EXHIBIT 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated June 15, 2001 relating to the financial statements and financial statement schedules, which appears in Verity, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2001. \s\ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP San Jose, California June 21, 2001