Consumer Rights Wiki

Adobe: Difference between revisions

← Older editNewer edit →
VisualWikitext
Reform (talk | contribs)
confirmed
240 edits
m Added FTC incident (copy paste mostly) and properly linked transition to subscription-based model incident
Reform (talk | contribs)
confirmed
240 edits
Quite a massive update to the whole Incidents sections. Updated that FTC lawsuit has settled. Adjusted title for Adobe Animate discontinuation for accuracy, and reordered it for better chronology. Added timestamps and 'main article' templates to all the other incidents and reordered them accordingly. Lastly, some citations have been improved with data.
Line 23: Line 23:
==Incidents==
==Incidents==


=== FTC Lawsuit over hidden fees in subscription plans (2024 - Present) ===
=== Adobe attempted to discontinue Adobe Animate (''2026)''<!-- Include sent mail in main article please, it is way too long. Putting it in this comment as easy preservation. We’re contacting you to let you know that Adobe will be discontinuing Adobe Animate on March 1, 2026. As an existing Animate user, you may continue to use Animate, but please note that technical support will no longer be available after March 1, 2027.  Please note that access to your Animate files and project data will end on March 1, 2027. To ensure a smooth transition, we encourage you to export your Animate FLA and XFL files to other formats such as SWF, SVG, and MP4 files before this date.  Customers with a Creative Cloud Pro plan can use other apps to replace some Animate functionality, including Adobe Express Premium for quick creation of animated videos and graphics and Adobe After Effects for more complex keyframe animation using the Puppet tool. All Creative Cloud members can also use free animation presets in Adobe Express to animate text, images, and design elements.  For more information about the discontinuation of Adobe Animate, review this Adobe Help Center article. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Adobe Support.  We thank you for being an Animate user and a valued Creative Cloud member,  The Creative Cloud Team --> ===
{{Main|Adobe attempted to discontinue Adobe Animate}}
On February 2, 2026, Adobe announced to users via e-mail that Adobe Animate, formerly the Adobe Flash Professional series of apps, was announced to be discontinued starting March 1, 2026. They stated that "as technologies evolve, new platforms and paradigms emerge that better serve the needs of the users." New customers would no longer be able to download Animate after March 1, 2026, and existing customers would have until March 1, 2027 to download the software that they had paid for. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-02 |title=Animate End of Life FAQs |url=https://helpx.adobe.com/animate/kb/end-of-life.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260203121443/https://helpx.adobe.com/animate/kb/end-of-life.html |archive-date=2026-02-03 |access-date=2026-02-15 |website=Adobe Help Center}}</ref> This means that users who could not download Adobe Animate in time had the software taken from them despite paying for a license to do so. However, after backlash from people still using the software, Adobe backtracked and stated that Animate would be in "maintenance mode", claiming that they will provide security fixes for the software but no new features.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-03 |title=Adobe Animate maintenance mode FAQs |url=https://helpx.adobe.com/animate/kb/maintenance-mode.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260205042636/https://helpx.adobe.com/animate/kb/maintenance-mode.html |archive-date=5 Feb 2026 |access-date=2026-02-04 |website=Adobe Help Center}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Felecia |date=2026-02-03 |title=Adobe will discontinue its Animate software after 25 years |url=https://www.technobezz.com/news/adobe-will-discontinue-its-animate-software-after-25-years-2026-02-03-zg2t |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222202542/https://www.technobezz.com/news/adobe-will-discontinue-its-animate-software-after-25-years-2026-02-03-zg2t |archive-date=22 Feb 2026 |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=technobezz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Preran |date=2026-02-03 |title=Update on the status of Adobe Animate |url=https://community.adobe.com/announcements-539/update-on-the-status-of-adobe-animate-1548459 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222061248/https://community.adobe.com/announcements-539/update-on-the-status-of-adobe-animate-1548459 |archive-date=22 Feb 2026 |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=Adobe Community}}</ref>
 
