<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                            INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

     THIS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered into this ___ day of
____________, ________ between ScanSoft, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("the
Company") and __________________ ("Indemnitee").

                                WITNESSETH THAT:

     WHEREAS, Indemnitee performs a valuable service for the Company; and

     WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company have adopted Bylaws (the
"Bylaws") providing for the indemnification of the officers and directors of the
Company to the maximum extent authorized by Section 145 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law, as amended ("Law"); and

     WHEREAS, the Bylaws and the Law, by their nonexclusive nature, permit
contracts between the Company and the officers and directors of the Company with
respect to indemnification of such officers and directors; and

     WHEREAS, in accordance with the authorization as provided by the Law, the
Company may purchase and maintain a policy or policies of director's and
officer's liability insurance ("D & O Insurance"), covering certain liabilities
which may be incurred by its officers or directors in the performance of their
obligations to the Company; and

     WHEREAS, in recognition of past services and in order to induce Indemnitee
to continue to serve as an officer or director of the Company, the Company has
determined and agreed to enter into this contract with Indemnitee;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of Indemnitee's continued service as an
officer or director after the date hereof, the parties hereto agree as follows:

     1.   Indemnity of Indemnitee. The Company hereby agrees to hold harmless
and indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by the
provisions of the Law, as such may be amended from time to time, and Article
VII, Section 6 of the Bylaws, as such may be amended. In furtherance of the
foregoing indemnification, and without limiting the generality thereof:

     (a)  Proceedings Other Than Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company.
Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this
Section 1(a) if, by reason of his Corporate Status (as hereinafter defined), he
is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding (as
hereinafter defined) other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company.
Pursuant to this Section 1(a), Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all
Expenses (as hereinafter defined), judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid
in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in
connection with such Proceeding or


                                      -1-
<PAGE>

any claim, issue or matter therein, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company
and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe
his conduct was unlawful.

     (b)  Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. Indemnitee shall be
entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section 1(b) if, by
reason of his Corporate Status, he is, or is threatened to be made, a party to
or participant in any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company to
procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 1(b), Indemnitee shall
be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or
on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding if he acted in good faith and
in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests
of the Company; provided, however, that, if applicable law so provides, no
indemnification against such Expenses shall be made in respect of any claim,
issue or matter in such Proceeding as to which Indemnitee shall have been
adjudged to be liable to the Company unless and to the extent that the Court of
Chancery of the State of Delaware shall determine that such indemnification may
be made.

     (c)  Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly
Successful. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent
that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a party to and is
successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding, he shall be
indemnified to the maximum extent permitted by law against all Expenses actually
and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith. If
Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the
merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or
matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all
Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection
with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. For purposes of this
Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in
such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be
a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

     2.   Additional Indemnity. In addition to, and without regard to any
limitations on, the indemnification provided for in Section 1, the Company shall
and hereby does indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against all Expenses,
judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf if, by reason of his Corporate
Status he is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any
Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company),
including, without limitation, all liability arising out of the negligence or
active or passive wrongdoing of Indemnitee. The only limitation that shall exist
upon the Company's obligations pursuant to this Agreement shall be that the
Company shall not be obligated to make any payment to Indemnitee that is finally
determined (under the procedures, and subject to the presumptions, set forth in
Sections 6 and 7 hereof) to be unlawful under Delaware law.

     3.   Contribution in the Event of Joint Liability.

     (a)  Whether or not the indemnification provided in Sections 1 and 2 hereof
is available, in respect of any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding in which Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if
joined in such action, suit or proceeding), Company shall pay, in the first
instance, the entire amount of any judgment or


                                      -2-
<PAGE>

settlement of such action, suit or proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to
contribute to such payment and Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right
of contribution it may have against Indemnitee. Company shall not enter into any
settlement of any action, suit or proceeding in which Company is jointly liable
with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding)
unless such settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims
asserted against Indemnitee.

