Be Your Own Private Eye

Piracy is big business. Unfortunately, it is also illegal. It costs governments and legitimate businesses billions of dollars a year in resources and lost revenue. For private investigation professionals, the anti-piracy efforts may just be their biggest and most challenging case yet. With evolving laws and regulations that are imposed to protect against illegal smuggling, counterfeiting and copyright infringement, governments and businesses, along with private investigators, hope to strengthen anti-piracy movements worldwide.

The advent of technologies that allow for virtually unlimited file sharing and production of counterfeit goods has also led to concerns regarding the proliferation of fake and pirated materials. Piracy is simply a problem that’s too difficult to contain, especially not without proper training of authorities involved and more stringent laws and regulations that private investigators can use.

The role of private investigators against piracy
Private investigators contribute significantly to the anti-piracy movement. In the U.S., the U.K. and many countries around the globe, the responsibility of imposing anti-piracy laws are placed on private investigators. As such, these detectives are trained and authorized to conduct checks, investigations and research regarding activities and persons that may be involved in piracy.

Private investigators, for example, are often tasked to ensure that newly released films are protected and any illegal recordings and copies that may be produced are avoided. In the music industry, the services of private investigators are also actively tapped in order to prevent the production and distribution of pirated music. They are also often hired to conduct searches and analyses of computer content in case software piracy or illegal file sharing are suspected.

Battling piracy
Probably the best way for private investigators to actually put a dent (and eventually a stop) to the piracy problem is to obtain sufficient legal support. True, the protocol to impose anti-piracy measures have been in place for several years but more clear-cut regulations have to be developed. The fight against piracy may also be supported worldwide, with laws and regulations that are more or less uniform.

Right now, most of the cases filed that are related to anti-piracy efforts are not criminal cases but civil cases. Generally in civil cases, unless a complainant appears, there is no case. This can be a problem for authorities trying to impose anti-piracy measures.

Furthermore, private investigation professionals need to have the right training in order to become stronger anti-piracy authorities. If P.I.s are knowledgeable in computers, computer forensics, copyright laws and more sophisticated techniques and applications, they would be better equipped to investigate piracy cases more competently.

image credits to julianrod

Sometimes, there are just certain situations in our lives when we wish we can do some good sleuthing on our own. Below are just SOME of the ways you may consider becoming your own private investigator.

1. To check if your ‘gut feeling’ that your spouse is cheating on you is correct.
2. To check if a family member or friend is involved in illegal substances (drugs).
3. To try and successfully find a long-lost friend or relative.
4. To conduct ‘background checks’ of your own on dubious neighbor, potential employee, and possible business associates.
5. To increase your OWN privacy.

ByOPE.com will help you in all of these and more via our helpful tips regarding the skills and mindset you need to become your own PI.

Good luck!