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.

[Lundberg02]

Pirates will figure how to crack the cloud, too.

[b_hein]

Lundberg02 wrote:

Pirates will figure how to crack the cloud, too.

Through the circumstance that I moderated one of the biggest non-public boards for "free stuff" of all kinds for years, I have kind of a special relationship to some of the most active/popular/succesful releasegroups and can confirm, the cloud is already available "for free".

Gladly, this will not be as available to the "public scene" as the Master Collections with the keygens and hostfile workarounds that float around in the web.

It has and ever will be possible to crack/workaround software and services. There is just always a counterpart of private persons that are on the same or even a higher level than the companies when it comes to coding/programming/cracking. Just think anbout the Virus/Trojan Scene. You will never be able to stop piracy with the kind of software distribution we have now.

To me, it is very important though that stuff is available "for free". I would have never discovered my passion for graphic design and being able to experiment enough to become good enough to get the job I do have now with corel draw or paint net. I just didn't have the money for a legit copy of CS.  And even when applying for a apprenticeship (is that the right word?) you are expected to be (very) familiar with PS/ID/ILLU. Sure, there are educational versions. But sometimes even that is too much money.

In my opinion and experience people that are pirating professional software dont damage the business very much. Most of the people arent even able to use it on a professional base and just fool around with it and make a garage sale flyer once a month or so. Like all the people with Steinberg Cubase are just mixing/djing some stuff for their 12-people house party and the Maya rippers make a crappy, rotating 3D logo for their gaming blog. The few who use illegal software on a business purpose or actually make money out of it are marginal. Just like myself. As long as I wasn't able to purchase the software I wanted to try out, work and get familiar with, I pirated it. As soon as I got enough money I proudly bought my copy of the CS4 Master Collection and I know a lot of people doing it a same way.

I know you can't imagine and probably won't believe me, but many people of the pirating scene are not that bad. I can assure you, no matter if it is software, games or music, people tend do buy the product eventually. They're just making kind of their own demo versions that some "black sheep" abuse.

[rob_ashcroft]

"In my opinion and experience people that are pirating professional software dont damage the business very much."

If everyone who has an illegal copy actually bought a legitimate copy then Adobe profits would either increase or they would reduce the cost to everyone (and thereby sell even more). I'd like a new Audi A3 estate, but I can't afford one. Perhaps I should go down to the local dealer and help myself to one.

[b_hein]

You have a lot of people with illegal copies of Adobe producs, let's say 100. As I mentioned, many of them are eventually going to buy a legit product/license, let's say 40, the rest doesnt. Now a big part of the people eventually buying it would have never ever even thought about buying that product later on, that could be 25 out of the 100. That is my point. Sounds weird, but basically it's free advertising and acquisition.

@Mylenium

Wow, thats rad. I worked for a lot of different, big companies (100-1600 employees). All of them were serious about licensing and legit software. Maybe that was only the bright side I saw. I know there are some who try to sneak around proper licensing, but I really believe its not that much. Well... thats why I used the term "in my experience"... everyone experiences something else.

[toxic_waltz]

The only thing the cloud does is to promote cracking.

[b_hein]

Diablo Venom wrote:

The only thing the cloud does is to promote cracking.

You mean because people want to be able to edit and view their work without being subscribed to the CC anymore? Yes, I think many will think about having a "copy" of CS6, just in case..

[c.pfaffenbichler]

I'd like a new Audi A3 estate, but I can't afford one. Perhaps I should go down to the local dealer and help myself to one.

Of course that would diminish the physical property of the car dealer whereas with software the people who are using it illegally (the word »piracy« to describe this seems to be pure marketing because the original meaning of the word is utterly inappropriate here) are deriving use/benefits/gains without diminishing the software company’s physical property.

So the way for your scenario to play out would be you using the vehicle while the shop is closed and always returning it in time, refueled and undamaged.

But I don’t dispute that the creators/purveyors of the software that provides entertainment or creates earning possibilites deserve to be remunerated for their efforts by the people using it.

And it seems somewhat remarkable that some people who would fiercely defend their own copyrighted material against abuse fail to apply the same standards when it comes to the programms they use to create it.

[Mylenium]

The few who use illegal software on a business purpose or actually make money out of it are marginal.

Not at all. I know entire companies running on cracked software and not having a single proper current license. In particular "upgrade laziness" is a big issue. Some companies buy a version once, but then use cracked software for "upgrades" because they feel they paid alot of money once and are entitled to get things free for the rest of eternity... Same whining we see here on this forum every day where people hang on to their 10 year old software and then explode when you tell them they need to buy a full new license....

