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Question

Not allowed to use Flash anymore?

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
May 11, 2019
6 replies
9774 views

Ever since Flash became Animate a few years ago, I've been using Flash (v15.0) for drawing because I find the new (well, 3-year-old) brush algorythm in several ways inferior to the old one. I create my figures in Flash and copy-paste them into Animate where I make the animation. This setup is far from ideal but I've been able to make it work - while always hoping that one day Animate's brush will receive a (imo) much needed improvement. This hasn't happened so far but I never lost hope...

Yesterday I got an email from Adobe saying that they have discontinued the support for Flash v15.0: You can't download and install it anymore and - wait for it! - should you already have it installed (like I do), you're no longer licenced to use it. That's right, you are NOT ALLOWED to use it anymore. If you do "you may be at risk of potential claims of infringement by third parties."

Seriously? It's one thing that you don't offer old versions anymore but to PROHIBIT the use of existing copies just blows my mind.

Every part of my body is dreading the idea of looking for another animation software - I just don't have the time to test and learn their features plus I like my sub package with Premiere and After Affects and Photoshop and all but you are literally (or metaphorically) pushing me away with your move. You are taking away a software I use and are not providing a better alternative while expecting me to continue paying.

And yes, it's debatable whether or not the Animate brush is better or worse than the Flash version - it may just be up to personal preference (although, reading the forums, I'm far from alone with my opinion). But at least up till now there has been an option to choose. A rather uncomfortable option (working in 2 apps simultanously) but and option regardless. Which you are taking away now.

This is a serious downgrade for me. Possibly a dealbreaker if I manage to find an alternative.

This topic has been closed for replies.

julior32043645

New Participant

Hello, recently i have seen many pages with old swf's preserved with historic purpoises like archive.org use wasm to play online animation and videogames made with actionscript, i have left using animate and i am in html5-css-javascript escene, some parts of my projects will benefict on a IDE like was adobe flash /adobe animate, you will integrate an alternative platform to publish with wasm? thanks in advance, i am already teaching and organizing projects around digital animation art, thanks.

Z

zoltáns77848546Author

Known Participant

So here's an article shedding some light on the issue.

It just makes the whole situation more infuriating - also, if it's true, the response I got back from Customer Care was half bullsh*t.

rayek.elfin

Brainiac

As far as I can tell, by releasing this statement, Adobe is indemnifying their users to prevent itself from being exposed to any further legal infringements caused by the use of older versions by their users.

So, in short, Adobe is protecting itself by exposing their users to potential legal action. It's rather naff and a bit of a slap in the face of their users.

In theory a user or company releasing an animation with an older version of Animate expose themselves to being sued, because some part of the software (probably the Dolby licensed parts) isn't covered by a proper license.

And if anyone thinks this wouldn't happen, think again: It is a similar situation as with SCO vs. Autozone.

I'd steer clear and well away from using ANY of the implicated older Adobe apps from now on for commercial work.

C

ClayUUID

Brainiac

Judging by Adobe's public response thus far, they seem to have absolutely no comprehension how badly their current course of action reflects on them. They're treating this like yanking some old games from Steam—oh well, big deal, buy the newest version—when in reality this is going to have a real disruptive economic impact on the companies who rely on them for their production process.

Well, to paraphrase Lily Tomlin, "We don't care. We don't have to. We're Adobe."

C

ClayUUID

Brainiac

I really hope this isn't another patent troll situation, like the Eolas "click to activate" nonsense from almost a decade ago.

C

ClayUUID

Brainiac

According to Adobe's blog on this change, the "two most recent major versions" are all we're being granted access to anymore. This is a really bad, and to be frank, stupidly arrogant move on Adobe's part, considering that large development teams tend to standardize on known stable versions of their software for years at a time.

C

ClayUUID

Brainiac

If Adobe is shoving all previous versions of Flash and Animate down the memory hole, that's extraordinarily bad. Without access to Flash CS6, it will be impossible to update old SWF content. And without access to Animate 2015, we'll be forced to use the current version, which is buggy and terrible.

kglad

Community Expert

you can keep using it. and adobe's allowing licensed user that have registered with adobe to even download older adobe programs.

the lawyers are letting you know that new(er) laws (esp from the eu) are putting increasing limits on everyone that does business on the internet (esp in the eu). adobe wants you to know the legal landscape for software makers is changing but you can relax unless you're concerned about 3rd parties, eg the eu.

Z

zoltáns77848546Author

Known Participant

Well, the older versions available for download in the CC app are 18.0 and higher. Flash is 15.0

And here's what the email said:

"We have recently discontinued certain older versions of Creative Cloud applications and as a result, under the terms of our agreement, you are no longer licensed to use them. Our records show that you may be using the following version(s) of these applications:

ANIMATE:15.0

Please be aware that should you continue to use the discontinued version(s), you may be at risk of potential claims of infringement by third parties."

Since English isn't my mother tongue, I might have misinterpreted the last sentence, in which case I'm a bit confused as to what it actually means. What I do know, however, is that installing Flash is not an option anymore. (Unless there's an alternative source outside the CC app.)

n. tilcheff

Brainiac

Yes, of course I have a current sub.

I appreciate that you're still trying to make it work, but there's no ambiguity anymore:

"Creative Cloud individual customers can download only the two most recent major versions of Creative Cloud apps. We no longer provide previous versions of these apps via the Creative Cloud Desktop app or on Adobe.com."

So hang on to that cs6 copy of yours, cause you don't get to download it anymore by the looks of it. (Maybe corporate customers do, not sure about that.)

Overall, this is a huge kick in the groin -- maybe they'll reverse it if enough people complain.

They are again shooting themselves in the foot.

Not only CS6 and some of the older versions of Flash and Animate CC perform better and are preferred by many professional users, because of that, but not being able to access them will make trouble-shooting and bug-tracking much more difficult.

I don't care much about the rest of the Adobe suite, but in times when Animate's reputation is so damaged and they are trying to regain popularity and trust with the animation industry, this is an absolutely suicidal act and terrible PR.

The industry is conservative and is not only comprised of huge studios, but also individuals who freelance, making TV-commercials or work on TV-shows from home. A lot of money is at stake and deadlines have to always be matched.

No sane professional updates his tools on a whim or when some company decides to release an update, because the consequences can be disastrous.

Last two releases of Animate - 2018 and 2019 - have been the worst performing versions of Flash to date - crippled and laggy. They are not fit for production work, regardless of the hype about Advanced Layers, Parenting and so on. All these features were rushed out of the door too early and will probably need years to become production-ready.

Thank you, @zoltáns77848546 for bringing this very important information to our attention!

Nick - Character Designer and Animator, Flash user since 1998 | Member of the Flanimate Power Tools team - extensions for character animation

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