Firstly - thank you for the quick response and taking the time to do so. Calmed the nerves slightly... however
I've spoken to the reseller again today - had to check if he was still coming for our planned meeting - he wasn't. However he also let slip a few things as I questioned him pretty hard on what this is all about.
1. He said Dassault won't care if I used the software or not - and have stated their attitude can be summarised using the following metaphor (one which Dassault staff use themselves) If someone steals a porsche it doesn't matter if they get 10 feet out of the showroom or drive it 100 miles. its still theft. To my mind this is massively flawed.
First of all - I bought a machine upon which solidworks can be run. I didn't purchase solidworks itself. and then deleted said software from the machine. There WAS a very small crossover period where a license was running on the machine however I was under the impression it was Legit. Secondly - if you BUY a Porsche in good faith and it turns out to be stolen - fair enough you can't keep the porsche but the police can't come after you. You'd lose it and potentially have to buy another one.
2. The reseller stated specifically that the solicitors / Dassault will NOT release any information relating to the data they have collected to me unless it goes to court. This seems dodgy as hell to me.
3. The reseller has now said that the correspondence from Dassault I should have received came in the form of an email which (incredibly) was apparently sent on the same day I applied for the entrepreneurship programme.
4. He is apparently passing my details to the person at Dassault in charge of compliance and they are going to get in touch with me today.
This morning I have now also received a supposedly "resent" email from CHCJ solicitors very similar to the ones others have received - however notably it doesn't contain any details about the supposed infractions whatsoever!!
Please find it copied below:
By email only
10/04/2019
Re: SOLIDWORKS® and certain other software licenced by Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corporation (including the SOLIDWORKS® Simulation line of analysis products, SOLIDWORKS® Composer, and the SOLIDWORKS® line of product data management products in all countries) ("the Software")
Dear Sir,
We act for Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corporation of 175 Wyman Street, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451 USA ("our client").
Our client is the owner of copyrights in the Software, a copy of which is available for inspection at our client’s offices. The Software is original and the related intellectual property rights vest absolutely with our client.
Our client has discovered that your company has been using SOLIDWORKS, without the necessary licenses, that is to say your usage has occurred without the consent of our client or any of its authorised resellers.
According to the applicable national legislation, this is an infringement of our client’s copyrights in the Software. As a result of infringement of its copyright, our client is entitled to, inter alia, the following remedies: an inquiry as to damages for infringement of copyright including an inquiry as to additional damages pursuant to s97(2) of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 and damages pursuant to the Intellectual Property (Enforcement, etc.) Regulations 2006 and Directive 2004/48/EC or, at our client’s option an account of profits; Publication of any Judgment obtained; and Costs.
If you are in any doubt as to your legal rights or if you have any queries or concerns, then we suggest you seek independent legal advice.
We look forward to hearing from you before 12/04/2019.