Software Policies

In an effort to create the most up-to-date, easy-to-use, and exceptional downloading experience on the Web, we prohibit certain types of software and we require that publishers conduct business according to certain standards. We expect publishers to comply with these Software Policies and the spirit of our Mission Statement. Because software is constantly evolving, these policies are neither exhaustive nor static. We may decline or remove applications for reasons not specifically mentioned below if we determine there has been a violation of any of our policies.

• Security, Privacy, and Control
• Quality and Content
• Access and Usability
• Data Integrity
• Customer Service and Business Practices

We will not list software that contains viruses, Trojans, malicious adware, spyware, or other potentially harmful components. We will not list products known to contain such items in other instances outside of DownloadPipe.com, and we may choose to disallow products from publishers whom our editors feel are violating the spirit of this policy.

All products in our library must present users with a clear and easy-to-read license agreement, and provide users with an opportunity to cancel the installation if they do not agree to the terms. End-user license agreements are a contract with the user, and in keeping with that spirit they must be truthful, accurate, comprehensive, and easy to read and understand.

Any additional programs or third-party items included with the downloadable file must be clearly disclosed in the DownloadPipe.com product description and during the installation process. Users must be provided with a way to opt out of all additional items during the installation process, or they must be given an opportunity to cancel the installation completely.

We allow for certain types of advertising-supported software, including a small number of adware components we evaluate on a case-by-case basis. Ad-serving behavior must be restricted to the program's actual user interface, and may not include pop-ups or other forms of intrusive advertising.

We respect the user's right to control software that is installed on their computers, and we require that all software in our library provide users with a clear and simple method for removal. We may choose to disallow products we feel are unnecessarily difficult to uninstall or are obscured or resistant to removal.

We will not list applications with reliability or stability issues, and in most cases we will only accept submissions for nonbeta versions of software. We also may decline to list products our editors feel do not meet the general quality standards of the library or do not offer significant value to users.

Our editors have determined that certain types of software are not appropriate for the DownloadPipe.com software library. We will remove products or publishers who violate this policy by either directly or indirectly distributing DownloadPipe.com-prohibited software.

We do not allow products that contain or promote inappropriate or offensive content. This policy may extend to content delivered by the application, links from the application interface or publisher's Web site, and content found on the publisher's Web site.

We have 3 new categories for Adult content: Games & Entertainment::Adult, Desktop:ScreenSavers: Adult, and Network & Internet::Adult. If your software uses Adult content in any way please ensure it is placed in one of these categories, as access to these categories is controlled by age.

If we determine someone other than the legal copyright or trademark holder (or his or her official agent) has submitted a product, we will suspend the product listing. If you would like us to investigate an alleged breach of copyright, please contact us.

We require download links that will immediately initiate the file download. We generally do not allow links to HTML pages or information-capture forms.

At minimum, software products submitted to our library must be working demos, and we will only accept free products or functional trial versions that allow users to experience the software adequately. We will not accept slide shows of a product or self-running demos.

Attempting to artificially affect download counts or user ratings is a serious violation of our listing policies, and may result in immediate and permanent removal from the library. Publishers may link to DownloadPipe.com product pages, but only via an approved DownloadPipe.com Button, and may not submit reviews for their own products or solicit others to do so.

We do not allow multiple, separate listings for the same product or company. We reserve the right to remove or suspend listings we feel are identical or substantially similar offerings.

Each new version of a product may be featured in the New Releases list no more than two times per month, at our sole discretion and after the new information and features have been verified by our staff. New product sets (or product lines) can only be added as new product listings, and may not be submitted as a modification to an already established product set.

We encourage you to link to your product listing on DownloadPipe.com by placing a DownloadPipe.com Button on your Web site. We do not allow any other type of direct links to pages on our site or to download links we host, and we reserve the right to remove products that violate this policy.

We do not allow the use of DownloadPipe.com logos, trademarks, and other copyrighted material without permission. You may only place an approved DownloadPipe.com Button on your Web site.

We encourage all software publishers to provide quality customer service and assist users with any issues related to the software. We may choose to remove products or publishers if we receive a significant volume of negative user feedback or complaints, or if we feel users are not being provided with an adequate level of customer service and support.

Repeated or egregious violations of our policies, failure to pay for services rendered, or abusive behavior toward our users or our staff may result in the suspension of your account or permanent removal from our library.