CS3 Activation no longer possible - is this really legal? [CS3 is dead, LOCKED]

[JensKoegler]

Hi,

First of all: Thanks to Nancy_OShea for answering my original post.

Is it really legal that Adobe prevents my from re-installing a perpetual license I bought?

1. I absolutey get the fact that this is old CS3 suite is no longer supported, can be a security issue and will not have the latest and greatest and that is fine.
2. I also understand the fact that they shut down their activation server. Fine as well but for this reason they published a little tool so people can still re-install their software but today they refuse to provide this any longer?
3. CS3 does not work on a modern computer? Pfff. Well, I can assure you it is running fine. It was running pefectly until the point ,when the SW forces me to enter the activation key, which I can no longer generate.
4. And I also have the feeling that there is a number of people who would be interested to use the SW they bought also in 2020. If you google and see how many threats there are which refers to this topic.
   

Well and last but not least the chat with the agent. I took a few screenshots and I am happy to provide them to Adobe to see if these are the standards they expect from their support agents, including the wait times for resposnes and hunging up on me at the end.

Would be great if you, Nancy, could forward the case number (CRM:00403000009288; ADB-10504609-N9V3 ) to a support supervisor to also see if there is a way to get this SW again going. I really want to avoid that Adobe forces me to search Underground sites just to get my application working.

Maybe someone else still has this little tool on the computer and can provide it to me or has another idea how to get this going?

Thanks in advance, Jens

Here my original post:

Hello Nancy,

I have the same problem. Do I understand correctly that Adobe now prevents me from using the SW, I paid more than a 1000 Euros for, and does not even provide the installer any longer? Don't get me wrong. For my professional work life I am using a company Cloud account with a subscription model but for my private PC, I would expect that I can still use the SW I bought.

I had to re-install, CS3 is running fine, I can also live with the fact that you do not support any longer but I really cannot understand why you prevent the users who paid for it, instead of downloading piracy software, from using their software.

That really upsets me. And on top of that, people in the chat being very rude and disrespectful. In regards to this issue, this is not cool and a very bad style. Where can I make an official claim?

Thanks, Jens

Nancy's comment:

Jens,

I'm very sorry to be the bad messenger. But I don't work for Adobe and I don't make their polices.  I'm merely a forum volunteer and fellow product user like you. 

Adobe owns the software.  After 12-13 years, they have ended  CS3 and Acrobat 8 because those aged products won't work on most modern computers  anymore.   It all comes down to supply vs demand.   There's no point in supplying something when demand is null.  In 2020, people aren't interested in obsolete software.

"And on top of that, people in the chat being very rude and disrespectful."

In my experience, chat agents are always polite and eager to help when they can.  Unfortunately, their hands are tied.  The can't give you what you want if it doesn't exist. 

Give me your Adobe Case Number and I will ask an Adobe Staff member to examine your chat transcript after the new year when everyone returns from Christmas holiday. 

[John T Smith · Accepted solution]

Sorry, but Nancy is correct... and having an Adobe employee review your chat transcript is not going to change the fact that Adobe management (not the support staff) made the decision to completely remove the CS3 + CS2 activation servers, and the link to the special non-activation versions that used to be available... meaning there is no legal way to get CS3 or CS2 to work

[JensKoegler]

Hi John,
Thanks for your message.
I begin to realize that this is a way of forcing users of old versions to a new version.
Again, I fully understand all the mentioned points and I am using the latest version in my business life.
But for private usage I am not willing to spend a big amount of money again. I did it before instead of using a cracked version.
Today, I use this only a few times a year on my private PC for a few very simple tasks. CS3 will do the job and is running fine.
I am not even sure that it is legal in Germany to prevent a user from using a perpetual license by deactivating the activation server.
You can stop supporting it, stop deactivating the activation servers and the hotline bit then you need to provide a simple installation tool like Adobe did in the past.
Actually, it is not worth the discussion now on legal details but it changes the brand image of Adobe to me totally.
And regarding the support – that is a matter of training and language. I would never blame a friendly support agent but reading BS and half-knowledge about legal points like the EULA or how and when Adobe can stop supporting perpetual licenses (according to the agents basically a day after you bought the latest version) should be improved.

[earthn7311904]

I don't undersand why they can't still provide that tool for affected people trying to reinstall their software. There is no cost to Adobe to do this, and it would save everyone time, including Adobe Support volunteers on here. I do feel sorry for the Adobe support volunteers on here having to also deal with all the people posting on here about this.

[Fylgiur]

Hello!

I have the same problem. I have bought a CS3 suite on a CD many years ago and I use it only for private purposes from time to time. Adobe uses activation keys to control legality of the product use - I can uderstand it. But can Adobe legally refuse activation of the product that I bought as a forever-to-use product? Because seriously, I feel cheated.

Adobe didn't mention that I would NOT be able to use it forever, when I was buying it. Adobe did not notify me, that they intend to retire activation servers. 

What if Adobe decided to retire servers 6 months after I bought it? What's the legal difference between failing to keep legal obligations after 6 months or after 6 years?

I had a tiring chat today with Adobe support. I asked what is the legal basis that they today prevent me from using MY product which I could use just yesterday. I got an answer that they cannot give me any legal basis for it. 

CS3 works very well on my new OS. I had no problems with it during the 30-days time for activation. 

The person from support kept repeating that CS3 is "obsolete". But it is simply not true - it works very well.

If I want to use the old version - it is my every right, because I paid for it in a legal transaction. 

Anyway, Adobe support wrote to me at one point, that I should write about my problem here and that my problem will be resolved within 24-48 hours. It sounded like: the community has its ways to do it, so just write to them and they will help.

As I am reading the conversations here, I am not at all sure. Maybe this support employee just wanted to get rid of me.

Anyway, I have the full installation box (on CDs) of CS3. Can anybody help me with activating it?

[Test Screen Name]

The support people were trying to get rid of you I’m afraid. We have no solution to this. I don’t say this is a good thing. 

[earthn7311904]

I think the question is, why didn't Adobe notify all owners of a CS3 perpetual license, that they were turning off the activation servers,or  to tell customers to make sure they visit the website to download the version that didn't require activation, before they disabled it on a certain date. It appears the activiation servers were only switched off a matter of weeks ago.  There has been zero direct communication to CS3 customers from Adobe over any of this prior to then removing that option. Maybe it was posted on these forums in the past, but most users would not freqeunt these forums.  There has been no grace period either for many customers, because those people who didn't need to reinstall CS3 in the last few years and have only had to reinstall it in the last few weeks, and then suddenly discovered that the activation server wasn’t working and has been switched off, have had no notification or warning.  Whereas this wouldn't have occurred if Adobe had notified all customers of these changes. There is a section in our account where we enter our email address, to be specially notified about  any important things like this. So why weren’t customers notified? The fact that it is older software that may not work on the newest OS's properly is irrelevant, as it is still perfectly usable for many, for what they use it for.I suspect there are going to be a lot more people on here posting in coming months as they discover they can't activate their software , which shouldn't be occurring if it was managed better..

[JensKoegler]

Good points, fully agree

[BPantherYT]

I have the Production Premium Suite CS4 - CS6
Bought legally to support Adobe in the further development of the programs. I still use the CS6 and that is still enough for me to this day. If the software can no longer be activated in a few years, I would contact the consumer advice center in Germany. It cannot be that Adobe subsequently changes an unlimited license to a limited license. It shouldn't be a problem to provide an installer with a serial number that does not require activation. So it was done with the CS2 and 3 until last year.