Can a single AdobeID have multiple seats?

[Chris ILines]

We have 3 users who are running Adobe applications on two computers at the same time.  Will we need to create extra AdobeID's for these users so that they can install Creative Cloud on their 2nd workstations?

[Chris ILines]

NO

In theory yes.

Go back up and read 14. Aug 16th

A benefit of membership is now you can run both your installations at the same time.

It used to be that you could only run one of your two installations at a time.

NOW YOU ONLY NEED 5 SEATS TO RUN 10 WORKSTATIONS.

Blew me away but go back and read it.

It is there in the EULA, which of course could be changed at any time.

[David__B]

Hi Chris,

I read 14 again, my understanding is still the license supports installing on 2 machines but can only be used on one of those two computers at a time by the owner.

[Chris ILines]

OK, that's how I see it too

Kartikay Sharma

and

Beverly Greg both staff members-

Earlier in the discusion both insisted that two workstations can run at the same time on one license.

Might need to address that

Another point brought up in that same section that affects others in this thread, is that it states the license can not be used by customers paying the owner of the membership. Would that include a student who is paying for classes?

And if I take my computer to work on a job in Europe for 3 weeks, am I going to be out of my territory and lose use of the software?

[HBLansing]

Chris ILines wrote:

OK, that's how I see it too

Kartikay Sharma

and

Beverly Greg both staff members-

Earlier in the discusion both insisted that two workstations can run at the same time on one license.

Might need to address that

Another point brought up in that same section that affects others in this thread, is that it states the license can not be used by customers paying the owner of the membership. Would that include a student who is paying for classes?

And if I take my computer to work on a job in Europe for 3 weeks, am I going to be out of my territory and lose use of the software?

Chris, that bit about license not being used by anyone who pays the cloud membership owner can't right.  Freelancers, consultants, and students could all be hooped.

[sistermonkey]

I'm reasonably sure that clause is translated from legalese as "You can't rent a seat to someone else."  They don't want people buying a 20 seat team membership and then reselling the seats individually or renting them in smaller units (an hour/day/week/whatever at a time).

Edit: Just to clarify, that should mean "You can't have someone pay you to use your license," rather than "Someone who pays you for anything can't use the license."

[Chris ILines]

Could be, but "customer" is a pretty loose description. It could imply any one paying you for something.

They may also not want to populate a classroom with 20 licenses and have 200 people a day use them.

[sistermonkey]

Actually, in this case "Customer" isn't vague at all.  It's a very precisely defined term.

1.5  “Customer” means you and any legal entity that obtained the Software and on whose behalf it is used; for example, and as applicable, your employer.

In addition, educational licenses are totally different.  They're managed by a different agreement.  While it doesn't really tell you anything other than "ask a reseller" the FAQ for education is here: http://www.adobe.com/products/creativecloud/faq.html#cc-edu. 

[HBLansing]

sistermonkey wrote:

Actually, in this case "Customer" isn't vague at all.  It's a very precisely defined term.

1.5  “Customer” means you and any legal entity that obtained the Software and on whose behalf it is used; for example, and as applicable, your employer.

In addition, educational licenses are totally different.  They're managed by a different agreement.  While it doesn't really tell you anything other than "ask a reseller" the FAQ for education is here: http://www.adobe.com/products/creativecloud/faq.html#cc-edu. 

I see his point; in our school each student has their own license...we pre-bought 1-year packs of student cloud for each of them.  Having said that, they also pay us...as in they are customers...and they also use my print workstations which are running Cloudware under my Team license.  So, am I not allowed to let my customers use my Team-licensed workstations?

One...of the myriad...problems with the licensing in this fiasco is that there is so much that is not clear.  Under volume licensing I licensed and installed for systems, not IDs.  Anyone who was here, student or staff, was legally entitled to use any of the systems I had CS installed on.  Now?  Well, this and so many other threads here and elsewhere point to the fact that the answers are anything but clear.

