Raids, litigation and expert testimony
When an organization refuses to settle, ITCA works with local counsel and the authorities to enforce the publisher’s rights. We prepare court-ready evidence, support searches on site, manage the litigation and explain the technical evidence to the court.
How it works
Evidence file
Every case file is built for court: sources, identification, correspondence and the licensing gap in one record.
Search orders and complaints
We prepare civil search orders and criminal complaints and support the search on site with counsel and police.
Court proceedings
Through local counsel we seek injunctions and damages, and our specialists give expert testimony.
Enforcing the judgment
We follow through: writs of seizure, contempt proceedings and claims in insolvency.
When it fits
Evidence may be destroyed
A search order or raid secures it before it disappears.
Large or deliberate infringement
Courts award damages at or above the license price, punitive damages and even prison terms.
Settlement has failed
A strong case file makes litigation predictable.
Related court cases
Director Held Personally Liable for Pirated Software Pays Up After Seizure Writ in Canada
Federal Court of Canada held a director personally liable for pirated Tekla Structures software (2021 FC 63). After a seizure writ, he paid CAD 80,000.
Brazilian Court Orders Engineering Firms to Pay Autodesk Ten Times the License Value
A Minas Gerais court ordered two engineering firms to pay Autodesk about R$177,300, ten times the license value, for unlicensed AutoCAD and Revit.
Siemens Wins ₹20 Lakh Over Unlicensed NX in India, and the Owner Goes to Jail for Contempt
A New Delhi commercial court awarded Siemens ₹20 lakh against a mould maker running NX on up to 10 computers with 2 licenses. The owner was jailed for contempt.
Copyright Infringer Goes Insolvent After Landmark Judgment Won by Hexagon
A Portuguese furniture maker ordered to pay €328,950 for cracked ALPHACAM software is now insolvent. Read the redacted Lisbon court judgment.
Questions
Can software piracy lead to criminal charges?
Yes. In the cases in our library, courts in India, Italy and Vietnam have jailed, fined or prosecuted people for using or copying unlicensed software.
What damages do courts award?
Courts commonly use the full license price per copy. Some award more: ten times the license value in Brazil and punitive damages in Canada.
Can a company director be personally liable?
Yes. In Trimble v. Quantum Dynamics the Federal Court of Canada held the director jointly and severally liable with his company.
Talk to a compliance specialist
Tell us about your software and markets, and we will show you how a program would work for you.
Contact ITCA