     (b)  Without diminishing or impairing the obligations of the Company set
forth in the preceding subparagraph, if, for any reason, Indemnitee shall elect
or be required to pay all or any portion of any judgment or settlement in any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding in which Company is
jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or
proceeding), Company shall contribute to the amount of expenses (including
attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred and paid or payable by Indemnitee in proportion to the
relative benefits received by the Company and all officers, directors or
employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who are jointly liable with
Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), on the
one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, from the transaction from which
such action, suit or proceeding arose; provided, however, that the proportion
determined on the basis of relative benefit may, to the extent necessary to
conform to law, be further adjusted by reference to the relative fault of
Company and all officers, directors or employees of the Company other than
Indemnitee who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such
action, suit or proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand,
in connection with the events that resulted in such expenses, judgments, fines
or settlement amounts, as well as any other equitable considerations which the
law may require to be considered. The relative fault of Company and all
officers, directors or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who are
jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or
proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, the degree to which their
actions were motivated by intent to gain personal profit or advantage, the
degree to which their liability is primary or secondary, and the degree to which
their conduct is active or passive.

     (c)  Company hereby agrees to fully indemnify and hold Indemnitee harmless
from any claims of contribution which may be brought by officers, directors or
employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who may be jointly liable with
Indemnitee.

     4.   Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his
Corporate Status, a witness in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a
party, he shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably
incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith.

     5.   Advancement of Expenses. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, the Company shall advance all reasonable Expenses incurred by or on
behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding by reason of Indemnitee's
Corporate Status within ten days after the receipt by the Company of a statement
or statements from Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to
time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such
statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by
Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by an undertaking by
or


                                      -3-
<PAGE>

on behalf of Indemnitee to repay any Expenses advanced if it shall ultimately be
determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such
Expenses. Any advances and undertakings to repay pursuant to this Section 5
shall be unsecured and interest free. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
obligation of the Company to advance Expenses pursuant to this Section 5 shall
be subject to the condition that, if, when and to the extent that the Company
determines that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under
applicable law, the Company shall be entitled to be reimbursed, within thirty
(30) days of such determination, by Indemnitee (who hereby agrees to reimburse
the Company) for all such amounts theretofore paid; provided, however, that if
Indemnitee has commenced or thereafter commences legal proceedings in a court of
competent jurisdiction to secure a determination that Indemnitee should be
indemnified under applicable law, any determination made by the Company that
Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law shall
not be binding and Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for
any advance of Expenses until a final judicial determination is made with
respect thereto (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted
or lapsed).

     6.   Procedures and Presumptions for Determination of Entitlement to
Indemnification. It is the intent of this Agreement to secure for Indemnitee
rights of indemnity that are as favorable as may be permitted under the law and
public policy of the State of Delaware. Accordingly, the parties agree that the
following procedures and presumptions shall apply in the event of any question
as to whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement:

     (a)  To obtain indemnification (including, but not limited to, the
advancement of Expenses and contribution by the Company) under this Agreement,
Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or
therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to
Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent
Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. The Secretary of the Company shall,
promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board of
Directors in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

     (b)  Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to the
first sentence of Section 6(a) hereof, a determination, if required by
applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee's entitlement thereto shall be made
in the specific case by one of the following three methods, which shall be at
the election of Indemnitee: (1) by a majority vote of the disinterested
directors, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by independent legal counsel
in a written opinion, or (3) by the stockholders.

     (c)  If the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made
by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof, the Independent Counsel
shall be selected as provided in this Section 6(c). The Independent Counsel
shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such
selection be made by the Board of Directors). Indemnitee or the Company, as the
case may be, may, within 10 days after such written notice of selection shall
have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a
written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may
be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not
meet the requirements of "Independent Counsel" as defined in Section 14 of this
Agreement, and the objection shall set


                                      -4-
<PAGE>

forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper
and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel.
If a written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel
selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is
withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If,
within 20 days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for
indemnification pursuant to Section 6(a) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall
have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may
petition the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or other court of
competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which shall have been
made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other's selection of Independent
Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected
by the court or by such other person as the court shall designate, and the
person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so
appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 6(b) hereof. The
Company shall pay any and all reasonable fees and expenses of Independent
Counsel incurred by such Independent Counsel in connection with acting pursuant
to Section 6(b) hereof, and the Company shall pay all reasonable fees and
expenses incident to the procedures of this Section 6(c), regardless of the
manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or appointed.

     (d)  In making a determination with respect to entitlement to
indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such
determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under
this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in
accordance with Section 6(a) of this Agreement. Anyone seeking to overcome this
presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion, by
clear and convincing evidence.

     (e)  Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee's
action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including
financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers
of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal
counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to
the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser
or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Enterprise. In addition,
the knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, agent
or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of
determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement. Whether or not
the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(e) are satisfied, it shall in any
event be presumed that Indemnitee has at all times acted in good faith and in a
manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
the Company. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden
of proof and the burden of persuasion, by clear and convincing evidence.

     (f)  The Company acknowledges that a settlement or other disposition short
of final judgment may be successful if it permits a party to avoid expense,
delay, distraction, disruption and uncertainty. In the event that any action,
claim or proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party is resolved in any manner
other than by adverse judgment against Indemnitee (including, without
limitation, settlement of such action, claim or proceeding with or without
payment of money or other consideration) it shall be presumed that Indemnitee
has been successful on the merits or otherwise in such action, suit or
proceeding. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of
proof and the burden of persuasion, by clear and convincing evidence.


                                      -5-
<PAGE>

     (g)  If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 6
to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have
made a determination within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the
request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification
shall be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such
indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or
an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee's statement not
materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or
(ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided,
however, that such 30 day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to
exceed an additional fifteen (15) days, if the person, persons or entity making
the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith
requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating documentation
and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing
provisions of this Section 6(g) shall not apply if the determination of
entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to
Section 6(b) of this Agreement and if (A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt
by the Company of the request for such determination the Board of Directors or
the Disinterested Directors, if appropriate, resolve to submit such
determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting
thereof to be held within seventy five (75) days after such receipt and such
determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is
called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making
such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days
after having been so called and such determination is made thereat.

     (h)  Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making
such determination with respect to Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification,
including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance
request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise
protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and
reasonably necessary to such determination. Any Independent Counsel, member of
the Board of Directors, or stockholder of the Company shall act reasonably and
in good faith in making a determination under the Agreement of the Indemnitee's
entitlement to indemnification. Any costs or expenses (including attorneys' fees
and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person,
persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company
(irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee's entitlement to
indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold
Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

     7.   Remedies of Indemnitee.

     (a)  In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 6 of
this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this
Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 5
of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification
shall have been made pursuant to Section 6(b) of this Agreement within 90 days
after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of
indemnification is not made pursuant to this Agreement within ten (10) days
after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, or (v) payment of
indemnification is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been
made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or such determination is
deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement, Indemnitee
shall be entitled to an adjudication in an appropriate court of the State of


                                      -6-
<PAGE>

Delaware, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, of his entitlement to
such indemnification. Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an
adjudication within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has
the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 7(a). The Company
shall not oppose Indemnitee's right to seek any such adjudication.

     (b)  In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to
Section 6(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification, any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 7
shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, on the merits and
Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.

     (c)  If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 6(b) of
this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall
be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to
this Section 7, absent a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable
law.

     (d)  In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 7, seeks a
judicial adjudication of his rights under, or to recover damages for breach of,
this Agreement, or to recover under any directors' and officers' liability
insurance policies maintained by the Company the Company shall pay on his
behalf, in advance, any and all expenses (of the types described in the
definition of Expenses in Section 16 of this Agreement) actually and reasonably
incurred by him in such judicial adjudication, regardless of whether Indemnitee
ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of
expenses or insurance recovery.

     (e)  The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial
proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 7 that the procedures and
presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall
stipulate in any such court that the Company is bound by all the provisions of
this Agreement.

     8.   Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.

     (a)  The rights of indemnification as provided by this Agreement shall not
be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be
entitled under applicable law, the certificate of incorporation of the Company,
the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors,
or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any
provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this
Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his
Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent
that a change in the Law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits
greater indemnification than would be afforded currently under the Bylaws and
this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall
enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. In the
event of any change in the Law, whether by statute or judicial decision, that
narrows the right of a Delaware corporation to indemnify a member of its Board
of Directors or an officer, employee, agent or fiduciary, such change, to the
extent not otherwise required by such statute or judicial decision to be applied
to this Agreement, shall have no effect on this Agreement or the Indemnitee's
rights and obligations hereunder. No right or remedy herein conferred is
intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and
remedy shall be


                                      -7-
<PAGE>

cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or
now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or
employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the
concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

     (b)  To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or
policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or
agents or fiduciaries of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such
person serves at the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such
policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent
of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent
under such policy or policies.

     (c)  In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be
subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of
Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary
to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to
enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

     (d)  The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any
payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if and to the extent that
Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance
policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

     9.   Exception to Right of Indemnification. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification
under this Agreement with respect to any Proceeding brought by Indemnitee, or
any claim therein, unless (a) the bringing of such Proceeding or making of such
claim shall have been approved by the Board of Directors or (b) such Proceeding
is being brought by the Indemnitee to assert his rights under this Agreement.

