I can tell you how the bulk purchase works.
1. Company buys all digitized copies in counties possesion under FOIA
2. Copies sent imediately to India or other locations for indexing
3. Foreign Agency keeps copy of images
4. FA sells additional copies in bulk to more FA's, dataminers, and aggregators.

One company that was recently discussed here on SOT circumvents the India connection by simply telling his clients to look up the documents at the county site and then order the copies they need from him. It works especially well in Counties that require a subscription. 

Here is another example of a company  uying Virginia records in bulk. This time from Florida. This is from RedVision's site.

Arlington	Planned Development
Fairfax	Planned Development
Loudoun	Planned Development
Prince William	Planned Development

This is the same company that bought twenty two million records from Fort Bend County for $2000. I tracked them through the process on that one. The "Planned Development" means that they have probably already sent the FOIA demand letter. They will show these VA counties as "Live" as soon as they are indexed. I'm not sure where RedVision has their indexing done. Sometimes these companies are also able to buy the indexes by exploiting FOIA.

If you want to find out who your counties are selling all digital records, make a FOIA request of your own for all receits of bulk sales. Expect to see a look of fear and shock on the clerk's face. They don't like the locals knowing they have been forced to do this for many years and have done nothing to resist. Except, of course, the counties in Michigan that fought back and won throughout their state and appelate courts and finally in Federal Court. I think Cook County Illinois is also fighting back right now against First Indian, er ah . . .  I mean First America. The demand in that case is for free delivery of all digital records in bulk at no charge. to post a reply: login - or - register