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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.18

                                 SCANSOFT, INC.

                        1995 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

            (AS AMENDED AND RESTATED EFFECTIVE AS OF APRIL 27, 2000)

      The following constitute the provisions of the 1995 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan of ScanSoft, Inc, as amended and restated effective as of April
27, 2000:

      1.    PURPOSE. The purpose of the Plan is to provide employees of the
Company and its Designated Subsidiaries with an opportunity to purchase Common
Stock of the Company. It is the intention of the Company to have the Plan
qualify as an "Employee Stock Purchase Plan" under Section 423 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The provisions of the Plan shall, accordingly,
be construed so as to extend and limit participation in a manner consistent with
the requirements of that section of the Code.

      2.    DEFINITIONS.

            (a)   "BOARD" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

            (b)   "CODE" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.

            (c)   "COMMON STOCK" shall mean the common stock of the Company.

            (d)   "COMPANY" shall mean ScanSoft, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

            (e)   "COMPENSATION" shall mean an Employee's regular straight time
gross earnings and commissions, and shall not include payments for overtime,
shift premium, incentive compensation, incentive payments, bonuses and other
compensation.

            (f)   "CONTINUOUS STATUS AS AN EMPLOYEE" shall mean the absence of
any interruption or termination of service as an Employee. Continuous Status as
an Employee shall not be considered interrupted in the case of a leave of
absence agreed to in writing by the Company, provided that such leave is for a
period of not more than ninety (90) days or reemployment upon the expiration of
such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute.

            (g)   "CONTRIBUTIONS" shall mean all amounts credited to the account
of a participant pursuant to the Plan.

            (h)   "DESIGNATED SUBSIDIARY" shall mean any Subsidiary that has
been designated by the Board from time to time in its sole discretion as
eligible to participate in the Plan.

            (i)   "EMPLOYEE" shall mean any person who is an employee of an
Employer for tax purposes and is customarily employed for at least twenty (20)
hours per week and more than five (5) months in a calendar year by the Employer.

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            (j)   "EMPLOYER" shall mean the Company and any Designated
Subsidiary of the Company.

            (k)   "EXCHANGE ACT" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.

            (l)   "OFFERING DATE" shall mean the first Trading Day of each
Offering Period.

            (m)   "OFFERING PERIOD" shall mean a period of approximately twelve
(12) months during which an option granted pursuant to the Plan may be
exercised, commencing on the first Trading Day on or after February 16 and
August 16 of each year and terminating on the last Trading Day in the periods
ending twelve (12) months later. The duration and timing of Offering Periods may
be changed pursuant to Section 4 hereof.

            (n)   "PLAN" shall mean this 1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

            (o)   "PURCHASE DATE" shall mean the last Trading Day of each
Purchase Period.

            (p)   "PURCHASE PERIOD" shall mean the approximately six (6) month
period commencing after one Purchase Date and ending with the next Purchase
Date, except that the first Purchase Period of any Offering Period shall
commence on the Offering Date and end with the next Purchase Date.

            (q)   "SUBSIDIARY" shall mean a corporation, domestic or foreign, of
which not less than fifty percent (50%) of the voting shares are held by the
Company or a Subsidiary, whether or not such corporation now exists or is
hereafter organized or acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary.

            (r)   "TRADING DAY" shall mean a day on which U.S. national stock
exchanges and the Nasdaq System are open for trading.

      3.    ELIGIBILITY.

            (a)   Any person who is an Employee as of the Offering Date of a
given Offering Period shall be eligible to participate in such Offering Period
under the Plan, subject to the requirements of Section 5(a) hereof and the
limitations imposed by Section 423(b) of the Code.

            (b)   Any provisions of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no
Employee shall be granted an option under the Plan (i) if, immediately after the
grant, such Employee (or any other person whose stock would be attributed to
such Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) would own stock and/or
hold outstanding options to purchase stock possessing five percent (5%) or more
of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the
Company or of any Subsidiary, or (ii) if such option would permit his or her
rights to purchase stock under all employee stock purchase plans (described in
Section 423 of the Code) of the Company and its Subsidiaries to accrue at a rate
which exceeds twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) worth of stock (determined
at the fair market value of such stock at the time such option is granted) for
each calendar year in which such option is outstanding at any time.

      4.    OFFERING PERIODS. The Plan shall be implemented by a series of
consecutive, overlapping Offering Periods, with a new Offering Period commencing
on the first Trading Day

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on or after February 16 and August 16 of each year (or at such other time or
times as may be determined by the Board), and continuing thereafter until
terminated in accordance with Section 19 hereof. The Board shall have the power
to change the duration and/or the frequency of Offering Periods (including the
commencement dates thereof) with respect to future offerings without stockholder
approval if such change is announced at least fifteen (15) days prior to the
scheduled beginning of the first Offering Period to be affected thereafter.
Eligible Employees may not participate in more than one Offering Period at a
time.

      5.    PARTICIPATION.

            (a)   An Employee who is eligible to participate in the Plan
pursuant to Section 3 hereof may become a participant in the Plan by completing
an enrollment form provided by the Company for such purpose and filing it with
the Company's payroll office prior to the applicable Offering Date, unless a
later time for filing the enrollment form is set by the Board for all eligible
Employees with respect to a given Offering Period.