     10.  Duration of Agreement. All agreements and obligations of the Company
contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee is an officer or
director of the Company (or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise) and shall continue thereafter so long as
Indemnitee shall be subject to any Proceeding (or any proceeding commenced under
Section 7 hereof) by reason of his Corporate Status, whether or not he is acting
or serving in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred
for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement. This Agreement
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
parties hereto and their respective successors (including any direct or indirect
successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or
substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), assigns, spouses,
heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. This Agreement shall
continue in effect regardless of whether Indemnitee continues to serve as an
officer or director of the Company or any other enterprise at the Company's
request.

     11.  Security. To the extent requested by the Indemnitee and approved by
the Board of Directors, the Company may at any time and from time to time
provide security to the Indemnitee for the Company's obligations hereunder
through an irrevocable bank line of credit,


                                      -8-
<PAGE>

funded trust or other collateral. Any such security, once provided to the
Indemnitee, may not be revoked or released without the prior written consent of
the Indemnitee.

     12.  Enforcement.

     (a)  The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into
this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to
induce Indemnitee to serve as an officer or director of the Company, and the
Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving
as an officer or director of the Company.

     (b)  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior
agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

     13.  Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:

     (a)  "Corporate Status" describes the status of a person who is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent or fiduciary of the Company or of any other
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise which such person is or was serving at the express request of the
Company.

     (b)  "Disinterested Director" means a director of the Company who is not
and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is
sought by Indemnitee.

     (c)  "Enterprise" shall mean the Company and any other corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of
which Indemnitee is or was serving at the express written request of the Company
as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary.

     (d)  "Expenses" shall include all reasonable attorneys' fees, retainers,
court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses,
duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage,
delivery service fees, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types
customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to
prosecute or defend, investigating, participating, or being or preparing to be a
witness in a Proceeding.

     (e)  "Independent Counsel" means a law firm, or a member of a law firm,
that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor
in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or
Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect
to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other
indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party
to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term "Independent Counsel" shall not include
any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then
prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company
or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee's rights under this
Agreement. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent
Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and
all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this
Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.


                                      -9-
<PAGE>

     (f)  "Proceeding" includes any threatened, pending or completed action,
suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation,
inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed
proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise and
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which Indemnitee
was, is or will be involved as a party or otherwise, by reason of the fact that
Indemnitee is or was a director of the Company, by reason of any action taken by
him or of any inaction on his part while acting as an officer or director of the
Company, or by reason of the fact that he is or was serving at the request of
the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise; in each case whether or
not he is acting or serving in any such capacity at the time any liability or
expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this
Agreement; including one pending on or before the date of this Agreement; and
excluding one initiated by an Indemnitee pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement
to enforce his rights under this Agreement.

     14.  Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall
be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void, illegal or
otherwise unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality
and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including
without limitation, each portion of any section of this Agreement containing any
such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself
invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired
thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; and
(b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including,
without limitation, each portion of any section of this Agreement containing any
such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself
invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to
the intent manifested thereby.

     15.  Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification, termination or
amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both
of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement
shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof
(whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

     16.  Notice by Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company
in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint,
indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter
which may be subject to indemnification covered hereunder. The failure to so
notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may
have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise.

     17.  Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (i)
delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other
communication shall have been directed, or (ii) mailed by certified or
registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date
on which it is so mailed:

     (a)  If to Indemnitee, to the address set forth below Indemnitee signature
hereto.


                                      -10-
<PAGE>

     (b)  If to the Company, to:

                   ScanSoft, Inc.
                   9 Centennial Drive
                   Peabody, MA 01960
                   Attention: Chief Executive Officer

or to such other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company
or to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be.

     18.  Identical Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original
but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one
such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs
to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

     19.  Headings. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are
inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this
Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

     20.  Governing Law. The parties agree that this Agreement shall be governed
by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of
Delaware without application of the conflict of laws principles thereof.

     21.  Gender. Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage
of the feminine pronoun where appropriate.


                                      -11-
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on and
as of the day and year first above written.


                                        SCANSOFT, INC.


                                        By
                                          ---------------------------------
                                                     Paul Ricci
                                              Chief Executive Officer


                                        INDEMNITEE



                                        Address:

                                        -------------------------------
                                        -------------------------------
                                        -------------------------------


                                      -12-