Consumer Rights Wiki

Adobe Lightroom: Perpetual to Subscription Transition: Difference between revisions

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{{Under_Development}}{{Incomplete}}{{InfoboxProductLine
| Title = Adobe Lightroom
| Release Year = 2007
| Product Type = Software
| In Production = Yes
| Official Website = https://lightroom.com/
}}Adobe Lightroom, usually called Lightroom, is a photo editing and management software developed by Adobe. It is, as of January 2025, licenced for use either standalone or a part of Creative Cloud and is supported both on desktop (Windows, macOS) and mobile platforms (iOS, Android) as well as Apple TV (tvOS). Despite its simplicity comparted to other photo editing software it remains a very popular choice among photographers <ref>[ https://shotkit.com/photo-editing-software-survey/ Shotkit Survey 2024]</ref>


{{Under_Development}}
=== Purchase/Licencing ===
{{Incomplete}}
Adobe Lightroom underwent a significant licensing transformation by shifting from a perpetual license model to a subscription-based model under Adobe's Creative Cloud (CC) ecosystem either standalone or bundled with other software in the suite.
=== Overview ===
Adobe Lightroom, a prominent photo editing and management software, underwent a significant licensing transformation by shifting from a perpetual license model to a subscription-based model under Adobe's Creative Cloud (CC) ecosystem. This transition is often cited as a prime example of "Service Siphoning,"<!-- cited by whom? --> where essential features are moved to subscription services, compelling users to adopt recurring payment plans to retain access. The change has profound implications for consumer rights, software ownership, and the financial dynamics of software usage.


=== Background ===
Before 2017<ref name=":02">[ https://web.archive.org/web/20190209210136/https://theblog.adobe.com/introducing-lightroom-cc-lightroom-classic-cc-and-more/ theblog.adobe.com ] via The Internet Archive</ref>, Adobe Lightroom was available as a standalone application purchased through a perpetual license. Users paid a one-time fee, granting them indefinite ownership of the software with access to updates and support for a specified period.


==== Lightroom's Perpetual License Era<!-- fine but citations needed -->====
In October 2017 <ref name=":02" />, Adobe officially discontinued the perpetual license for Lightroom, integrating the software into its Creative Cloud (CC) subscription service. This strategic move aligned Lightroom with Adobe’s suite of applications, all accessible solely through ongoing subscriptions. The perpetual license option was permanently removed, forcing users to transition to a subscription model to continue using the software and accessing new features.
Before 2017, Adobe Lightroom was available as a standalone application purchased through a perpetual license. Users paid a one-time fee, granting them indefinite ownership of the software with access to updates and support for a specified period. This model was particularly favored by professional photographers and enthusiasts who preferred owning their editing tools outright and appreciated the predictability of one-time costs.


==== Shift to Creative Cloud Subscription<!-- fine but citations needed -->====
====== Transition Timeline ======
In June 2017, Adobe officially discontinued the perpetual license for Lightroom, integrating the software into its Creative Cloud (CC) subscription service. This strategic move aligned Lightroom with Adobe’s suite of applications, all accessible solely through ongoing subscriptions. The perpetual license option was permanently removed, forcing users to transition to a subscription model to continue using the software and accessing new features.


=== Timeline of the Transition ===
===<!--These need verification. I already found the first to be inaccurate (see above)-->===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
!Date
!Date
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|-
|-
|June 2013
|June 2013
|Announcement of Adobe's new Lightroom and Photoshop package, hinting at future changes in licensing models.
|Announcement of Adobe's new Lightroom and Photoshop package
|-
|-
|June 2017
|June 2017
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|Continuous rollout of subscription-based updates and features.
|Continuous rollout of subscription-based updates and features.
|}
|}
----<!--this section can be extracted into its own theme article ratehr than included here on the incident page-->


=== Service Siphoning Explained<!-- this section can be extracted into its own theme article ratehr than included here on the incident page -->===
=== Service Siphoning===


==== Definition ====
==== Definition ====
''Service Siphoning'' refers to the practice of converting previously standalone features or products into subscription-based services. This approach effectively forces users into recurring payments to access functionalities that were once available through a one-time purchase, often diminishing the value proposition of the original product.
''Service Siphoning'' refers to the practice of converting previously standalone features or products into subscription-based services. This approach effectively forces users into recurring payments to access functionalities that were once available through a one-time purchase, often diminishing the value proposition of the original product.
----


==== Application to Lightroom<!-- needs to be reworked, outside sources and citations are needed. -->====
====<!--needs to be reworked, outside sources and citations are needed.-->====
Adobe's transition of Lightroom exemplifies several aspects of Service Siphoning:
Adobe's transition of Lightroom exemplifies several aspects of <nowiki>[[Service Siphoning]]</nowiki> :


# '''Subscription Forcing''': By making Lightroom exclusively available through the Creative Cloud subscription, Adobe eliminated the perpetual license option, compelling users to adopt a subscription model to continue using the software.
# '''Subscription Forcing''': By making Lightroom exclusively available through the Creative Cloud subscription, Adobe eliminated the perpetual license option, compelling users to adopt a subscription model to continue using the software.
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# '''Technical Lock-In Mechanisms''': Implementations that tie software functionality to cloud services make it technically challenging for users to revert to standalone usage without the subscription.
# '''Technical Lock-In Mechanisms''': Implementations that tie software functionality to cloud services make it technically challenging for users to revert to standalone usage without the subscription.


=== Impact on Consumers<!-- citations needed -->===
=== Impact on Consumers<!--citations needed-->===


==== Professional Photographers and Enthusiasts ====
==== Professional Photographers and Enthusiasts ====
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=== Community and User Response ===
=== Community and User Response ===
 
==== Feedback and Criticism<!--citations needed-->====
==== Feedback and Criticism<!-- citations needed -->====
Users expressed significant dissatisfaction through various channels, including Adobe Community Forums, social media platforms, and direct feedback. Common grievances included:
Users expressed significant dissatisfaction through various channels, including Adobe Community Forums, social media platforms, and direct feedback. Common grievances included:


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Others adapted by integrating Adobe’s subscription model into their business practices, balancing the benefits of continuous updates and cloud features against the recurring costs.
Others adapted by integrating Adobe’s subscription model into their business practices, balancing the benefits of continuous updates and cloud features against the recurring costs.


=== Adobe's Response<!-- needs quotations from adobe's PR comms or executive statements -->===
=== Adobe's Response<!--needs quotations from adobe's PR comms or executive statements-->===
Adobe provided several justifications for the transition, emphasizing the benefits of the Creative Cloud model:
Adobe provided several justifications for the transition, emphasizing the benefits of the Creative Cloud model:


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* [https://www.lightroomqueen.com/community/threads/i-want-to-try-cc-photo-but-protect-my-current-perpetual-license-would-this-work.40562 Lightroom Queen Forums: CC/Photo and Perpetual License Discussion]
* [https://www.lightroomqueen.com/community/threads/i-want-to-try-cc-photo-but-protect-my-current-perpetual-license-would-this-work.40562 Lightroom Queen Forums: CC/Photo and Perpetual License Discussion]


*
== References ==
[[Category:Product Line]]
[[Category:Product Line]]
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