            (b)   Payroll deductions for a participant shall commence on the
first payroll paid following the Offering Date and shall end on the last payroll
paid in the Offering Period to which the enrollment form is applicable, unless
sooner terminated by the participant as provided in Section 10 hereof.

      6.    METHOD OF PAYMENT OF CONTRIBUTIONS.

            (a)   At the time a participant files his or her enrollment form as
provided in Section 5 hereof, he or she shall elect to have payroll deductions
made on each payday during the Offering Period in an amount not less than one
percent (1%) and not more than twelve percent (12%) of such participant's
Compensation on each such payday. All payroll deductions made for a participant
shall be credited to his or her account under the Plan and shall be withheld in
whole percentages only. A participant may not make any additional payments into
such account.

            (b)   A participant may discontinue his or her participation in the
Plan as provided in Section 10 hereof, or, on one occasion only during the
Offering Period, may decrease the rate of his or her Contributions during the
Offering Period by completing and filing with the Company a new enrollment form
authorizing the decrease in Contribute rate. The change in rate shall be
effective as of the beginning of the next calendar month following the date of
the Company's receipt of the new enrollment form, if the form is received at
least ten (10) business days prior to such date and, if not, as of the beginning
of the next succeeding calendar month. A participant's enrollment form shall
remain in effect for successive Offering Periods unless terminated as provided
in Section 10 hereof.

            (c)   Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent necessary to
comply with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section 3(b) hereof, a
participant's Contributions may be decreased to zero percent (0%) at any time
during a Offering Period. Contributions shall recommence at the rate provided in
such participant's enrollment form at the beginning of the first Purchase Period
which is scheduled to end in the following calendar year, unless terminated by
the participant as provided in Section 10 hereof.

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            (d)   At the time the option is exercised, in whole or in part, or
at the time some or all of the Common Stock issued under the Plan is disposed
of, the participant must make adequate provision for the Company's federal,
state, or other tax withholding obligations, if any, which arise upon the
exercise of the option or the disposition of the Common Stock. At any time, the
Company may, but shall not be obligated to, withhold from the participant's
compensation the amount necessary for the Company to meet applicable withholding
obligations, including any withholding required to make available to the Company
any tax deductions or benefits attributable to the sale or early disposition of
Common Stock by the participant.

      7.    GRANT OF OPTION.

            (a)   On the Offering Date of each Offering Period, each eligible
Employee participating in such Offering Period shall be granted an option to
purchase on each Purchase Date during such Offering Period a number of shares of
Common Stock determined by dividing such participant's Contributions accumulated
prior to such Purchase Date and retained in the participant's account as of the
Purchase Date by the purchase price specified in Section 7(b) below; provided,
however, that the maximum number of shares a participant may purchase during
each [Purchase] Period shall be two thousand (2,000) shares (subject to any
adjustment pursuant to Section 18 hereof), and provided further that such
purchase shall be subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 3(b) and 13
hereof. The Board may, for future Offering Periods, increase or decrease, in its
absolute discretion, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that a
participant may purchase during each [Purchase Period of such Offering Period].
Exercise of the option shall occur as provided in Section 8 hereof, unless the
participant has withdrawn pursuant to Section 10 hereof. The option shall expire
on the last day of the Offering Period.

            (b)   The purchase price per share of Common Stock covered by each
option granted under the Plan shall be the lower of: (i) eighty-five percent
(85%) of the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the Offering Date;
or (ii) eighty-five percent (85%) of the fair market value of a share of Common
Stock on the Purchase Date. The fair market value of the Common Stock on a given
date shall be determined by the Board in its discretion based on the closing
price of the Common Stock for such date (or, in the event that the Common Stock
is not traded on such date, on the immediately preceding trading date), as
reported by The Nasdaq National Market ("Nasdaq") or, if such price is not
reported, the mean of the bid and asked prices per share of the Common Stock as
reported by Nasdaq or, in the event the Common Stock is listed on a stock
exchange, the fair market value per share shall be the closing price on such
exchange on such date (or, in the event that the Common Stock is not traded on
such date, on the immediately preceding trading date), as reported in The Wall
Street Journal.

      8.    EXERCISE OF OPTION.

      (a)   Unless a participant withdraws from the Plan as provided in Section
10 hereof, his or her option for the purchase of shares of Common Stock will be
exercised automatically on each Purchase Date of an Offering Period, and the
maximum number of full shares subject to the option will be purchased for such
participant at the applicable purchase price specified in Section 7(b) hereof
with the accumulated Contributions in his or her account. The shares purchased
upon exercise of an option hereunder shall be deemed to be transferred to

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the participant on the Purchase Date. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall
be purchased; any Contributions accumulated in a participant's account that are
not sufficient to purchase a full share shall be retained in the participant's
account for the subsequent Purchase Period or Offering Period, subject to
earlier withdrawal by the participant as provided in Section 10 hereof. Any
other cash remaining to the credit of a participant's account under the Plan
after the Purchase Date shall be returned to said participant. During his or her
lifetime, a participant's option to purchase shares hereunder is exercisable
only by him or her.

