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S
Sunny_genius5CF4
Participant
March 16, 2025
Question

Seeking Guidance on Past Software Usage & Legal Solution

  • March 16, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 1420 views

Dear Adobe Team,

I hope you are doing well. I am reaching out with an honest concern regarding my past use of Photoshop. When I was younger and couldn’t afford the software, I used a cracked version as a learner, without fully understanding the ethical and legal implications. Now that I have started earning, I want to switch to a fully legal Adobe Creative Cloud subscription.

As a Muslim, I believe using something without the owner's permission is not right, and I deeply regret my past actions. I want to correct my mistake in a way that ensures everything I earn is ethical and halal.

However, I have one concern: I bought a laptop using money earned from work done on a cracked version of Photoshop. I want to know the best way to make things right.

  1. Can Adobe officially forgive my past usage, allowing me to start fresh by purchasing the legal version now?
  2. Or do I need to pay for the months I used the cracked version to make things right?
  3. If Adobe forgives my past usage, will my earnings from that work also become ethically acceptable?

I sincerely respect Adobe and want to ensure that I move forward in the right way. I truly appreciate your guidance on this.

2 replies

Nancy OShea
Community Expert
Nancy OSheaCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 16, 2025

Consult your spiritual advisor about ethics & atonement for past misdeeds.

 

This is a product user-to-user community, not a pipeline to Adobe. 

 

 

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert
S
Sunny_genius5CF4Author
Participant
March 17, 2025
I kindly ask for your forgiveness for my past actions. If you can confirm
that I am forgiven, it would bring me great relief from my stress.

Looking forward to your response.
ProDesignTools
Community Expert
ProDesignToolsCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 17, 2025

Most of us here are fellow users and do not work for Adobe, and so cannot grant forgiveness from the company itself.

 

But no doubt Adobe would be grateful to have your legitimate business in purchasing an authentic product, which would also benefit you by avoiding malware and other problems with illegal software.

 

I'm sure they would say better late than never. Thank you for being upstanding.

 

D Fosse
Community Expert
D FosseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 16, 2025

You don't need to worry. As long as you're using a legitimate version now, nobody's going to go into your past history. The main goal of Adobe's anti-piracy efforts is to go after those who sell and distribute illegal software, and then to disable any illegal copies.

 

Remember, a very large portion of users who have pirated copies, have bought them in good faith. They have no idea they have been scammed. The offers often look entirely credible and above board.

    S
    Sunny_genius5CF4Author
    Participant
    March 17, 2025
    Dear Adobe Team,

    I want to acknowledge that I previously used a pirated version of Photoshop
    and earned money from it. I regret this and am now committed to using a
    legal subscription.

    If I purchase an official subscription now using the earnings from my past
    usage, will there be any issues? I sincerely apologize for my past actions
    and hope for your understanding.

    Looking forward to your response.
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