How to Buy Legal Software on an Auction Site

Here are a few very important steps in finding legal software on an auction site:

• Don’t buy software from a seller who has just appeared and started selling massive amounts of the same piece or set of software products.

• Before purchasing software on an auction site learn about the software you wish to purchase by visiting the software publishers site.  Familiarize yourself with the product and how the product is normally sold, including the pricing, so that you can more easily recognize when a seller is attempting to sell you illegal software.  Obviously, when someone is trying to sell you $500 software for $20, the software is likely to be illegal.

• Don’t buy software from a seller who has placed numerous auctions for the exact same piece of software.

• Don’t buy software being offered from another region of the world.  In addition to the potential for piracy, you may be purchasing software that will be incompatible with your computer or may be unlicensed for distribution in the US.

• Don’t buy software from a seller outside of the auction.

• Don’t buy software from an auction lasting one day or three days.  Most auctions last from five to seven days.  Auctions for less than that are often posted by those selling illegal software who are trying to make a quick sale before the copyright owner takes down their auction.

• Don’t buy software identified as “OEM” that is not bundled with authorized hardware.

• Don’t buy software that is being sold as a “back-up copy”.

• Don’t buy software that is being offered as "brand new CD in sleeve" or does not come in the manufacturer’s original box or with the original packaging or documentation.

• Don’t buy “beta,” pre-release or NFR (“not for resale”) versions of software

• Don’t buy an upgrade version of software if you do not own a licensed copy of the underlying version of that software.

• Don’t buy software from a seller who does not allow you to use Paypal to pay for the software.

• Don’t buy compilations of software (multiple products from different publishers on the same CD).  Legal software is rarely, if ever, sold that way.

• Don’t buy academic versions of software that do not include the eligibility requirements or if you do not meet the eligibility requirements.

• Don’t buy software from a seller who provides a special number or procedure for activating or registering your software before you can use it.

• Don’t buy software that is being advertised as a "full version" but the auction states that you will only receive CDs.

• Don’t buy the software if the seller states that the software can't be registered.

• Don’t be fooled by the term “Power Seller” or a high rating.  Check their user comments—do they have any neutral/negative feedback from buyers claiming fraud by the seller?  However, don’t solely rely on this information, as copyright owners are not permitted to provide feedback even when a seller has his auction taken down because it is illegal.

• Don’t buy software from a seller who does not display the SIIA Certified Software Reseller mark:

The Business Software Alliance wants to remind you that you need to be cautious and be sure of what you are getting before you buy. Below are some commonsense tips to think about.

• Trust your instincts. Just as in the physical world, when you buy software from the original publishers, brand-name sources or other online sources that offer familiar security features, you are much more likely to get a safe, legitimate product than when you buy from anonymous, unprofessional, furtive sources. Also, check the online seller’s price against the estimated retail value of the software. Whether the product is being sold as new or used, if a price for software seems "too good to be true," it probably is.

• Be cautious when dealing with software sellers in other countries. Many cyber crime rings are based in countries abroad. Moreover, the physical distance, differences in legal systems, and other factors could complicate matters if the transaction goes awry.

• Understand the transaction terms. Make sure you get a clear explanation of the merchant’s policies concerning returns and refunds, shipping costs, and security and privacy protection before you complete the transaction. Check the website’s privacy policies to understand what personal information is being requested, as well as how your information will be used and protected.

• Get the seller’s address, if possible. Remember that if you cannot contact the seller after making a purchase, you may have no recourse if the product turns out to be pirated. The BSA receives numerous reports about sellers who became impossible to reach as soon as the payment was final.

• Keep receipts. Keep as much information as possible regarding the transaction and the seller. Print out a copy of your order with confirmation numbers and file it for your records. This information will help to build your case if the product turns out to be pirated and further action is needed with the auction site or payment facilitator site.

• Do your homework. On auction sites, check the seller’s rating or feedback comments by other users. Most legitimate sellers will have responses from other users, and if they are reputable and reliable, nearly all should be positive.

• Make sure it’s authentic. Be suspicious of software products that do not include proof of authenticity such as original disks, manuals, licensing, service policies and warranties. Beware of products that do not look genuine, such as those with handwritten labels.

• Beware of back-ups. Take care to avoid sellers offering to make "back-up" copies. This is a clear indication that the software is illegal. Also be sure to check the software version. Many people receive educational or promotional versions of software when they have been told they were purchasing a full or standard version.

• Steer clear of compilations. Be wary of compilations of software titles from different publishers on a single disk or CD. This is a sure sign that the software has been pirated and possibly altered. When buying more than one software program, be sure that each program is on a separate disk.