===FTC Lawsuit over hidden fees in subscription plans (''2024 - 2026'')===
{{Main|Adobe sued by FTC over hidden fees in subscription plans}}
{{Main|Adobe sued by FTC over hidden fees in subscription plans}}
The  U.S. [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC) filed an ongoing lawsuit against [[Adobe|Adobe Inc]]. and two of its executives, accusing Adobe of concealing critical terms of its subscription plans and creating obstacles to cancellation, claiming that Adobe's practices violated the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA), which "generally requires companies offering online subscriptions to clearly disclose important subscription information and to provide subscribers with [[Click-to-cancel|simple ways to cancel]]". The issue being the seemingly hidden early termination fees for its "Annual, Paid Monthly" subscription plansOn March 2026, Adobe settled the lawsuit for $150 million, which is split into $75 million in penalties and $75 million worth of free services to customers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hale |first=Craig |date=16 Mar 2026 |title=Adobe reaches $150m settlement on US lawsuit over alleged hidden subscription fees, cancellation charges |url=https://www.techradar.com/pro/adobe-reaches-usd150m-settlement-on-us-lawsuit-over-alleged-hidden-subscription-fees-cancellation-charges |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260317130122/https://www.techradar.com/pro/adobe-reaches-usd150m-settlement-on-us-lawsuit-over-alleged-hidden-subscription-fees-cancellation-charges |archive-date=17 Mar 2026 |access-date=29 Mar 2026 |website=TechRadar Pro}}</ref>
The  U.S. [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC) filed an ongoing lawsuit against [[Adobe|Adobe Inc]]. and two of its executives, accusing Adobe of concealing critical terms of its subscription plans and creating obstacles to cancellation, claiming that Adobe's practices violated the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA), which "generally requires companies offering online subscriptions to clearly disclose important subscription information and to provide subscribers with [[Click-to-cancel|simple ways to cancel]]". The issue being the seemingly hidden early termination fees for its "Annual, Paid Monthly" subscription plansOn March 2026, Adobe settled the lawsuit for $150 million, which is split into $75 million in penalties and $75 million worth of free services to customers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hale |first=Craig |date=16 Mar 2026 |title=Adobe reaches $150m settlement on US lawsuit over alleged hidden subscription fees, cancellation charges |url=https://www.techradar.com/pro/adobe-reaches-usd150m-settlement-on-us-lawsuit-over-alleged-hidden-subscription-fees-cancellation-charges |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260317130122/https://www.techradar.com/pro/adobe-reaches-usd150m-settlement-on-us-lawsuit-over-alleged-hidden-subscription-fees-cancellation-charges |archive-date=17 Mar 2026 |access-date=29 Mar 2026 |website=TechRadar Pro}}</ref>


===Transition to subscription-based software<!-- Might need a moderator to rename the Adobe Creative Suit activation article to a title which reflects the whole subscription transition -->===
===Alleged use of user data for AI training (''2024'')===
{{Main|Adobe Creative Suite activation}}
{{main|Adobe ToS update gives the company rights over consumers' works}}
Adobe initially distributed its software with perpetual licenses, allowing its users to make a one-time payment to own and access a specific application or, through Adobe's Creative Suite, a collection of applications. In 2011, Adobe introduced Creative Cloud, a subscription service that provides users with access to individual applications or multiple applications for a monthly or yearly fee. In 2013, Adobe discontinued Creative Suite.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
Adobe has been accused of using user information for the purpose of training artificial intelligence. In 2024, Adobe updated its Terms of Service, granting itself a "non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license" to users' content. This grants Adobe permission to reproduce, distribute, create derivative works from, publicly display, publicly perform, and sublicense their users' content.<ref name="tos-sec4.2">{{Cite web |date=2024-06-18 |title=Adobe General Terms of Use |url=https://www.adobe.com/legal/terms.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216212938/https://www.adobe.com/legal/terms.html |archive-date=2025-02-16 |access-date=2026-03-25 |website=Adobe}}</ref> This change raises concerns over conflicts with existing non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and intellectual property rights. Users were required to accept the new Terms of Service to access their previously stored content.{{Citation needed|date=29 Mar 2026}}<ref name="entrepreneur">{{Cite web |last=Shibu |first=Sherin |date=2024-06-06 |title=Adobe Photoshop Users Are Outraged at the Company's New Terms: 'Am I Reading This Right?' |url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/adobe-new-terms-for-photoshop-illustrator-infuriates-users/475273 |access-date=2026-03-25 |website=Entrepreneur}}</ref><ref name="adobe-blog-june10">{{Cite web |date=2024-06-10 |title=Here's what to know about Adobe's Terms of Use updates |url=https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2024/06/10/updating-adobes-terms-of-use |access-date=2026-03-25 |website=Adobe Blog}}</ref>
 
As of 2025, the only means to access up-to-date versions of many Adobe applications legally is through Creative Cloud. Additionally, the activation servers for perpetual licenses of previous versions of these applications have been shut down, which prevents consumers from activating the software using a legitimate copy and a serial number.


