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Participant
May 26, 2023
Question

moderator]Adobe has flagged my licensed product as 'Pirated' - I'm pissed.

  • May 26, 2023
  • 3 replies
  • 4096 views

I was accused of 'pirating' my licensed software.[Edited by moderator]

I purchased a new PC that arrived 2 days ago. I failed to deactivate CS6 on my old PC before installing on my new PC. Once installed, I realized I made a mistake with the new PC purchase, restored it to factory delivered condition and returned it to Amazon and received its replacement yesterday. Once again, I failed to deactivate CS6 before restoring the new one to factory delivered condition.

When the new PC arrived, I once again installed CS6 to be told I had exceeded the install limit; which is true. I sought assistance with Adobe because of my mistake. I was immediately accused of 'pirating' the software by someone named 'Nikin', and was told the license key had been disabled because of that and I could no longer use it.

If I was using an illegal copy, I sure would not be reaching out to Adobe to reset it. I still have the original purchase email and provided that to 'Nikin' who still ignored my legal status for the product and was only interested in selling me a subscription. I have no interest in a subscription.

I also had to change my registered email with my acount because after 20 years, I no longer have COX as my ISP; I guess that triggered my 'pirate' status.

3 replies

Nancy OShea
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 26, 2023

CS6 is discontinued, obsolete software that no longer exists.

Adobe pulled CS software down in early 2017.  It's not legally available from any vendor, retailer or country.

 

If you had an OEM product, it's only valid on the original machine it came with.  OEM licenses cannot be transfered to other machines.

 

Photoshop Elements or Premiere Elements (approx $100, no subscription needed).
https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-elements.html

Creative Cloud Photography Plan (approx $10/month for 12 months). Includes the following:

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  • Adobe Express (free starter plan)
  • Bridge
  • 20 GB cloud storage (upgradable to 1 TB).
  • Free upgrades for paid subscribers

https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography.html

Premium Adobe Express ($10/month).

  • Adobe Express app (web and mobile)
  • Premiere Rush (video editing on desktop and mobile)
  • Photoshop Express (mobile)
  • Spark Video (mobile)
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  • Adobe Portfolio + hosting
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https://helpx.adobe.com/express/using/express-overview.html

Creative Cloud All Apps (51 + pro apps & services) and Single App Plans
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Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert
Known Participant
June 24, 2024

This is not helpful advice to people who have purchased a PERPETUAL license. If this is how Adobe treat their paying customers, why would we give them more money?

Nancy OShea
Community Expert
Community Expert
June 24, 2024
quote

This is not helpful advice to people who have purchased a PERPETUAL license.

By @Jackiejack85

==========

Did you read your product's End User License Agreement (EULA)? 

https://www.adobe.com/content/dam/cc/en/legal/licenses-terms/pdf/CS6.pdf

 

Legacy CS6 was never a 'forever' license.  At best, it had a 3-5 year shelf-life.  After that, you used it at your own risk. 

 

12+ year old software may or may not work on modern equipment and operating systems. Unfortunately, that's the risk you take with older software.

 

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert
kglad
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 26, 2023

failing to deactivate and changing isp are both unrelated to a flagged serial number.

 

if your serial number was flagged, it's usually not because of anything you did, but because of something the vendor did.  the only thing you could have done to cause a valid serial number to be flagged would be to "allow" your serial number to be posted in public.  ie, if you shared your serial number, that would trigger the problem. but most likely, you did not do that.  

 

https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/invalid-revoked-serial-numbers.html

Known Participant
June 24, 2024

This is not true. I have had my genuine serial number revoked twice, I'm currently dealing with this nightmare now, even though I bought directly from Adobe and never shared my serials.

kglad
Community Expert
Community Expert
June 24, 2024

what's not true?

John T Smith
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 26, 2023

Did you buy from Adobe or some other vendor?

Participant
May 26, 2023

I am a member of TECHSOUP.ORG, a supported site for Adobe donations such as CS6. I purchased through them for my 501(c)3 Charitable Organization, Merry Heart Guidance Center, on January 9, 2014. I've installed, uninstalled, reinstalled many times in the past 7 years after purchasing new PC equipment.

Participant
May 26, 2023

9 years that is...