            (b)   If the Board determines that, on a given Purchase Date, the
number of shares with respect to which options are to be exercised may exceed
(i) the number of shares of Common Stock that were available for sale under the
Plan on the Offering Date of the applicable Offering Period, or (ii) the number
of shares available for sale under the Plan on such Purchase Date, the Board may
in its sole discretion (x) provide that the Company shall make a pro rata
allocation of the shares of Common Stock available for purchase on such Offering
Date or Purchase Date, as applicable, in as uniform a manner as shall be
practicable and as it shall determine in its sole discretion to be equitable
among all participants exercising options to purchase Common Stock on such
Purchase Date, and continue all Offering Period then in effect, or (y) provide
that the Company shall make a pro rata allocation of the shares available for
purchase on such Offering Date or Purchase Date, as applicable, in as uniform a
manner as shall be practicable and as it shall determine in its sole discretion
to be equitable among all participants exercising options to purchase Common
Stock on such Purchase Date, and terminate any or all Offering Periods then in
effect pursuant to Section 19 hereof. The Company may make pro rata allocation
of the shares available on the Offering Date of any applicable Offering Period
pursuant to the preceding sentence, notwithstanding any authorization of
additional shares for issuance under the Plan by the Company's shareholders
subsequent to such Offering Date.

      9.    DELIVERY. As promptly as practicable following each Purchase Date on
which a purchase of shares of Common Stock occurs, the Company shall arrange the
delivery to each participant, as appropriate, of a certificate representing the
shares purchased upon exercise of his or her option. If permitted by the
Company, the shares will be electronically delivered to a brokerage account for
the benefit of the participant.

      10.   VOLUNTARY WITHDRAWAL; TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

            (a)   A participant may withdraw all but not less than all the
Contributions credited to his or her account and not yet used to exercise his or
her option under the Plan at any time prior to each Purchase Date by giving
written notice to the Company. All of the participant's Contributions credited
to his or her account will be paid to him or her promptly after the Company's
receipt of his or her notice of withdrawal and his or her option for the
Offering Period will be automatically terminated, and no further Contributions
for the purchase of shares will be made during the Offering Period. If a
participant withdraws from an Offering Period, Contributions shall not resume at
the beginning of the succeeding Offering Period unless the participant files a
new enrollment form in accordance with Section 5 hereof.

            (b)   Upon termination of a participant's Continuous Status as an
Employee prior to the Purchase Date of an Offering Period for any reason,
including retirement or death, he or she will be deemed to have elected to
withdraw from the Plan and the Contributions credited to his or her account but
not yet used to exercise his or her option under the Plan will be returned to

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him or her or, in the case of his or her death, to the person or persons
entitled thereto under Section 14 hereof, and his or her option will be
automatically terminated.

            (c)   In the event an Employee fails to remain in Continuous Status
as an Employee for at least twenty (20) hours per week during the Offering
Period in which the Employee is a participant, he or she will be deemed to have
elected to withdraw from the Plan and the Contributions credited to his or her
account but not yet used to exercise his or her option under the Plan will be
returned to him or her, and his or her option will be automatically terminated.

            (d)   A participant's withdrawal from an Offering Period will not
have any effect upon his or her eligibility to participate in a succeeding
Offering Period that commences after the termination of the Offering Period from
which the participant withdraws or in any similar plan which may hereafter be
adopted by the Company.

      11.   INTEREST. No interest shall accrue on the Contributions of a
participant in the Plan.

      12.   STOCK.

            (a)   The maximum number of shares of Common Stock which shall be
made available for sale under the Plan shall be one million (1,000,000) shares,
subject to adjustment upon changes in the capitalization of the Company as
provided in Section 18 hereof. If the total number of shares which would
otherwise be subject to options granted pursuant to Section 7(a) hereof on the
Offering Date of an Offering Period exceeds the number of shares then available
under the Plan (after deduction of all shares for which options have been
exercised or are then outstanding), the Company shall make a pro rata allocation
of the shares remaining available for option grant in as uniform a manner as
shall be practicable and as it shall determine to be equitable. In such event,
the Company shall give written notice of such reduction of the number of shares
subject to the option to each Employee affected thereby and shall similarly
reduce the rate of Contributions, if necessary.

            (b)   The participant will have no right to vote or receive
dividends or any other rights as a shareholder of the Company with respect to
the shares covered by his or her option until such option has been exercised and
certificates representing such shares have been issued, recorded on the records
of the Company or its transfer agents or registrars, and delivered to the
participant as provided in Section 9 hereof.

            (c)   Shares to be delivered to a participant under the Plan will be
registered in the name of the participant or in the name of the participant and
his or her spouse.

      13.   ADMINISTRATION. The Board, or a committee named by the Board, shall
supervise and administer the Plan, and shall have full and exclusive
discretionary power to adopt, amend and rescind any rules deemed desirable and
appropriate for the administration of the Plan and not inconsistent with the
Plan, to construe, interpret and apply the terms of the Plan, to determine
eligibility and to adjudicate all disputed claims filed under the Plan, and to
make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of
the Plan. Every finding, decision and determination made by the Board or its
committee shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be final and binding
upon all parties.

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      14.   DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY.

