Piracy FAQ

1. What is software "piracy?" Why is it considered a crime?
2. Who can be held liable for piracy? What are the penalties?
3. What does piracy cost?
4. Why is PTC working so hard to stop piracy?
5. Why is it so important to report piracy?
6. What do I do if I suspect someone of piracy?
7. After I report the case of piracy, then what happens? Will I have to be involved further?
8. My friend gave me some software to copy onto my computer, and now I realize I'm guilty of piracy. What do I do?
9. A lot of companies use resellers and third party distribution channels. How can I tell if a vendor has the legitimate right to sell another company's software?

What is software "piracy?" Why is it considered a crime?
Software "piracy" is the unauthorized possession and/or use of software. It may take many forms, including:

• unauthorized copying of software programs purchased legitimately, sometimes known as "end-user" piracy
• gaining illegal access to protected software, also known as "cracking"
• reproducing and/or distributing counterfeit or otherwise unauthorized software, often over the Internet

Because a software pirate does not have proper permission from the software owner to take or use the software in question, piracy is the equivalent of theft and, therefore, a crime.

Who can be held liable for piracy? What are the penalties?
Anyone who possesses or uses pirated software is potentially liable for piracy. This includes not only the sophisticated commercial counterfeiter, but also an individual user of a single pirated program. Currently, U.S. law provides for civil penalties of up to $150,000 for willful infringement of a software owner's copyright.

What does piracy cost?
Software piracy adds to the costs of doing business for software companies. Piracy costs billions of dollars in lost productivity and drains enormous resources away from research & development. A 1999 study reported that piracy costs over 100,000 jobs in the U.S. alone. In addition, pirated software lacks any warranty coverage, and users cannot obtain technical support.

Why is PTC working so hard to stop piracy?
Ultimately, we are all affected when piracy impacts the pace of innovation and the price of software on the market. More importantly, piracy of PTC software unfairly affects PTC's honest customers who compete against those who have illegally obtained access to PTC products.

Why is it so important to report piracy?
Although PTC has an anti-piracy team dedicated to discovering and stopping piracy of PTC software products, PTC also makes use of information provided by outside sources to track down piracy. Individuals who report piracy to PTC are a vital part of this effort, and the information provided helps PTC investigate and thwart illegal activity.

What do I do if I suspect someone of piracy?
If you suspect that piracy is occurring, whether it be a friend, an employer, a web site offering counterfeit software, or otherwise, you should report your suspicions to PTC in confidence.

After I report the case of piracy, then what happens? Will I have to be involved further?
The information you provide will be analyzed by PTC's anti-piracy team, which includes legal, technical, and other representatives around the world. The ultimate result in a case may take many forms, including a warning ("cease and desist") letter, direct removal of offending material (as in the case of a web site offering counterfeit software products), civil enforcement proceedings, or referral to law enforcement authorities. Depending on the nature of the case, PTC may ask and may find it helpful to have your continued cooperation in resolving the issue.

My friend gave me some software to copy onto my computer, and now I realize I'm guilty of piracy. What do I do?
If you believe you have inadvertently been involved in the piracy of PTC software, you should nevertheless report the circumstances and obtain a valid license from PTC. Generally, it is not PTC's policy to punish minor or unintentional piracy when the user takes appropriate steps to legalize the use.

A lot of companies use resellers and third party distribution channels. How can I tell if a vendor has the legitimate right to sell another company's software?
A comprehensive explanation of PTC's authorized distribution network may be found at PTC's Channel Partner Program site.

PTC is constantly adding new resellers and other channel partners, so you should contact PTC if you have any doubt as to the legitimacy of any particular vendor.