Mylenium

[icore7]

I too started off with an illigal copy of Photoshop CS5 and after realizing I'm not to bad at it, decided to Purchase Photoshop CS6 Extended, don't use the illigal copy anymore.

So I'm one of these people, as inflame_media said "As I mentioned, many of them are eventually going to buy a legit product/license"

[Ken_Kinsella]

Is any wonder that people are turning to illegal copies of Photoshop and other Adobe products? I have a legal serial number for PS Cs5 bought online in 2016 and I need to download it onto a new computer, the old device having crashed. I was able to download PS Read-me but not the software, which has 3 errors and 2 warnings. Adobe told that they cannot support older versions of PS. That is not fair.

Ken

[Terri_Stevens]

where are you trying to download from Ken and onto what operating system?

[davescm]

Hi Ken - did you use the links here?

Download CS5 products

Dave

[GamerGirlandCo]

buddy, think they have already :-:

[Mylenium]

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?

How should it? Most cracks I'm aware of simply prevent the activation system from contacting any Adobe servers and Adobe can't intervene in things they don't know about. It's as trivial as that. Anyway, it's beside the point. Adobe could invest millions over millions in making their activation system even more rigid, but in the end it would only make life more difficult for the people who dutifulyl pay for their software. People that want to crack it will always find a way, no matter how hard it may be...

Mylenium

[Kubilay_Tansel]

There are other work arounds to use photoshop for free,

[Advice about software theft removed by Moderator]

[Chuck Uebele]

And your workaround might be why Adobe only offers a 7 day trial rather than the 30 day trial now: to make it more of a PIA to workaround people getting Adobe apps for free. So now many people who really just want to try out the product are restricted thanks to people like you.

[Trevor.Dennis]

coggy1234456789 wrote:

There are other work arounds to use photoshop for free,

You might need to change your user name before you come back to this forum asking for help.

[Kubilay_Tansel]

I don't ask morons for help. thank you

[BenPleysier]

Coggy1234456789 wrote:

I don't ask morons for help. thank you

I was tempted to remove the remark from this forum until I realised that users of this forum will see through that remark and ignore it for what it is.

[davescm]

I would not want my images used without permission so I will not use "pirated" software (or audio/video for that matter) .

It amazes me that we see examples of people using illegal copies of Adobe software and then coming on to an Adobe hosted forum to ask for help with it !

Dave

[Trevor.Dennis]

Dave, out of interest, I think you are in the UK.  What plan are you on and how much does it cost you?  I think you might not have read one of the last emails I sent you btw.  If you still have it, check out the last couple of paragraphs and get back to me.

[davescm]

Hi Trevor I am on the Photography Plan.

That currently sells for £8.57/month - for which you get Photoshop and Lightroom and of course Bridge ..... That is no more costly than keeping the old perpetual licence versions up to date and very good value compared to updating DSLRs every few years !

(Sorry I thought -I'd replied to your Email - just done so now )

Dave

[Trevor.Dennis]

The Photography plan has made a big difference.  Before CC I am the only person I know of in my Camera Club who paid for their Adobe software.  At least half a dozen are legit now.   In fact I helped someone install the Photography plan this Wednesday past, and they sheepishly admitted that they currently had a pirated version of CC2014 installed!   I routinely ran the Cleaning Tool to remove any dodgy Registry hacks and CC installed without a hitch.

What used to seriously bug me was not so much having to pay for all my Adobe apps, but having to pay at least 50% more than Adobe's American customers.  That has been fixed now, so it was obviously possible.  I believe price gouging still applies in Europe though.

[Terri_Stevens]

I think the £ and $ prices are now the same in Europe as the US once the exchange rate is factored in. Before web based distribution came in though Adobe in Edinburgh often were charging 50% more than the American price. As a student I used to buy all my software from a company in Scottsville Arizona, there were many American companies exporting back then-legally I may add, and even with the carriage you saved hundreds of pounds.

It's funny how people who use cracked software seem to have a need to boast about it, almost saying aren't I clever like the guy above. I don't know if Adobe even try to track suspected pirates anymore as the fines are ridiculously small. The Daily Mirror newspaper in the UK was found operating cracked versions of Pagemaker a few years ago and was fined £20,000-not even the cost of an evenings print run.

Dave discovered a pirate here a few days ago when he asked for the System Info Log. I didn't know this but the pirated versions have Licence Type: Perpetual in the log not License Type: Subscription as with the legal copies. You can't make it a requisite of using the forum that a System Info Log is posted I suppose, but it would prevent pirates from getting any help. Of course the smarter ones would edit the log so a screen capture would be needed-unworkable isn't it?