            (a)   A participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary
who is to receive any shares and cash, if any, from the participant's account
under the Plan in the event of such participant's death subsequent to a Purchase
Date on which the option is exercised but prior to delivery to him or her of
such shares and cash. In addition, a participant may file a written designation
of a beneficiary who is to receive any cash from the participant's account under
the Plan in the event of such participant's death prior to the exercise of the
option. If a participant is married and the designated beneficiary is not the
spouse, spousal consent shall be required for such designation to be effective.

            (b)   Such designation of beneficiary may be changed by the
participant (and his or her spouse, if any) at any time by written notice. In
the event of the death of a participant and in the absence of a beneficiary
validly designated under the Plan who is living at the time of such
participant's death, the Company shall deliver such shares and/or cash to the
executor or administrator of the estate of the participant, or if no such
executor or administrator has been appointed (to the knowledge of the Company),
the Company, in its discretion, may deliver such shares and/or cash to the
spouse or to any one or more dependents or relatives of the participant, or if
no spouse, dependent or relative is known to the Company, then to such other
person as the Company may designate.

      15.   TRANSFERABILITY. Neither Contributions credited to a participant's
account nor any rights with regard to the exercise of an option or to receive
shares under the Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise
disposed of in any way (other than by will, the laws of descent and
distribution, or as provided in Section 14 hereof) by the participant. Any such
attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition shall be without
effect, except that the Company may treat such act as an election to withdraw
funds from an Offering Period in accordance with Section 10 hereof.

      16.   USE OF FUNDS. All Contributions received or held by the Company
under the Plan may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose, and the
Company shall not be obligated to segregate such Contributions.

      17.   REPORTS. Individual accounts will be maintained for each participant
in the Plan. Statements of account will be given to participating Employees
promptly following the Purchase Date, which statements will set forth the
amounts of Contributions, the purchase price per share, the number of shares
purchased and the remaining cash balance, if any.

      18.   ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION; CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS.

            (a)   CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION. Subject to any required action by
the stockholders of the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock covered by
each option under the Plan which has not yet been exercised and the number of
shares of Common Stock which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan
but have not yet been placed under option (collectively,

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the "Reserves"), as well as the purchase price per share and the number of
shares of Common Stock covered by each option under the Plan which has not yet
been exercised and the maximum number of shares each participant may purchase
during each [Purchase] Period (pursuant to Section 7 hereof), shall be
proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued
shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock
dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other
increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock effected without
receipt of consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of
any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been
"effected without receipt of consideration." Such adjustment shall be made by
the Board, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and
conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of
shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of
any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with
respect to, the number or price of shares of Common Stock subject to an option.

            (b)   CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS. In the event of the proposed
dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Offering Period then in progress
will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action,
unless otherwise provided by the Board. In the event of a proposed sale of all
or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the merger of the Company
with or into another corporation, each outstanding option under the Plan shall
be assumed or an equivalent option shall be substituted by such successor
corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation, unless the
Board determines, in the exercise of its sole discretion and in lieu of such
assumption or substitution, to shorten the Offering Period then in progress by
setting a new Purchase Date (the "New Purchase Date"). If the Board shortens the
Offering Period then in progress in lieu of assumption or substitution in the
event of a merger or sale of assets, the Board shall notify each participant in
writing, at least ten (10) days prior to the New Purchase Date, that the
Purchase Date for his or her option has been changed to the New Purchase Date,
and that his or her option will be exercised automatically on the New Purchase
Date, unless prior to such date he or she has withdrawn from the Offering Period
as provided in Section 10 hereof. For purposes of this paragraph, an option
granted under the Plan shall be deemed to be assumed if, following the sale of
assets or merger, the option confers the right to purchase, for each share of
option stock subject to the option immediately prior to the sale of assets or
merger, the consideration (whether stock, cash or other securities or property)
received in the sale of assets or merger by holders of Common Stock for each
share of Common Stock held on the effective date of the transaction (and if such
holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen
by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock);
provided, however, that if such consideration received in the sale of assets or
merger was not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent
(as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code), the Board may, with the consent of
the successor corporation and the participant, provide for the consideration to
be received upon exercise of the option to be solely common stock of the
successor corporation or its parent equal in fair market value to the per share
consideration received by holders of Common Stock and the sale of assets or
merger. The Board may, if it so determines in the exercise of its sole
discretion, also make provision for adjusting the Reserves, as well as the
purchase price per share of Common Stock covered by each outstanding option, in
the event that the Company effects one or more reorganizations,
recapitalizations, rights offerings or other increases or reductions of shares
of its

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outstanding Common Stock, and in the event of the Company being consolidated
with or merged into any other corporation.

      19.   AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION.

            (a)   The Board may at any time and for any reason terminate or
amend the Plan. Except as provided in Section 18 and this Section 19 hereof, no
such termination may affect options previously granted, nor may an amendment
make any change in any option theretofore granted which adversely affects the
rights of any participant. In addition, to the extent necessary to comply with
Section 423 of the Code (or any successor rule or provision or any applicable
law or regulation), the Company shall obtain stockholder approval in such a
manner and to such a degree as so required.

