Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Asset-Watch better than a web search I can do for myself?
For two reasons: First, Asset-Watch searches for links to pirated versions of your intellectual property not only on the web, but also in places not covered by the popular internet search engines. Asset-Watch searches the places where pirated information typically makes its first appearance -- places not normally found by a web search. Second, Asset-Watch searches for pirated copies of your products 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to give you the earliest possible warning. Asset-Watch's automated systems make this possible and more cost-effective than monitoring the internet on your own.
Why use Asset-Watch when I can do my own DMCA notices?
There are two good reasons here as well: lower cost and greater effectiveness. To be effective, DMCA notices must follow exactly the specifications given by each file-hosting site, and they must be sent to the correct contact person at that site. As many file hosting sites don't make this information easily available, obtaining it can involve considerable time and effort. Asset-Watch researches this information on your behalf and embodies it in the notices we provide to you for sending, all at a cost far lower than if you were to do it for yourself. All you have to do is sign the notice and send it. Our clients tell us that the overwhelming majority (over 95 percent) of the DMCA notices we provide bring about the desired result.
What is the DMCA?
The Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) is a United States copyright law that implements two 1996 WIPO treaties. It criminalizes production and dissemination of technology, devices, or services that are used to circumvent measures that control access to copyrighted works (commonly known as DRM) and criminalizes the act of circumventing an access control, even when there is no infringement of copyright itself. It also heightens the penalties for copyright infringement on the Internet. Passed on October 12, 1998 by a unanimous vote in the United States Senate and signed into law on October 28, 1998, the DMCA amended Title 17 of the U.S. Code to extend the reach of copyright, while limiting the liability of Online Providers from copyright infringement by their users. For more information, see http://www.copyright.gov/legislation/dmca.pdf
How many DMCA notices will I receive?
We will send you a DMCA notice for every website that we find hosting illegitimate copies of your intellectual property. There is no limit to how many notices we could send you.
Why do I need to send the DMCA notice? Why can't Asset-Watch send it for me?
A valid DMCA notice requires (among other things) the digital or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of the copyright or other intellectual property interest. Also, the DMCA notice must be sent from the same domain as the company whose product is being infringed upon. This is to eliminate false or spam DMCA notices. Asset-Watch custom-tailors a DMCA notice for each infringing website we detect. All you have to do is click to apply your digital signature and send the notice.
Aren't pirated copies of my product a form of free advertising?
This might be true if the pirate copies were guaranteed to be bug free and fully functional. However, you have no control over pirate versions that get out on the web under your product's name. It's very likely that these pirate versions will have faults or limitations that will result in negative publicity.
We subscribe to Asset-Watch and have just released a new version of our software product. Do I need to let Asset-Watch know?
No, when you subscribe to Asset-Watch, all versions of your software product are covered automatically -- past, present, and future.
How do I un-subscribe to Asset-Watch?
If you no longer need Asset-Watch service, visit the Customer Support page for instructions on how to cancel your subscription.