of Honor – Don’t Fuck My Sister – For Sale – Island Fever 2 – Island Fever 3 – Jack Attack 4 – Jack’s POV 2 – Jack’s POV 3 – Jack’s POV 5 – Jack’s POV 7 – Jack’s POV 8 – Jack’s POV 10 – Jack’s POV 12 – Jack’s POV 15 – JACK’S POV 19 – Jesse Jane Fuck Fantasy – Jesse Jane Kiss Kiss – Lost and Found – Nurses – Pink Slip – Pirates – Raven Alexis The Substitute – Riley Steele Deceptions – Riley Steele Satisfaction – The Girlfriend Exchange – Titlicious 2 – Top Guns – unSEXpected – Web Whore – WHEN DADDY’S AWAY
Marc Dorcel – Cathy 40 (Cheating Housewife) – WIFE NEXT DOOR
Marc Dorcel DBA SBO Pictures, Inc. – Orgy Anthology
SBO Pictures DBA Vouyer Media – Jack In Me POV 2
SBO Pictures DBA Wicked Pictures – Daddy Did The Babysitter – I Was a Mail Order Bride – Octomom: Home Alone – Selfies – Spacenuts – Teen Ravers
New Sensations Inc. – Almost Heaven – Anal Sex Secrets – Ashlynn Brooke Is Sexy – Big Bang Theory A XXX Parody – Big Girls Are Sexy #3 – Double D Vixens – Friends A Xxx Parody – I Can’t Believe I’m Doing This (Zeina Heart) – I Love Asians 11 – I Love Asians 5 – Redheads Are Sexy #5 – Sexy Student Bodies` – WKRP in Cincinnati: A XXX Parody – Young Girls With Big Tits 10
Patrick Collins Inc., DBA Elegant Angel – Alexis Texas Is Buttwoman – Big Wet Asses #3 – Big Wet Asses #6 – Big Wet Asses #7 – Big Wet Asses 16 – Cuties 4 – It’s A Daddy Thing! – It’s A Secretary Thing! – It’s A Secretary Thing! 2 – Massive Facials 5 – Performers Of The Year 2014 – Real Female Orgasms 10 – The A Line – The Bombshells 5 – The Greatest Squirters Ever! 4
Pleasure Productions Inc. – Wild Honey 2 (Tera Patrick)
RLD Distribution LLC – Girls Of Red Light District – Sasha Grey – I Bang Teens (Megan Salinas) – White Dicks Black Chicks
Second Phase Distribution Inc. – Big Butt All Stars – Crystal Clear – Mama Turned Me Out 3 – Mama Turned Me Out 4 – Mama Turned Me Out 5 – Pigtail Virgins
Third Degree Films, Inc. – Big Boob Orgy 2 – Curve Appeal – Illegal Ass 2 – Laid In Lingerie 2 – Laid in Lingerie 3 – Spunk’d 7 – Spunk’d 8 – Top Ten 2
Vivid Entertainment LLC – Farrah 2 Backdoor and More – Farrah Superstar: Backdoor Teen Mom – Kim Kardashian Superstar – Raven Alexis Unleashed – Raylene’s Dirty Work – Tera, Tera, Tera (Tera Patrick) – Tila Tequila Backdoored and Squirting – Tristan Taormino’s Expert Guide to the G-Spot
White Ghetto Films Inc. – Group Sex Junkies
Zero Tolerance Entertainment – Dr. Ava’s Guide to Sensual BDSM For Couples – Is Your Mother Home?
Now obviously you will notice a common theme along each of these copyright holders, and that is the “genre” of content they all produce. You will also notice that in this list there are “copyright trolls,” (meaning, companies who in the past have used or use the federal courts to sue individual downloaders for copyright infringement) and there are “not” copyright trolls (meaning, companies who have NOT sued defendants for copyright infringement). You can see which are copyright trolls by either searching the web for their name, or doing a search on http://www.rfcexpress.com to see whether they have sued in federal court.
A few things to note.
1) Many of the larger companies have multiple websites, and do business as multiple entities. For example, Froytal Services Ltd. “does business as” (“DBA”) Mofos and Brazzers (corresponding to their Mofos.com and Brazzers.com websites).
2) Many copyright holders are OLDER COMPANIES and FAMILY OPERATED BUSINESSES. This means that it is common to have former porn companies hire CEG TEK to track and send letters for “vintage” films from the 1970’s and 1980’s. The copyrights for these films ARE STILL IN EFFECT, and the former owners of those companies are now elder individuals who are now enforcing their copyrights from FORTY YEARS AGO. On the flip side, many older couples have been caught downloading a film from their youth thinking that since the titles were so old, it was probably legal to do so.
In sum, all I ask of everyone is to understand that the file sharing networks are no longer safe, and when you download something, assume someone else is watching you. And, be aware that there are companies out there like Copyright Enforcement Group (CEG-TEK Int’l) who are waiting to send you a settlement demand letter.
— CONTACT FORM: If you have a question or comment about what I have written, and you want to keep it *for my eyes only*, please feel free to use the form below. The information you post will be e-mailed to me, and I will be happy to respond.
NOTE: No attorney client relationship is established by sending this form, and while the attorney-client privilege (which keeps everything that you share confidential and private) attaches immediately when you contact me, I do not become your attorney until we sign a contract together. That being said, please do not state anything “incriminating” about your case when using this form, or more practically, in any e-mail.