            (b)   Without stockholder consent and without regard to whether any
participant rights may be considered to have been "adversely affected," the
Board (or its committee) shall be entitled to change the Offering Periods, limit
the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld during an Offering
Period, establish the exchange ratio applicable to amounts withheld in a
currency other than U.S. dollars, permit payroll withholding in excess of the
amount designated by a participant in order to adjust for delays or mistakes in
the Company's processing of properly completed withholding elections, establish
reasonable waiting and adjustment periods and/or accounting and crediting
procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of Common Stock
for each participant properly correspond with amounts withheld from the
participant's Compensation, and establish such other limitations or procedures
as the Board (or its committee) determines in its sole discretion advisable
which are consistent with the Plan.

            (c)   In the event the Board determines that the ongoing operation
of the Plan may result in unfavorable financial accounting consequences, the
Board may, in its discretion and, to the extent necessary or desirable, modify
or amend the Plan to reduce or eliminate such accounting consequence including,
but not limited to:

                  (i)   altering the purchase price per share of the shares
offered in any Offering Period including an Offering Period underway at the time
of the change in purchase price;

                  (ii)  shortening any Offering Period so that Offering Period
ends on a new Purchase Date, including an Offering Period underway at the time
of the Board action; and

                  (iii) allocating shares.

      Such modifications or amendments shall not require stockholder approval or
the consent of any Plan participants.

      20.   NOTICES. All notices or other communications by a participant to the
Company under or in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly
given when received in the

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form specified by the Company at the location, or by the person, designated by
the Company for the receipt thereof.

      21.   CONDITIONS UPON ISSUANCE OF SHARES. Shares of Common Stock shall not
be issued with respect to an option under the Plan unless the exercise of such
option and the issuance and delivery of such shares pursuant thereto shall
comply with all applicable provisions of law, domestic or foreign, including,
without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act,
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the requirements of any
stock exchange upon which the shares may then be listed, and shall be further
subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such
compliance. As a condition to the exercise of an option, the Company may require
the person exercising such option to represent and warrant at the time of any
such exercise that the shares are being purchased only for investment and
without any present intention to sell or distribute such shares if, in the
opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of
the aforementioned applicable provisions of law.

      22.   NO EFFECT ON EMPLOYMENT. Nothing in the Plan shall be deemed to give
any Employee the right to be retained in the employ of any Employer or to
interfere with the right of the Employer to discharge the Employee at any time.

      23.   TERM OF PLAN; EFFECTIVE DATE. The Plan shall become effective upon
the earlier to occur of its adoption by the Board or its approval by the
stockholders of the Company. It shall continue in effect for a term of twenty
(20) years unless sooner terminated under Section 19 hereof.

                                       10<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.19

                                 SCANSOFT, INC.

                         1997 EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN

                  As amended by the Board effective June, 2000

      1.    PURPOSES OF THE PLAN. The purposes of this 1997 Employee Stock
Option Plan are to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions
of substantial responsibility, to provide additional incentive to the Employees
and Consultants of the Company and to promote the success of the Company's
business. Options granted hereunder shall be Nonstatutory Stock Options.

      2.    DEFINITIONS. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:

            (a)   "ADMINISTRATOR" shall mean the Board or any of its Committees
appointed pursuant to Section 4 of the Plan.

            (b)   "BOARD" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

            (c)   "CODE" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.

            (d)   "COMMITTEE" shall mean the Committee appointed by the Board of
Directors in accordance with paragraph (a) of Section 4 of the Plan, if one is
appointed. The Committee members shall not be required to be Board members.

            (e)   "COMMON STOCK" shall mean the Common Stock of the Company.

            (f)   "COMPANY" shall mean ScanSoft, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

            (g)   "CONSULTANT" shall mean any person who is engaged by the
Company or any Parent or Subsidiary to render consulting services and is
compensated for such consulting services, excluding any Officers, Named
Executives and Directors.

            (h)   "CONTINUOUS STATUS AS AN EMPLOYEE OR CONSULTANT" shall mean
the absence of any interruption or termination of service as an Employee or
Consultant. Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant shall not be
considered interrupted in the case of sick leave, military leave, or any other
leave of absence approved by the Board; provided that such leave is for a period
of not more than 90 days or reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is
guaranteed by contract or statute.

            (i)   "DIRECTOR" shall mean a member of the Board.

            (j)   "EMPLOYEE" shall mean any person who is employed by the
Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, excluding any Officers,
Named Executives and

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Directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Officer who was not previously
employed by the Company and for whom an Option grant is an inducement essential
to the Officer's entering into an employment relationship or contract with the
Company, shall be treated as an Employee for purposes of the Option grant made
to the Officer in connection with commencement of the Officer's employment with
the Company.

            (k)   "EXCHANGE ACT" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.

            (l)   "FAIR MARKET VALUE" shall mean, as of any date, the value of
Common Stock determined as follows:

                  (i)   If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock
exchange or a national market system including without limitation the National
Market of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated
Quotation ("Nasdaq") System, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales
price for such stock as quoted on such exchange or system for the market trading
day ON THE DATE OF DETERMINATION (if for a given day no sales were reported, the
closing bid on that day shall be used), as such price is reported in THE WALL
STREET JOURNAL or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;

                  (ii)  If the Common Stock is quoted on the Nasdaq System (but
not on the National Market thereof) or regularly quoted by a recognized
securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, its Fair Market Value
shall be the mean between the bid and asked prices for the Common Stock or;

                  (iii) In the absence of an established market for the Common
Stock, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the
Administrator.

