Illegal copies of Photoshop

[rob_ashcroft]

It is, I think, fairly common knowledge that a significant number of people have illegal copies of Photoshop CS. I keep coming across examples of this, and I'm surprised at how open people are about it, even on line http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090322140017AAjxbcN

I paid a lot of money for my legitimate version of what is now CS6 (inc all the upgrades). How is it still possible for people to get illegal copies? Is it not possible to check an IP address when a legal or illegal owner starts Photoshop? Or is that not possible as some users don't have internet access on their Photoshop computer for antivirus reasons? Is there not another way to cut down on this activity?

I really don't want to sound like an old wind-bag, but it really p****s me off.

[cyarab]

In 2013 I bought what I thought to be a legal copy of CS6 from what I thought was an authorized dealer. I downloaded it from the Adobe website the first time to a computer using the enclosed Serial Number with no problems. I have bought 2 new computers over the last 5 years and re-downloaded & installed it from the Adobe website using that same Serial Number again with no problems or flags that it was not legit. Now today in 2018 I am told that this was and has always been a counterfeit copy. How is that possible that it wasn't caught as a bogus copy 5 years ago and again 6 months ago when I put it on my newest computer? HUH??? Offering me a letter to pursue the seller after 5 years is hardly any recourse as that seller is probably not in business any longer. I personally feel that Adobe just killed all the old SN and called them counterfeit to rip off people who still run the older versions and to make people keep paying for something they bought.

[davescm]

Some unscrupulous sellers sold on "seats" that were part of volume licences (aimed at companies) as individual licenses. When that illegal activity is identified the volume licence is stopped and the "seats" also stop. I don't know if that is the case with yours but it is a possibility.

I do sympathise with those, like yourself, who have been ripped off by such sellers but it is those sellers at fault not Adobe.

I still have a legitimate older version that still works on an old PC so your feeling that all old SNs are revoked is incorrect.

Dave

[cyarab]

Yes Dave I have older copies that still work on older computers too, so you are probably right about some of the SN's. I never wanted to buy the new CS6 Suite in the first place, but the older versions would not install on a computer with Windows 10. Oh well water under or over the dam I guess. Not much I can do about it now. Seller is long gone. I'll be back on my old slow computer to use my programs. At least for now I can't afford to buy the new "Subscription plans"

[D Fosse]

cyarab  wrote

I can't afford to buy the new "Subscription plans"

This is the part I can never understand.

How can you afford to pay $1000 to use it for 18 months, and then an additional $500 every 18 months (at least that's what it was here in Europe) - but not $10 a month, all future upgrades included? The math doesn't add up.

[cyarab]

It's not $10 a month it $52.99-79.47 for what I need. (Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Illustrator etc) See the math there?

[D Fosse]

Let's see. The Master Collection cost about $4000 here in Europe, with an additional $1800 every 18 months. Over three cycles, 4.5 years, that's $7600, or roughly $1700 a year. That's a monthly price of one hundred and forty dollars.

I understand prices were much lower in the US. So if we knock starting price down to $2500 - I don't know what it actually was - that's still around $1000 per year, or a little over $80 per month.

A full Cloud subscription is $50 a month. No the math doesn't add up.

The fact is that subscription reduced total cost over time substantially.

[cyarab]

Ok. Thank you for your input.

[Guest]

Adobe should have a way for people to activate without the internet. Nobody should be forced to have internet exposure. One other software said they would activate a program for me but it was not Adobe. They told me I still had to go to a remote IP address. I ended up not needing more than one license for the program, because I downloaded a torrent hack just to try it unlocked, and I was unsatisfied with the way it performed on a more high end system. I realize that I cannot have everything my way. I also just do not feel like trying to keep up with technology making money scams. I'm not going to accuse anyone here of that. The programs they have can edit media. I do not like the Photoshop CS. I liked the editions before that. There is just way too much crap on my screen that I don't need, and the installer takes too long. Even with fast hard drives it still doesn't install right away like they used to. I like the old version of Adobe Premiere. I have refused to go with systems after Windows 7, because they're not good enough for me. Keep in mind that one thing people like to do is super impose images over a video and there are other programs out there that would do it. How can you beat the competition? I like the way After Effects imports Adobe layers and somebody familiar with that would not have to choose a transparent color in order to have artificial objects on the screen on top of the video, making it look like it is really there in the same place. I actually did buy Adobe After Effects from Amazon, but it was the version before CS because I liked that one so much and it keeps crashing on my 64-bit computer. It can do minimal things, but it leaves something more to be desired. On December 1st 2019, somebody posted a video on YouTube called As fast as premium grade in one whole session. I do not know who that is to be frank, and it may not last long, however it is interesting how they made transitions, and seemed to get the timing right to the end. The unknown person only has like 21 views in 1 day, and Linus Tech Tips gets over 80,000 views in 1 day. I just don't understand how those annoying people can do that. I would like this message to be deleted at the end of the month. I don't want it to be online in the start of the next year. I just want it to be some temporary comments I can post to read. Thanks much.

[davescm]

So you don't want the inconvenience/risk of internet connection but you are happy to download a torrent hack ! sorry but that just does not add up - many hacks come with free malware.

If you want limted versions of the Adobe photography and video apps maybe Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements will suit you , both being available on perpetual license.

One of the problems with old software and hardware though is that you also need to freeze the rest of your system including cameras. Once you start updating one of those (software/hardware/cameras) , the rest must follow.

Dave

[jane-e]

“Adobe should have a way for people to activate without the internet.”

Adobe does have a way to activate without the internet for those who are on secure systems for organizations such as DoD, FBI, CIA, etc. It called the Enterprise version. Here are the FAQs:

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/faq/enterprise.html

~ Jane