Transmagic a 3-D software developer is accused of secretly planting surveillance technology in its software which "commandeered the computers of its customers.
Boston, MA.- A federal class action claims that 3-D software developer Transmagic secretly planted surveillance technology in its software that "commandeered the computers of its customers, spied on them, and used the ill-gotten intelligence to build a recurring revenue stream exacted from an involuntary customer base."
The complaint states: "Defendants, waving the banner of software anti-piracy, secretly planted 'phone home' code in Transmagic software and used it to conduct surveillance on all Transmagic users in an attempt to detect a few supposedly unauthorized users. Defendants' purpose was not to deter unlicensed use but to profit by treating suspected unlicensed users as 'leads' whom they would 'convert' into customers by shaking them down for steep license premiums and ongoing maintenance fees."
"Transmagic has incorporated a 'Phone-Home Function' as part of its product to trap those who download and attempt to use copies of Transmagic software without agreeing to Transmagic's EULA and to track the activities of all persons using Transmagic software," says lead plaintiff Miguel Pimentel.
The "phone-home" function is called Sheriff, and was designed, sold and licensed by LTL. Pimentel says the phone-home function transmits' users' personally identifiable information to Transmagic, including the users' Internet protocol address, the media-access address of their computers, email addresses, and Transmagic software activity.
Court Filing: http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/04/01/Transmagic.pdf
Link: http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/04/01/35434.htm