            (m)   "NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION" shall mean an Option not intended
to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, as designated in the applicable option
agreement. "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION" shall mean an Option intended to qualify as
an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, as
designated in the applicable option agreement.

            (n)   "OFFICER" shall mean a person who is appointed or elected by
the Board of Directors as an officer of the Company, including but not limited
to a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of
the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

            (o)   "OPTION" shall mean a stock option granted pursuant to the
Plan.

            (p)   "OPTIONED STOCK" shall mean the Common Stock subject to an
Option.

            (q)   "OPTIONEE" shall mean an Employee or Consultant who receives
an Option.

                                       -2-

<PAGE>

            (r)   "PARENT" shall mean a "parent corporation," whether now or
hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

            (s)   "PLAN" shall mean this 1997 Employee Stock Option Plan.

            (t)   "SHARE" shall mean a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in
accordance with Section 11 of the Plan.

            (u)   "SUBSIDIARY" shall mean a "subsidiary corporation," whether
now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

      3.    STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. Subject to the provisions of Section 11
of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be optioned and
sold under the Plan is 1,300,000 Shares. The Shares may be authorized, but
unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.

      If an Option should expire or become unexercisable for any reason without
having been exercised in full, the unpurchased Shares which were subject thereto
shall, unless the Plan shall have been terminated, become available for future
grant under the Plan. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, Shares
issued under the Plan and later repurchased by the Company shall not become
available for future grant or sale under the Plan.

      4.    ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.

            (a)   COMPOSITION OF ADMINISTRATOR. The Plan shall be administered
by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee designated by the Board, which Committee
shall be constituted in such a manner as to satisfy the legal requirements
relating to the administration of nonstatutory stock option plans, if any, of
applicable securities laws and the Code (collectively, the "Applicable Laws").
If a Committee has been appointed pursuant to this Section 4(a), such Committee
shall continue to serve in its designated capacity until otherwise directed by
the Board. From time to time the Board may increase the size of any Committee
and appoint additional members thereof, remove members (with or without cause)
and appoint new members in substitution therefor, fill vacancies (however
caused) and remove all members of a Committee and thereafter directly administer
the Plan, all to the extent permitted by the Applicable Laws.

            (b)   POWERS OF THE ADMINISTRATOR. Subject to the provisions of the
Plan, and in the case of a Committee, the specific duties delegated by, or
limitations of authority imposed by, the Board to or on such Committee, the
Administrator shall have the authority, in its discretion:

                  (i)   to grant Options under the Plan;

                  (ii)  to determine, upon review of relevant information and in
accordance with Section 2(l) of the Plan, the fair market value of the Common
Stock;

                  (iii) to determine the exercise price per Share of Options to
be granted, which exercise price shall be determined in accordance with Section
9(a) of the Plan;

                                      -3-

<PAGE>

                  (iv)  to determine the Employees or Consultants to whom, and
the time or times at which, Options shall be granted and the number of Shares to
be represented by each Option;

                  (v)   to interpret the Plan;

                  (vi)  to approve forms of agreement for use under the Plan;

                  (vii) to determine the terms and provisions of each Option
granted (which need not be identical) and, with the consent of the holder
thereof, modify or amend each Option;

                  (viii) to accelerate or defer (with the consent of the
Optionee) the exercise date of any Option;

                  (ix)  to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the
Company any instrument required to effectuate the grant of an Option previously
granted by the Administrator; and

                  (x)   to make all other determinations deemed necessary or
advisable for the administration of the Plan.

            (c)   EFFECT OF ADMINISTRATOR'S DECISION. All decisions,
determinations and interpretations of the Administrator shall be final and
binding on all Optionees and any other holders of any Options granted under the
Plan.

      5.    ELIGIBILITY.

            (a)   Options may be granted only to Employees and Consultants. An
Employee or Consultant who has been granted an Option may, if Optionee is
otherwise eligible, be granted an additional Option or Options.

            (b)   Each Option shall be designated in the written option
agreement as a Nonstatutory Stock Option.

            (c)   The Plan shall not confer upon any Optionee any right with
respect to continuation of employment or consulting relationship with the
Company, nor shall it interfere in any way with Optionee's right or the
Company's right to terminate Optionee's employment or consulting relationship at
any time, with or without cause and with or without notice.

      6.    LIMITATION. The exercise price of any Option outstanding or to be
granted in the future under the plan shall not be reduced or cancelled and
re-granted at a lower exercise price (including pursuant to any "6 month and 1
day" cancellation and re-grant scheme), regardless of whether or not the
cancelled Options are put ack into the available pool for grant; replace
underwater options with restricted stock in an exchange, buy-back or other
scheme; or replace any options with new options having a lower exercise price or
accelerated vesting schedule in an exchange, buy-back or other scheme.

                                      -4-

<PAGE>

      7.    TERM OF PLAN. The Plan shall become effective upon its adoption by
the Board of Directors. It shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years
unless sooner terminated under Section 13 of the Plan.

