LANGMUIR SYSTEMS COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT

PlasmaCAM is pleased to announce that it has reached a settlement with Langmuir Systems LLC after Langmuir, the maker of Crossfire plasma cutting tables, was found distributing illegal copies of PlasmaCAM software to its customers. The terms of the settlement are confidential.

Langmuir is a competitor of PlasmaCAM who wanted to provide its customers with a variety of downloadable designs that could be cut on its machines. Langmuir also sought to create the appearance of a large customer base creating and generously sharing these designs.

Langmuir launched a file sharing forum on its website with legal disclaimers intended to protect Langmuir from liability over copyright infringement. Then Langmuir hired several foreign agents in countries where copyright laws are often ignored, with the task of uploading designs to its forum. Langmuir provided these agents with fake customer accounts displaying American-sounding names, along with legal documentation naming them as the original creators and owners of the designs and licensing the files for free, unlimited copying and use by others.

Langmuir admitted to knowing that rather than creating original designs as stated in its licenses, its agents simply copied scores of DXF files from other sources including an anonymously owned website in Punjab, Pakistan advertising “free” sharing of DXF files. Among the files Langmuir hosted and provided to its customers were several designs stolen from PlasmaCAM’s copyrighted art discs.

Copyright infringement is a violation of civil law, subjecting infringers to actual damages, statutory damages of up to $150,000 per infringement, and attorney fees. Copyright infringement is also a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Not only did Langmuir fail to protect itself from liability, it amplified its liability by falsifying an open license to the public to use PlasmaCAM’s designs.

To defend its customers who pay for legitimate products, PlasmaCAM regularly monitors the Internet to find and stop infringement. PlasmaCAM has had to prosecute a number of recent competitors for exploiting illegal copies of PlasmaCAM designs and software. To ensure that its customers only receive genuine PlasmaCAM designs, software, and other products, PlasmaCAM continues to investigate illegal and counterfeit items and shut down unlawful uses. If you become aware of PlasmaCAM counterfeits or illegal copies, please report them to PlasmaCAM.