[sistermonkey]

HBLansing wrote: 

I see his point; in our school each student has their own license...we pre-bought 1-year packs of student cloud for each of them.  Having said that, they also pay us...as in they are customers...and they also use my print workstations which are running Cloudware under my Team license.  So, am I not allowed to let my customers use my Team-licensed workstations?

One...of the myriad...problems with the licensing in this fiasco is that there is so much that is not clear.  Under volume licensing I licensed and installed for systems, not IDs.  Anyone who was here, student or staff, was legally entitled to use any of the systems I had CS installed on.  Now?  Well, this and so many other threads here and elsewhere point to the fact that the answers are anything but clear.

I can see how it's confusing. Contracts try to use conventional words for clarity, but that can end up being fairly confusing.  Try reading it with some other word entirely when it seems unclear; for example, you could use "bobblehead" and rewrite the definition and the paragraph in question with that in place of customer.  In a contract, defined terms mean only what they're defined as.  If someone pays you to access the seat and does work for themselves, that makes them the bobblehead.  The only potentially iffy area I see in what you described would be if the students used the print workstations for personal (not school-related) projects, but even then, if they have their own licenses Adobe isn't likely to care which exact installation they were using.

All of that, of course, depends on that being the language that applies to team and educational licenses.  I can't see what the terms are for those, and what little is online for edu site-based licenses appears to be out of date.  If you're really concerned about it, your best bet is a live chat with a sales specialist via one of the pages about the appropriate licenses.  If they don't know, they'll at least know who to send you to.

Mind you, I absolutely agree that having to assign everything to a unique valid email address and not having clear seat-based licenses is absurd.  I just want to make sure that's being demonstrated with points they can't discount.

[HBLansing]

sistermonkey wrote:

HBLansing wrote: 

I see his point; in our school each student has their own license...we pre-bought 1-year packs of student cloud for each of them.  Having said that, they also pay us...as in they are customers...and they also use my print workstations which are running Cloudware under my Team license.  So, am I not allowed to let my customers use my Team-licensed workstations?

One...of the myriad...problems with the licensing in this fiasco is that there is so much that is not clear.  Under volume licensing I licensed and installed for systems, not IDs.  Anyone who was here, student or staff, was legally entitled to use any of the systems I had CS installed on.  Now?  Well, this and so many other threads here and elsewhere point to the fact that the answers are anything but clear.

I can see how it's confusing. Contracts try to use conventional words for clarity, but that can end up being fairly confusing.  Try reading it with some other word entirely when it seems unclear; for example, you could use "bobblehead" and rewrite the definition and the paragraph in question with that in place of customer.  In a contract, defined terms mean only what they're defined as.  If someone pays you to access the seat and does work for themselves, that makes them the bobblehead.  The only potentially iffy area I see in what you described would be if the students used the print workstations for personal (not school-related) projects, but even then, if they have their own licenses Adobe isn't likely to care which exact installation they were using.

All of that, of course, depends on that being the language that applies to team and educational licenses.  I can't see what the terms are for those, and what little is online for edu site-based licenses appears to be out of date. If you're really concerned about it, your best bet is a live chat with a sales specialist via one of the pages about the appropriate licenses.  If they don't know, they'll at least know who to send you to.

Mind you, I absolutely agree that having to assign everything to a unique valid email address and not having clear seat-based licenses is absurd.  I just want to make sure that's being demonstrated with points they can't discount.

Sistermonkey,

I've tried the sales specialist route, and printed out...for my own amusement...that conversation.  I was referred back to my reseller for Team, and CDW knows even less about this than we do. 

I'm really out of both time and patience for this confusion, and the in-thread conflicting direction from their own staff points out just how unfriendly this licensing structure is to all of us who have to manage it at the back end.  It did not have to be this way for volume customers, at all.  It would have been a simple matter (contrasted with the complexity of the actual applications) to have a management system that allowed all of us managing Team seats to simply have a Master ID that could manage subordinate IDs/Seats from a single email unless we wanted to specifically assign some of them to named users.  That's all it would have taken for this to be a non-issue.

Right now I don't know what to do; one staffer says "create 5 IDs for your 10 seats and use them concurrently" while another says "create 10 IDs for your 10 seats because you can't use them concurrently".  I don't have time for this, I have barely enough time to get the place ready without Adobe adding to my headaches...and I know I am not alone in this.

[HBLansing]

sistermonkey wrote:

I'm reasonably sure that clause is translated from legalese as "You can't rent a seat to someone else."  They don't want people buying a 20 seat team membership and then reselling the seats individually or renting them in smaller units (an hour/day/week/whatever at a time).

Edit: Just to clarify, that should mean "You can't have someone pay you to use your license," rather than "Someone who pays you for anything can't use the license."

I actually think that would be an interesting business model, or side-business model, in some markets.  Owning a team license and using the seats during the day, for instance, and renting time on design machines during off-hours.  Hmmmm

[Chris ILines]

I know, but read this:

2.2.3 Restrictions. Customer agrees to the following additional terms and restrictions related to the Membership: (a) Adobe may change the type of Software (such as specific products, components, versions, platforms, languages, etc.) included in the Membership at any time and shall not be liable to Customer whatsoever for such change; (b) Customer may be required to connect to the Internet and log in at any time during the Membership Term; (c) Software may automatically connect to the Internet to verify Customer’s Membership without notice at any time; and (d) Customer may not enable or allow others to use the Software as Customer.

For the first time in my life I feel like I need an attorney to go throug this with me. I'm afraid we're all going to be on the hook, and two years from now have the rug pulled out form under us and be left with no software to run our business.

And get this-in 2.2.2 it states I am agreeing to install and run the software only in my territory--How strict is that? If it logs on and states where I am, does it pull the plug or do I have 30 days or something. So am I going to need a version for Europe, and one for Asia and one for South America and one for South Africa? The problem is it doesn't really say exactly what is going to happen.

[HBLansing]

David__B wrote:

Hi HBLansing,

I read through this thread and would say your understanding is correct. In order to use the 10 different seats with a team membership and be in compliance with the license agreement, you would need to have 10 dedicated Adobe ID's/email addresses  specifically for this purpose and it would require creating additional email addresses to be used interchangably by staff.

-Dave

Hi Dave,

First; thanks for the response.

I'm both happy and sad that I actually do understand that Adobe fully expects me to create bogus emails and IDs, and that I am expected to now manage 10 bogus email accounts/inboxes/etc and 10 associated IDs where last year I simply used my single volume license.  I'm glad it's easier for someone there to manage, because you've created a significantly greater workload for me.

I can only pity the IT manager in a larger school who gets to do this with 50+ seats...

Do something about this, it's not complicated:  Allow Team to have a Master ID with a single email address that can handle provisioning for multiple subordinate IDs.  I know it's not complicated, what I don't know is why you launched Team without it.

[Guest]

Yes, you can have multiple seats for a single ID.

[chinzorigb88865406]

Please help me ADOBE staff.  I have a 3 piece Student and teacher ADOBE CC account. And we are all 3 license redeemed on 1 ID. But 2 device only installed CC. But can not install 3rd device. And new ID adding a 2nd license give a Already Redeemed. How to fix this? Help me. Hurry reply please. May i deactivate from 1st ID and adding 2nd iD ?????? POssible

[coagmano]

Old thread, but the question is still not answered with a reference to the EULA or other official documentation.

When the Adobe help site specifically says that a licence can be active on two computers but only used on one at a time: On how many computers can I use my Creative Cloud subscription?

The confusion continues

[LuckyLindy]

Not sure why so much confusion here. Forget the EULA and just do things morally/legally (meaning use the account that purchased the non-teams version.) The control to prevent bad behavior, from Adobe's POV is the limit of two simultaneous active MACHINES using  one Individual (vs Team) account. They are giving you the ability to log in and install CC on as many machines as you like; but you will only be able to install and use it on two machines at a time. If you log in as a first timer, or start up from an already installed but not activated computer,  CC will tell you you both licenses are used and that you need to do one of two things: go to one of the active computers and sign out (deactivate) or, right there in the dialog box, deactivate all active computers and sign in. I have CC on my Mac at home, my PC at work and my son has it on his Mac at school. Most often, on my PC, I forget that I am not logged in and CC tells me so; I'll usually just deactivate all machines so I can log in right then and there on the PC and use CC. That just means I will need, or my son will need, to sign in again on our our respective Macs. Remembering to sign out of my PC when I am done is another matter...but you can't fault Adobe for any inconvenience; they aren't giving this stuff away. All they ask is that you keep it legal/responsible; if that's not acceptable, buy another individual or a Team account. It's only fair, I think. Frankly, I am very happy with the flexibility to be able to use CC cross-platform and gladly put up with the above process the few times I need to use that third computer.

[Hungry Joe]

Hi Lindy, a relevant perspective for sure, and I like the practical moral approach. One criticism of your view though is that I think you break the EULA by having two users share the account. Probably Adobe turn a blind eye and are glad you subscribe. The system is good but does have room for improvement e.g. my position "...a guy with more than two machines. How can I up my license quantity without creating fake email addresses?"

[LuckyLindy]

I am not sure, you may be right. The EULA is too involved and, as you say, if I/we do the moral thing, they probably do turn that blind eye. No harm is done. I am not clear what you mean about fake email addresses (I must have missed it from your post). If I owned two Macs, and signed in on each with the same (my real adobe email) account, then I have acted in accord with Adobe's licensing. If my son opens one of those Macs and starts using Photoshop, are you saying Adobe has an issue with that? Again, I think realistically, they want a maximum of two machines using one user account. Like you, I would like to be able to purchase additional 'seats' for that one (my) user account—somewhat discounted, if you please.

[Hungry Joe]

I have three computers: my video machine, my video scope / photo machine, and my laptop. To use all three without constantly logging in (which is an issue), I cannot simply expand my user account (e.g. Pay double for more computers), I am advised to use a new email address and create a new account.

That's unappealing because I would have to maintain a new (fake) email account, and my cloud based feautures would be split.

Proper seats run at about £800 per year, I don't want to pay 3 x £800.

Id just like a way to use more than 2 computers properly and legally.

[LuckyLindy]

I'm with ya. Are you listening, Adobe? Small businesses/start-ups need an affordable way to expand the number of machines per account.

[David__B]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll pass it on for consideration.

[RD Photo]

I was humored and saddened as I read through the various customer posts and the horrible Adobe replies. Clearly, Adobe still does not get what cloud services are all about by forcing multiple accounts past two installations. This, of course, breaks everything that cloud services were designed for. You can not as a single user share your settings, assets, etc. across more than the two computers. Hu? Really? Can a company as smart as Adobe miss that? It seems so to me from how I read these "answers". Now, maybe through constant deactivation of one machine and activation on another you can technically share your stuff, but really, who else using cloud services forces their customers down that path? Why has Adobe put "Cloud" in the name when it's clearly not a proper cloud service?

I sure hope Adobe wakes up soon and creates a licensing policy geared toward users and embraces true cloud capabilities.

I agree with much of what David Gewirtz says in this article addressing this topic: http://www.zdnet.com/article/adobes-uncreative-cloud-licensing-wall/

[noonindo]

LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I just wanted to know if my gf could use my account at the same time as me... This had me dying!

Thx for the LOL's

[danielk50062624]

We have about 70 licences for Lightroom. All needing unique e-mails. The management of this is proving to be a full-time job and simply not worth the cost in man-hours.

This is the solution Adobe:

• Buy a subscription for whatever creative cloud package you need, valid for 2 concurrent sessions (this needs to be explicitely written into the EULA).
• To add an additional 2 concurrent sessions to the single ID, you pay the same fee again. So now one ID can be used for 4 concurrent sessions. The amount of cloud storage increases accordingly.

So on and so forth. I'm a software developer, this is not a difficult thing for Adobe to do, and would be extremely useful for their customers. They are simply too busy counting their billions.

If they don't do it, someone else will.