False claim by Adobe that my license is not genuine

[David Averbuch]

11 years ago I purchased a license for CS6 production plan.

5 days ago adobe started to pop-up windows saying that my license is not genuine, and that I'll not be able to use it after 10 days. They want me to buy  the last version.

Any idea what can I do?

[Bojan Živković]

For assistance with your license issue, please contact customer care. This forum is mainly for user-to-user support and feedback. We hope you can resolve your problem soon.

https://helpx.adobe.com/contact.html

[David Averbuch]

I contacted, chated with somebody located in India (who was very polited and willing to help) and as I said Adobe suggested me me to pay again for the last version.

[D Fosse]

Did they confirm that your serial number is legitimate? This is straightforward to get an answer to.

If not, the question is where you bought the original license. The market has always been flooded with illegal licenses from a multitude of seemingly reliable sources.

It can take a long time before these illegal licenses are flagged. Adobe has no way to actively search for them while they are in normal use, until a reactivation is required.

[David Averbuch]

They say that it is not legitimate. I bought it from a reliable source.

In these 11 years I've twice switched to new PCs and reinstalled CS6, with
the serial number I have.

Somebody from India chatted with me and he immediately claimed that the
number is illegal and suggested that I buy a new license.

[Ged_Traynor]

@David Averbuch "I bought it from a reliable source" more than likely you where unknowingly part of the volume license swindle which was doing the rounds back in the day, it was illegal for software vendors to sell such licences

https://prodesigntools.com/dont-buy-adobe-software-on-ebay-craigslist-or-amazon-marketplace.html

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Who was the original seller? 

Can you try contacting them? 

As an aside: Are you sure the CS6 applications would work with your new OS/hardware if the license issue was resolved? 

[David Averbuch]

The original seller was https://www.softense.co.il/?lang=en. 

They do not reply me.

I still use CS6 with my Windows 10, for a few days more.

[Peru Bob]

The original seller was https://www.softense.co.il/?lang=en. 

By @David Averbuch

Thy are not an authorized Adobe reseller:

https://adobe.my.salesforce-sites.com/PartnerSearch?lang=en

[jane-e]

he immediately claimed that the number is illegal and suggested that I buy a new license.

By @David Averbuch

This is disturbing and suspicious, as Adobe no longer sells licenses and CS6 is no longer for sale legally.

Creative Cloud has been subscription only since 2013. How did you make the contact? Be sure to use the links already given in this thread when you contact them again.

Jane

[jane-e]

@David Averbuch wrote: Any idea what can I do?

The volunteers on these forums cannot see your billing information and cannot override Adobe's decisions. You have to contact Adobe Customer Care. This time get a case number at the start of the call, then ask for Tier 2 support.

As others have said, if you did not purchase from Adobe, you may have unknowingly purchased a pirated version that was just detected.

Try the link to auto-open the Chat:
https://helpx.adobe.com/contact.html?rghtup=autoOpen  
Type "agent" 

If your browser blocks the Chat window, try the troubleshooting tips here:
https://community.adobe.com/t5/creative-cloud-services/how-to-contact-adobe-support/td-p/11875703  

You can also send a post through X (Twitter) to @AdobeCare.

Do not reply to PMs, which are likely to be scammers.

Jane

[David Averbuch]

I will try tomorrow tier 2. Thought they work 24/7. 

[David Averbuch]

I am sure that 11 years ago the company that sold me the license was an agent of Adobe. Now they are not.

Anyhow I purchased the photography package. 

[jane-e]

@David Averbuch 

Again:

• no one on this forum can see your billing details
  and
• no one on this forum can override Adobe.

The only thing you can do is to contact Adobe Customer Care. See the directions in the post above.

Jane

[Joe Bfstplk]

I just had the same problem today, but they only gave me 5 days. I have a legacy perpetual license for Photoshop CS3, from before Adobe switched to subscription licensing. The licence is listed on my Adobe Account page, and I've been using the program since 2008 (I started with PS 6 many years previously) without anyone redflagging it. I've already chatted with a support agent, who said he can do nothing about it, which I understand. Nonetheless, the license is legitimate. I know CS3 is no longer supported, but that doesn't justify Adobe disabling a legitimate copy of its software. Even Microsoft doesn't do that. I'm certainly not going to let them bully me into subscribing. I realize that Community moderators can't do anything about it, either, but people really need to call Adobe out when they behave unethically. Thank you.

[Joe Bfstplk]

Even more infuriatingly, the notice is popping up every couple minutes, even when I don't have Photoshop open. This is Microsoft level harassment.

[gener7]

I remember the 150:30 error and if you have that code you may be able to repair CS3

https://www.adobe.com/support/contact/licensing.html

But reinstall and activation are out of the question.

The activation servers are long retired. Your serial number no longer works, so you have a permanent trial version. They did for a while offer a non-activation replacement complete with a new serial number, but that offer long expired.

Photoshop Elements is the only buy to own solution.

[jane-e]

Photoshop Elements is the only buy to own solution.

By @gener7

Photoshop Elements is now a 3-year subscription.

The plan is 40% off for Black Friday, which ends soon.

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

Jane

[Joe Bfstplk]

Back in the day Photoshop, up to and including version CS5, was available with a perpetual license. I purchased a perpetual license for CS3. When Adobe went to subscription only, you could download an installation file for your perpetual license programs that did not require activation. That is what I had installed. I downloaded that file directly from Adobe, so there should be no question about its legitimacy. It shouldn't make a difference that the activation servers are no longer operational, because the program doesn't require activation with the product key I have.

I'm going to try reinstalling CS5 using that product key. If I continue to get the illegitimate copy message, I will contact Adobe Support, assuming they will even talk to me since the program has been discontinued. If that doesn't work, I will bid Adobe adieu. I refuse to subscribe to any Microsoft or Adobe programs. I won't be shaken down when I purchased a perpetual license. Support for my version of Microsoft Office ends next year, but (according to Microsoft) the program will continue to work after that date, even though it is no longer supported. Adobe should do the same.

Joe B.

[Joe Bfstplk]

I'll give that a shot. If it doesn't work, I'll move on from Adobe. Back when Adobe switched to subscription Photoshop, perpetual license purchasers could download a version of their program's installation file that didn't require activation, so the lack of activation servers shouldn't matter.

Joe B.