Adobe Lightroom: Perpetual to Subscription Transition: Difference between revisions
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| Official Website = https://lightroom.com/ | | Official Website = https://lightroom.com/ | ||
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}}Adobe' | }}'''Adobe Lightroom''' is a photo-editing and -management software developed by Adobe. As of January 2025, it is licensed for use either standalone or as 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 compared 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> | ||
=== Purchase | === Purchase and licensing === | ||
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, being either standalone or bundled with other software in the suite. | 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, being either standalone or bundled with other software in the suite. | ||
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> | 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. | ||
In October 2017 <ref name=":02" /> | 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. | ||
====== Transition Timeline ====== | ====== Transition Timeline ====== | ||
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|- | |- | ||
|June 2013 | |June 2013 | ||
|Announcement of Adobe's new Lightroom and Photoshop package | |Announcement of Adobe's new Lightroom and Photoshop package | ||
|- | |- | ||
|June 2017 | |June 2017 | ||
|Discontinuation of Lightroom perpetual licenses | |Discontinuation of Lightroom perpetual licenses | ||
|- | |- | ||
|July 2017 | |July 2017 | ||
|Notification sent to existing perpetual license holders | |Notification sent to existing perpetual license holders | ||
|- | |- | ||
|December 2017 | |December 2017 | ||
|Final cutoff for support and updates on perpetual licenses | |Final cutoff for support and updates on perpetual licenses | ||
|- | |- | ||
|November 2018 | |November 2018 | ||
|Map feature becomes unavailable in Maps module for everyone on a perpetual license<ref>https://robertreiser.photography/re-enable-maps-view-in-lightroom-classic/</ref> | |Map feature becomes unavailable in Maps module for everyone on a perpetual license<ref>https://robertreiser.photography/re-enable-maps-view-in-lightroom-classic/</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|2018–Present | |2018–Present | ||
|Continuous rollout of subscription-based updates and features | |Continuous rollout of subscription-based updates and features | ||
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Adobe's transition of Lightroom exemplifies several aspects of | Adobe's transition of Lightroom exemplifies several aspects of [[service siphoning]]: | ||
# '''Subscription | # '''[[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. | ||
# '''Access | # '''Access degradation''': Existing perpetual-license holders were restricted from receiving new updates and features. To access the latest tools and camera support, users had to migrate to the subscription service, thereby degrading the utility of their original purchase. | ||
# '''Feature | # '''Feature reclassification''': New functionalities, such as advanced editing tools and enhanced syncing capabilities, were incorporated into the subscription model, positioning them as premium features accessible only through ongoing payments. | ||
# '''Cloud | # '''Cloud-integration justification''': Adobe used cloud-based features and services as a rationale for the shift, emphasizing improved collaboration, storage solutions, and real-time updates as benefits of the subscription model. | ||
# '''Technical | # '''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. This includes deliberate omission of highly requested features (catalogs on network volumes, local sync for the iPad version Lightroom Mobile). | ||
=== Impact on Consumers<!--citations needed-->=== | === Impact on Consumers<!--citations needed-->=== | ||