Adobe CS2 Software Download Confusion

[coolmaltese]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Florida

There seems to be confusion over the recent Adobe action of posting some of its older software for download with key codes listed. I won't post the link here but many reputable websites are reporting that certain Adobe older software products are "free". From what I have read, Adobe turned off its activation servers for its old CS2 software and has a webpage with download links and key codes. After further reading, I believe Adobe's intention was to provide this for older customers who needed to reinstall the software (and with the activation servers no longer working, their existing key codes would not work, so they could use the fixed universal key codes printed on the webpage).

There has been a considerable amount of discussion back and forth on various forums (including the Adobe forums) and conflicting statements and confusion (Adobe statements, Adobe employee statements, EULA language) over the status of this software. Adding to the confusion, when Adobe first put up this download page they required registration and have since recently removed the registration requirement to download this software meaning you do not even need to register anymore to download from this page.

Evidently this has resulted in hundreds of thousands of downloads of this older software and the growing confusion is going viral (and Adobe seems to be remaining officially silent regarding a clarification or statement - at least as of the date of this post). Whether or not Adobe feels they have to legally issue a statement, since so many users are involved, a simple clarification or re-statement would end the confusion.

My question is, unless Adobe comes out with a specific announcement saying that this software is in fact legal to use, only previous customers would be entitled to use it?

 

[quincy]

Whether or not Adobe feels they have to legally issue a statement, since so many users are involved, a simple clarification or re-statement would end the confusion.

My question is, unless Adobe comes out with a specific announcement saying that this software is in fact legal to use, only previous customers would be entitled to use it?

As you stated, a simple clarification or restatement would end the confusion.

Adobe Systems, Inc. issued a statement earlier this week saying the download is not free.

 

[Silverplum]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Florida

There seems to be confusion over the recent Adobe action of posting some of its older software for download with key codes listed. I won't post the link here but many reputable websites are reporting that certain Adobe older software products are "free". From what I have read, Adobe turned off its activation servers for its old CS2 software and has a webpage with download links and key codes. After further reading, I believe Adobe's intention was to provide this for older customers who needed to reinstall the software (and with the activation servers no longer working, their existing key codes would not work, so they could use the fixed universal key codes printed on the webpage).

There has been a considerable amount of discussion back and forth on various forums (including the Adobe forums) and conflicting statements and confusion (Adobe statements, Adobe employee statements, EULA language) over the status of this software. Adding to the confusion, when Adobe first put up this download page they required registration and have since recently removed the registration requirement to download this software meaning you do not even need to register anymore to download from this page.

Evidently this has resulted in hundreds of thousands of downloads of this older software and the growing confusion is going viral (and Adobe seems to be remaining officially silent regarding a clarification or statement - at least as of the date of this post). Whether or not Adobe feels they have to legally issue a statement, since so many users are involved, a simple clarification or re-statement would end the confusion.

My question is, unless Adobe comes out with a specific announcement saying that this software is in fact legal to use, only previous customers would be entitled to use it?

I can't help but LOL at the idea of "hundreds of thousands" of CS2 users in existence.

They simply don't exist in those numbers. Exaggeration is always mockable.

 

[TigerD]

Actually, there probably were hundreds of thousands of downloads of CS2. I know a half dozen plus that downloaded it when the "free" announcement came out.

Personally, I think Adobe screwed up a potential PR coup. CS2 is outdated, but it could serve as a tool to bring potential customers into CS6. I was considering buying CS6 myself. Instead, I downloaded CS2. I may still buy CS6. It really depends on how Adobe handles this.

DC

 

[coolmaltese]

Supposedly for a time, Adobe's servers were maxed out. The thread about this CS2 offering on one of the popular deal sites alone is over 300,000 views and nearing 800 reply posts, so interest in this is substantial. Fueling the fire were reports by several high profile websites which added to the confusion. A lot of people were downloading it simply because they thought it was free. Tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands, either way it is a lot and the issue is the same.

Now that the Adobe cat is out of the bag, it will be interesing to see what happens.

 

[quincy]

Now that the Adobe cat is out of the bag, it will be interesing to see what happens.

Yes. It will be.