Skip to main content
A
Anonymous
January 11, 2016
Question

Licensing questions...

  • January 11, 2016
  • 2 replies
  • 827 views

It's been suggesting that the project I'm working on might violate T&C, so I'm trying to clarify if what I'm doing is wrong, and what's the right way to do it if so.

We have a small application for stamping pdfs with things (construction company, things like "tender" or "for construction". We want to manage this ourselves so we can tie the actions back into AutoCAD.

Right now, I've been looking at just using the free pdf viewer that comes with reader (AxAcroPdf) and basic itextsharp functions, but I'm not sure that is legal. I've never used the SDK.

We have multiple copies of Acrobat Professional X and Distiller X though NOT one for every computer and this would be on every computer.

1)Is what I'm doing legal?

2)if not, is there a legal way to do it with the SDK and do our copies permit that?

3)are 3rd party components a legal way around this? if not, how do they exist?

Thanks in advance!!

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

Karl Heinz Kremer
Community Expert
Karl Heinz KremerCommunity Expert
Community Expert
January 14, 2016

As TSN already explained, most people here are just users of Adobe's products, just like you. The best way to resolve legal issues is to talk to a lawyer. I know, we usually try to avoid that at all cost, but it's really the only way to get an interpretation of the license terms imposed by the software you are using.

I can however give you some information about your 3rd question:

Adobe no longer owns the PDF specification. This document is now maintained as an interrelation standard by ISO. This means that anybody can get that specification and develop applications that create, modify or consume PDF files. This means that any 3rd party tool that you can find (or build using e.g. the iText library you mention) is perfectly legal because it's built based on an open standard (that is, within the licensing terms that solution comes with).

    A
    Anonymous
    January 14, 2016

    Really need an answer to this.... anyone?

    T
    Test Screen Name
    Legend
    January 14, 2016

    There's a problem here: non-Adobe staff (like me) can't offer you a definitive answer. And I suspect (but cannot confirm) that Adobe staff may be forbidden from offering an opinion on license agreement interpretation, since you could then end up with a conflict between the license intent, as interpreted by the courts and Adobe's lawyer, and an interpretation of any Adobe staff member. Since I don't speak for Adobe I can only offer useless insight, but my advice is to err on the side of caution as an exchange with Adobe's lawyers is unlikely to cheer anyone up.

    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices