Can I use discontinued software?

[Ziddi]

Hello, 

I loved Adobe Image Styler which is the only graphics editing software I know 🙂 

I used it long ago in my training center. Years later now I want to use it again for some personal purposes, but it is discontinued so I can't buy it. I see many websites giving options to download it. 

Is it ok to use (potentially pirated version of) a discontinued product?

Please help!

Thanks

PS: I know there are many other better software available, but I'm more inclined to use Image Styler!

[John T Smith]

Download from ANY place other than Adobe is very likely going to result in malware on your computer

[Ziddi]

Thanks for quick reply John! I understand the malware part, but would it be legal/illegal to use a discontinued (but potentially pirated) software?

[Jeffrey_A_Wright]

Ziddi, are you referring to Adobe Image Ready?  If so then most of those features have been added to Photoshop, and many of the basic features are also available in Photoshop Elements.

Please see the following to learn more about both software titles:

Photoshop CC - https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html?promoid=PC1PQQ5T&mv=other

Photoshop Elements - https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-elements.html

As John mentioned, I would recommend avoiding any downloads which do not come from our website.  I fully agree with his suggestion that it will likely be a package for malware or a virus.

[Ziddi]

Thanks Jeff for quick reply! I understand the malware part, but would it be legal/illegal to use a discontinued (but potentially pirated) software?

[Jeff Arola]

Adobe ImageStyler

https://web.archive.org/web/19991128034856/http://www.adobe.com/products/imagestyler/main.html

[Ziddi]

Thanks for the link Jeff, but I can not buy/download it from that link 😞

[Jeff Arola]

You can't download a legit copy of ImageStyler anywhere, that link was just to show anyone interested what ImageStyler was.

I would venture to guess all the download links you've seen are for trial versions which can't be serialized and have some features disabled.

Besides the software is rather old, so it may not run very well on newer windows 64 bit os, if it would even install and certainly won't work on any mac os after OS 9.

[Ziddi]

And if it is not legit copy (and is pirated one) I can not use it, even though the product is discontinued? I just want to know the legal side of it. (It may be a malware, which I'm ignoring for now)

[Jeffrey_A_Wright]

No, Ziddi, it would not be legal to use a software title that you do not have a license for. If you did have a license then you would want to use the installation files provided with your purchase. As Jeff A. mentioned there are a number of challenges that you will need to overcome to even run such an old software title. I would recommend you abandon your search for Image Styler and look for a modern replacement.