Solidworks/CJCH - copyright threat USA

[cmas]

If using VPN is it safe to assume they cant get location identifying IP and network details?

[unclebulgaria67]

Using VPN just makes it more difficult to identify IP and network.

 

Depends on how determined anyone is with carrying out tracing.

 

Advice must be to not take the risk of doing anything, without weighing up the potential cost.

[cmas]

Well lets say these ambulance chasers already have their claws on you.

Is it safe to assume they cant geo locate you if using vpn? 

What else may they have ... 

[dx100uk]

geo locate?

claws in you?

 

what part of ignore them totally ....does running or not a VPN change?

 

 

[cmas]

Yay DX!!! glad you showed up.

 

Lets say its a little more complicated when they open a case with your employer first.

 

Wish I had the option to take your advice as its surely what I would have done.

I am also US and yes i know this is UK forum

but you guys got the most threads for this. 

 

Thanks DX, i like your attitude, your my fav commenter here. 

 

So simple all the stuff they can do, lol

 

Why is US even better you think?

 

So here is my story in summary. Can use support/feedback

 

My story is a little more complicated then the other posters here.

Seems I may have logged into my email on a computer somewhere with an allegedly pirated copy. 

they get my work email from the registry and see the domain.

They then open a case with my company.

Long story short they close the case with my employer and open one for me.

 

Then a month later I get a a letter, and some emails. 

I ignored weeks passed,

they email a second letter with a 5 day response dead line stating they are ready to sue if not resolved immediately (have not seen it in physical mail yet), and emails from lawyers, license investigator, and phone call from law-firm.

 

I email the investigator to notify them that the mac address does not match any of my computers.

He then reply with an email from my company stating that I use solid-works for personal use. 

 

Then I emailed explaining that i thought I was being interviewed for a promotion and wanted to embellish my solid works experience. And that i have no money ...  

 

that was 6 days ago have not heard back since. 

 

Ugh so what do you think DX all BS?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[unclebulgaria67]

UK Courts and case precedents make process easier than in many countries including US. I should imagine issuing a Court claim and going through whole process in US would be pretty expensive.

 

You should not have emailed them explaining any use of their software.  If you have admitted using their software without having paid for it, then you may have given them evidence which is helpful to them, if they did issue a Court claim. They will have the data from some of your use of their software and now have your email explaining usage.

 

If your use of their software was limited to just trying it and you did not use it for any projects, then you can probably just do nothing, as they won't incur cost in suing you.  If, however, you used their software many times over a period including use in project work, then it is possible they have data showing this usage.

 

Wait to see how they reply to your email. 

[cmas]

no update still no letter ...

Edited September 9, 2020 by cmas

[cmas]

So in have heard back from them recently.

 

I know some pppl here have settled for a license. And i would like to know if you buy the license would i be able to resell it to my friend who wants a solid works license any way? Or is there some stipulation that it has to be used by you?

[unclebulgaria67]

Don't believe you can resell licence without permission of the company that sold the licence and set the conditions of the licence.

 

Yes normally stipulation is licence is only for use of purchaser.

[dx100uk]

no-one here has settled for anything

it's a money making scam.

 

ignore

nothing to be afraid of .

 

dx

 

[cmas]

DX i believe my situation is a bit different as it involves employer. I wish i could ignore but i think it is to late for that.

Spoke to lawyer today and he seems to think the attached complaint is similar enough To warrant a possible suit. 

And that I should settle or risk job loss. 

 

There are some differences like they have network info and company owner saying he had account when he diffident 

 

if i buy a license i have a friend who has agreed to pay me for it ... 

 

ExampleComplaint.pdf

Edited September 11, 2020 by cmas

[dx100uk]

i didn't quite realise by 'case' you meant a court case 

yes, you need to deal with it.

 

difference in the meaning of words in US/UK languages

 

dx

 

 

 

[cmas]

There has been no case filed as of yet if thats what your thinking

 

i read that if a company buys license and is acquired by others then ownership can be transferd that way

 

i do have an LLC handy that i never used

Edited September 11, 2020 by cmas

[dx100uk]

sorry didn't see the date of that example...19mts old.

 

i understand litigation is so much easier in your country

they wouldn't pull that stoke here .

 

thats a general catch-all claim, but to me it reads the company was knowingly using pirate software

your case is diff and your 'use' was solely personal , nothing to do with your employment but on a works PC?

 

 

[cmas]

Not on a works PC but allegedly logged into a PC with work email. They have not provided any IP that explicitly identifies me by my ISP. 

They contacted employer like 2 months ago using the domain name of this email scraped from system registry. 

 

My company also uses solidworks in other divisions which complicates things 

[dx100uk]

no but your employer has id'd you, and you have contacted them stating you were using the software.

 

if that were to happen in the UK
regardless of not specifically being able to trace the PC it was on because of a VPN, 

their claim IMHO would hold water.

[cmas]

So should i just get a quote form a reseller

 

[dx100uk]

24 minutes ago, cmas said:

My company also uses solidworks in other divisions which complicates things 

 

but not the same 'division' you are employed in?

 

i can only go by my UK experience

- we had several sites using AUTOCAD, we held one site licence under the company name registered at our head office that covered XXXX number of machines over all our sites , as long as we didn't exceed the number of 'machines' using the software at any one time anyone inc employees could run it even on pers PC's 

 

 

 

 

[cmas]

no my job has nothing  to do with solid-works nor does any of the employees that work at our office

 

I am getting a quote to buy a license with my LLC. then i can sell my LLC. to my friends LLC. transferring ownership legally

Edited September 12, 2020 by cmas

[dx100uk]

maybe not

but your company might hold a site licence that most probably covers you as a paid employee,

regardless to usage not being 'part of your job'

you are paid by xxx employer

xx employer holds a licence.

 

 

[cmas]

So how does that change anything?

[dx100uk]

so lets over view the actual situation here shall we....

 

you installed a piece of solidworks software on a personal PC because knowing the software would improve your chances of promotion within your employer because they use it and thats where you naturally want to go.  UP 

 

the well known fleecers , we call them ambulance chasers here, contacted your employer as a scan showed a 'link' to them for a unlicensed installation.

 

your employer gave them relevant information that sufficiently identified you as the culprit.

the fleecers then contacted you

you contacted them and to all intent confessed.

 

now in my old employment position (software and network manager ),  if an employee came to me with this problem i'd simply state they have permission under our licence to do so...bugger off.

 

[cmas]

I see but instead employer threw me under buss 

 

So do you think they would settle for a solid-works standard with out subscription for like 4k in quarterly payments for a year?

Edited September 12, 2020 by cmas

[dx100uk]

but p'haps the that person threw you under the bus without realisation.....

ask the right person to authorise your usage.

 

 

[unclebulgaria67]

That is definitely another solution.

 

Speak to your manager to see if they can include you on the licence they hold for the software. Explain that you are facing paying $4000 for the Solidworks usage, while you were trying to update skills.