      8.    TERM OF OPTION. The term of each Nonstatutory Stock Option shall be
ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof or such shorter term as may be
provided in the Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement.

      9.    EXERCISE PRICE AND CONSIDERATION.

            (a)   The per Share exercise price for the Shares to be issued
pursuant to exercise of an Option shall be such price as is determined by the
Administrator, but shall be noless than 100% of the fair market value per Share
on the date of grant.

            (b)   The consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued upon
exercise of an Option, including the method of payment, shall be determined by
the Administrator and may consist entirely of (1) cash, (2) check, (3)
promissory note, (4) other Shares of Common Stock which (i) either have been
owned by the Optionee for more than six (6) months on the date of surrender or
were not acquired, directly or indirectly, from the Company, and (ii) have a
fair market value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price
of the Shares as to which said Option shall be exercised, (5) delivery of a
properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a
broker to deliver promptly to the Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds
required to pay the exercise price, or (6) any combination of such methods of
payment. In making its determination as to the type of consideration to accept,
the Administrator shall consider if acceptance of such consideration may be
reasonably expected to benefit the Company.

      10.   EXERCISE OF OPTION.

            (a)   PROCEDURE FOR EXERCISE; RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER. Any Option
granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times and under such conditions
as determined by the Administrator, including performance criteria with respect
to the Company and/or the Optionee, and as shall be permissible under the terms
of the Plan.

            An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.

            An Option shall be deemed to be exercised when written notice of
such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the
Option by the person entitled to exercise the Option and full payment for the
Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised has been received by the
Company. Full payment may, as authorized by the Administrator, consist of any
consideration and method of payment allowable under Section 9(b) of the Plan.
Until the issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the
Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company) of the stock
certificate evidencing such Shares, no right to vote or receive dividends or any
other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to the Optioned Stock,
notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Company shall issue (or cause to
be issued) such stock certificate promptly upon exercise of the

                                      -5-

<PAGE>

Option. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the
record date is prior to the date the stock certificate is issued, except as
provided in Section 11 of the Plan.

            Exercise of an Option in any manner shall result in a decrease in
the number of Shares which thereafter may be available, both for purposes of the
Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the
Option is exercised.

            (b)   TERMINATION OF STATUS AS AN EMPLOYEE OR CONSULTANT. In the
event of termination of an Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee or
Consultant, such Optionee may, but only within thirty (30) days (or such other
period of time as is determined by the Administrator) after the date of such
termination (but in no event later than the date of expiration of the term of
such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), exercise Optionee's Option to
the extent that Optionee was entitled to exercise it at the date of such
termination. To the extent that Optionee was not entitled to exercise the Option
at the date of such termination, or if Optionee does not exercise such Option
(which Optionee was entitled to exercise) within the time specified herein, the
Option shall terminate.

            (c)   DISABILITY OF OPTIONEE. Notwithstanding the provisions of
Section 10(b) above, in the event of termination of an Optionee's Continuous
Status as an Employee or Consultant as a result of Optionee's total and
permanent disability (as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), Optionee may,
but only within twelve (12) months (but in no event later than the date of
expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement),
from the date of such termination (but in no event later than the date of
expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement),
exercise Optionee's Option to the extent Optionee was entitled to exercise it at
the date of such termination. To the extent that Optionee was not entitled to
exercise the Option at the date of termination, or if Optionee does not exercise
such Option (which Optionee was entitled to exercise) within the time specified
herein, the Option shall terminate.

            (d)   DEATH OF OPTIONEE. In the event of termination of an
Optionee's Continuance Status as an Employee or Consultant as a result of the
death of an Optionee, the Option may be exercised, at any time within twelve
(12) months following the date of death (but in no event later than the date of
expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), by
the Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the
Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent of the right to
exercise the Option at the date of death. To the extent that Optionee was not
entitled to exercise the Option at the date of death, or if Optionee does not
exercise such Option to the extent so entitled within the time specified herein,
the Option shall terminate.

      11.   NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS. The Option may not be sold, pledged,
assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by
will or by the laws of descent or distribution; PROVIDED, that the Administrator
may in its discretion grant transferable Nonstatutory Stock Options pursuant to
option agreements specifying (i) the manner in which such Nonstatutory Stock
Options are transferable and (ii) that any such transfer shall be subject to the
Applicable Laws. The designation of a beneficiary by an Optionee will not
constitute a

                                      -6-

<PAGE>

transfer. An Option may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Optionee, only
by the Optionee or a transferee permitted by this Section 10.

      12.   ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION OR MERGER.

            (a)   ADJUSTMENTS. Subject to any required action by the
stockholders of the Company, the number of Shares covered by each outstanding
Option, and the number of Shares which have been authorized for issuance under
the Plan but as to which no Options have yet been granted or which have been
returned to the Plan upon cancellation or expiration of an Option, and the price
per Share covered by each such outstanding Option, shall be proportionately
adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares resulting
from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or
reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the
number of issued Shares effected without receipt of consideration by the
Company; provided, however, that conversion of any convertible securities of the
Company shall not be deemed to have been "effected without receipt of
consideration." Such adjustment shall be made by the Administrator, whose
determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as
expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any
class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall
affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the
number or price of Shares subject to an Option.

