Piracy

Reporting Software Piracy to iGrafx

If you know of or suspect an incident where iGrafx software is being used or distributed illegally, please contact iGrafx directly by e-mailing us at info@igrafx.com.

For those outside of North America, you can telephone the local Business Software Alliance Anti-Piracy hotlines in your area.

Types of Software Piracy

Internet Piracy

What are the risks involved in purchasing software online?

When you purchase software from auction sites or online businesses of which you are not familiar you risk the following:

1. Not receiving the product you thought you purchased and/or receiving illegal product. By not seeing the product before purchasing it, you risk the chance that it may not be legitimate product or that it may be unauthorized product that is being sold to you. We suggest you purchase iGrafx products from authorized resellers, and that you ask the seller for details about the product prior to purchasing from an auction site. If you are in doubt about whether the product that is being offered for sale is legitimate, you should contact the publisher. To contact iGrafx visit our Web site at www.igrafx.com.
2. Dishonest online vendors often disappear quickly and may start up another site under another name leaving it very difficult, if not impossible, to find them to obtain a refund.

What are some warning signs that the online vendor may be selling illegal or unauthorized software?

• The online vendor sells iGrafx product that is either unbundled OEM, NFR, CD Only or Academic product for which you are not qualified to purchase
• The online vendor claims it can sell the product very cheap because the publisher (ie. iGrafx) wants to get rid of excess inventory/liquidate, etc. Typically these vendors are selling the most current versions of iGrafx products. iGrafx would not normally be trying to rid itself of excess inventory of its latest (sometimes older) products. This is certainly true for any OEM, Academic, CD Only or NFR products which have restrictions on how they can be distributed
• Companies or individuals unwilling to verify their identity or full business name or provide a physical street address and telephone number
• Online vendors who do not have refund or warranty policies
• Online vendors that offer software products at prices and in packaging inconsistent with offerings of those products via legitimate distribution channels. If in doubt, contact iGrafx
• If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Remember: “buyer beware”
• Online vendors offering original equipment manufacturer (OEM) products stand-alone without being bundled and sold with the original hardware. Buying an OEM product separately from original hardware is illegal
• You should also be careful about those sites that offer bundled software or compilation CD’s containing numerous copies of popular programs. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Be sure to contact the publisher to determine if such a product is authorized for distribution

What can I do if I’ve purchased iGrafx products via an Internet Auction site and when I receive the product in the mail it says OEM/Academic/NFR/CD Only or it appears to be counterfeit?

• Contact the vendor and demand a refund.
• Contact the online auction site from which you purchased the product and file a complaint. Typically, if the auction site is aware of vendors who are taking advantage of innocent buyers, the site may prevent that vendor from selling its products on that auction site in the future.
• Some auction sites allow you the option to place comments about a particular vendor so other potential buyers can be forewarned if a vendor is selling unauthorized product.
• Contact consumer organizations, like the Better Business Bureau to file complaints about a business.
• Contact iGrafx at info@igrafx.com

Counterfeiting

What is counterfeit software?

Counterfeit software is illegally making copies of software onto recordable CD-ROMs and distributing them. Typically the counterfeiter will use iGrafx logos and trademarks to make the product look like legitimate iGrafx products. There are counterfeiters who use highly sophisticated and expensive technology to duplicate software so that it resembles genuine software products. However, counterfeiters sometimes simply copy the product on disks without any silkscreen, sometimes handwriting the name of the product right on the disk and placing the disk in a plastic jewel case without any retail packaging.

End User Piracy

What is end user piracy?

End user piracy is copying software without obtaining a license.

For example:

• Companies that buy volume licenses but under-report the additional copies of the software which they have made
• Companies that provide their employees with access to software via a server, allowing those employees to download the software, but not monitoring the number of copies made
• Passing discs among friends or others allowing them to copy the product without obtaining a license to do so

While there are companies that are unaware they are using illegal copies of software, (either because they have poor or no software asset management programs in place), if they are caught underlicensed, they subject their company to potential lawsuits which are costly and which elicit negative publicity.

To help you effectively control the use of software within your organization as well as to protect yourself from business interruptions due to viruses, additional costs to fix the problem and possible legal action, check out the Business Software Alliance or the Software and Information Industry Association for information on software asset management and information tools.

Hard Disk Loading

What is Hard Disk Loading?

Hard Disk Loading occurs when unauthorized copies of software are loaded onto computers for sale. While there are iGrafx authorized manufacturers who have a valid agreement to pre-load software onto computers before selling, there are some distributors and resellers who do so illegally. Unfortunately, the customer is put at risk because they will not obtain valid legal licenses with their new computer.

Gray Market Piracy

Gray Market Piracy is the sale of software through unauthorized resellers/web sites at unusually low prices, thus undercutting our authorized/legitimate resellers. A Gray Market product is a legitimate iGrafx product that is either stolen or acquired through other unauthorized means. Gray Market Piracy can occur in several different forms:

• Academic (see below)
• NFR (see below)

Academic Products

What is an iGrafx Academic Product?

Product that is sold only to organizations/persons who meet academic eligibility requirements.

Who is eligible to purchase an iGrafx Academic Product?

Those eligible to purchase licenses for academic shrink-wrapped software products or any academic license programs include: accredited schools, faculties, and full or part-time matriculated students. For further details on eligibility, visit www.igrafx.com

NFR Products

What is NFR?

NFR means “Not for Resale” or “Not for Sale or Resale”. This type of product cannot be offered for sale for any reason. In addition, it is only to be distributed under limited conditions and typically only by the software publisher.

If this product is offered for sale, it is being offered in violation of the license terms and conditions accompanying the product. Distribution by the seller constitutes patent, trademark and copyright infringement.

What are the risks in purchasing or distributing illegal or unauthorized software?

• Increased potential for viruses. By using illegal software you run the risk of introducing viruses to your computer or network which can result in loss of valuable productivity time; frustrated employees; costs to rectify the problem; having your or your company’s reputation tarnished;
• Lack of technical support;
• Not being qualified to receive upgrades or take advantage of upgrade offers;
• Key elements of the iGrafx product may be missing, including software code or manuals;
• No warranty protection;
• Increase in costs to consumers. When software products are pirated, publishers and manufacturers lose money. In order to stay in business, they must pass the cost on to consumers. Unfortunately, innocent consumers end up paying higher prices because the pirates took advantage of them. In addition, honest distributors and resellers are harmed.
• Being placed at risk of having a software product for which you do not have a valid license;
• You would be engaging in illegal activity that could result in penalties, from fines to imprisonment. Many software companies and anti-piracy organizations are aggressively pursuing and prosecuting pirates