            (b)   CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS. In the event of the proposed
dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Option will terminate immediately
prior to the consummation of such proposed action, unless otherwise provided by
the Administrator. The Administrator may, in the exercise of its sole discretion
in such instances, declare that any Option shall terminate as of a date fixed by
the Administrator and give each Optionee the right to exercise Optionee's Option
as to all or any part of the Optioned Stock, including Shares as to which the
Option would not otherwise be exercisable. In the event of a proposed sale of
all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the merger of the
Company with or into another corporation, the Option shall be assumed or an
equivalent option shall be substituted by such successor corporation or a parent
or subsidiary of such successor corporation, unless such successor corporation
does not agree to assume the Option or to substitute an equivalent option, in
which case the Administrator shall, in lieu of such assumption or substitution,
provide for the Optionee to have the right to exercise the Option as to all of
the Optioned Stock, including Shares as to which the option would not otherwise
be exercisable. If the Administrator makes an Option fully exercisable in lieu
of assumption or substitution in the event of a merger or sale of assets, the
Administrator shall notify the Optionee that the Option shall be fully
exercisable for a period of fifteen (15) days from the date of such notice, and
the Option will terminate upon the expiration of such period.

      13.   TIME OF GRANTING OPTIONS. The date of grant of an Option shall, for
all purposes, be the date on which the Administrator makes the determination
granting such Option. Notice of the determination shall be given to each
Employee or Consultant to whom an Option is so granted within a reasonable time
after the date of such grant.

                                      -7-

<PAGE>

      14.   AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.

            (a)   AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION. The Board may amend or terminate
the Plan from time to time in such respects as the Board may deem advisable

            (b)   EFFECT OF AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION. Any such amendment or
termination of the Plan shall not adversely affect Options already granted
(except to the extent contemplated by such Options) and such Options shall
remain in full force and effect, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the
Optionee and the Board (or other body then administering the Plan), which
agreement must be in writing and signed by the Optionee and the Company.

      15.   CONDITIONS UPON ISSUANCE OF SHARES. Shares shall not be issued
pursuant to the exercise of an Option unless the exercise of such Option and the
issuance and delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all
relevant provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Shares may
then be listed, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the
Company with respect to such compliance.

      As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Company may require the
person exercising such Option to represent and warrant at the time of any such
exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any
present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of
counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of the
aforementioned relevant provisions of law.

      16.   RESERVATION OF SHARES. The Company, during the term of this Plan,
will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan. The inability of the Company
to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which
authority is deemed by the Company's counsel to be necessary to the lawful
issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any
liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which
such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.

      17.   OPTION AGREEMENT. Options shall be evidenced by written option
agreements in such form as the Administrator shall approve.

      18.   INFORMATION TO OPTIONEES. The Company shall provide to each Optionee
upon request, during the period for which such Optionee has one or more Options
outstanding, copies of all annual reports and other information which are
provided to all stockholders of the Company.

      19.   WITHHOLDING TAXES. As a condition to the exercise of Options granted
hereunder, the Optionee shall make such arrangements as the Administrator may
require for the satisfaction of any federal, state, local or foreign withholding
tax obligations that may arise in connection with the exercise, receipt or
vesting of such Option. The Company shall not be required to issue any Shares
under the Plan until such obligations are satisfied.

                                      -8-

<PAGE>

      20.   STOCK WITHHOLDING TO SATISFY WITHHOLDING TAX OBLIGATIONS. At the
discretion of the Administrator, Optionees may satisfy withholding obligations
as provided in this paragraph. When an Optionee incurs tax liability in
connection with an Option which tax liability is subject to tax withholding
under applicable tax laws, and the Optionee is obligated to pay the Company an
amount required to be withheld under applicable tax laws, the Optionee may
satisfy the withholding tax obligation by one or some combination of the
following methods: (a) by cash payment, or (b) out of Optionee's current
compensation, or (c) if permitted by the Administrator, in its discretion, by
surrendering to the Company Shares that (i) in the case of Shares previously
acquired from the Company, have been owned by the Optionee for more than six
months on the date of surrender, and (ii) have a fair market value on the date
of surrender equal to or less than Optionee's marginal tax rate times the
ordinary income recognized, or (d) by electing to have the Company withhold from
the Shares to be issued upon exercise of the Option that number of Shares having
a fair market value equal to the amount required to be withheld. For this
purpose, the fair market value of the Shares to be withheld shall be determined
on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined (the "Tax
Date").

      All elections by an Optionee to have Shares withheld to satisfy tax
withholding obligations shall be made in writing in a form acceptable to the
Administrator and shall be subject to the following restrictions:

      (a)   the election must be made on or prior to the applicable Tax Date;

      (b)   once made, the election shall be irrevocable as to the particular
Shares of the Option as to which the election is made; and

      (c)   all elections shall be subject to the consent or disapproval of the
Administrator.

      In the event the election to have Shares withheld is made by an Optionee
and the Tax Date is deferred under Section 83 of the Code because no election is
filed under Section 83(b) of the Code, the Optionee shall receive the full
number of Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised but such Optionee
shall be unconditionally obligated to tender back to the Company the proper
number of Shares on the Tax Date.

                                      -9-

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