Creative Cloud offers various subscription options, including monthly plans (with monthly or annual billing) or prepaid yearly plans. There are also plans for individual applications and bundles containing multiple applications. Prices of individual applications range from $22.99 per month or $263.88 prepaid annually. The Creative Cloud Pro subscription, which includes 22 applications and additional extras such as 100 GB of cloud storage, is priced at $69.99 per month or $779.88 per year prepaid.  
Adobe has stated that it does not use user content to train generative AI, but Adobe may use it for improving its machine learning systems, with an opt-out available. However, no opt-out option was presented during acceptance of the Terms of Service.{{Citation needed|date=29 Mar 2026}} <!-- Needs References. -V -->


Plans billed annually but paid monthly have a cancellation fee 14 days after purchase. This fee is set at 50% of the remaining contract balance. For example, if the user cancels the plan in the seventh month of an annual plan that costs $69.99 per month, they will incur a fee of $174.98. Prepaid annual plans do not offer refunds or cancellation options after the 14-day period.
===User information leaks and data breaches (''2013 & 2019'')===
{{Main|Adobe leaks sensitive user information}}
In 2013, credit card information and personal data of 38 million users were exposed in a data breach.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Patel |first=Maaz |date=26 Mar 2023 |title=The Adobe Attack of 2013: A Cautionary Tale of Cybersecurity Failure |url=https://medium.com/@maazptl240602/the-adobe-attack-of-2013-a-cautionary-tale-of-cybersecurity-failure-1ef4ec74eb64 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250413174341/https://medium.com/@maazptl240602/the-adobe-attack-of-2013-a-cautionary-tale-of-cybersecurity-failure-1ef4ec74eb64 |archive-date=13 Apr 2025 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Medium]]}}</ref>


===Alleged use of user data for AI training===
In 2019, Adobe left approximately 7.5 million Creative Cloud customer records publicly accessible online due to gross negligence. The database was not protected with a password.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cimpanu |first=Catalin |date=26 Oct 2019 |title=Adobe left 7.5 million Creative Cloud user records exposed online |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/adobe-left-7-5-million-creative-cloud-user-records-exposed-online/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260208162655/https://www.zdnet.com/article/adobe-left-7-5-million-creative-cloud-user-records-exposed-online/ |archive-date=8 Feb 2026 |access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[ZDNet]}}</ref>
{{main|Adobe's AI policy}}
Adobe has been accused of using user information for the purpose of training artificial intelligence. In 2024, Adobe updated its Terms of Service, granting itself a "non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license" to users' content. This grants Adobe permission to reproduce, distribute, create derivative works from, publicly display, publicly perform, and sublicense their users' content. This change raises concerns over conflicts with existing non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and intellectual property rights. Users were required to accept the new Terms of Service to access their previously stored content.


Adobe has stated that it does not use user content to train generative AI, but Adobe may use it for improving its machine learning systems, with an opt-out available. However, no opt-out option was presented during acceptance of the Terms of Service. <!-- Needs References. -V -->
===Tracking users' eBook reading activities (''2014'' ''- Present'')===
 
{{Main|Adobe found to track users' reading activities}}
===User documents forced into the cloud with no opt-out===
Some of Adobe's iPad applications, including, but not limited to, the digital painting application Adobe Fresco<ref>{{Cite web |author=PaulaArtist2 |date=2021-12-13 |title=[How To] Save work locally / work offline |url=https://community.adobe.com/t5/fresco-discussions/how-to-save-work-locally-work-offline/m-p/12390252 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222202234/https://community.adobe.com/questions-646/how-to-save-work-locally-work-offline-307290?postid=5880549#post5880549 |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|access-date=2025-09-22 |website=Adobe Community}}</ref> and the document scanning application Adobe Scan<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tagra |first=Ria |date=2021-06-14 |title=Does Adobe Scan offer a way to not utilize the Adobe Cloud |url=https://community.adobe.com/t5/adobe-scan-discussions/does-adobe-scan-offer-a-way-to-not-utilize-the-adobe-cloud/m-p/12104402 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222202347/https://community.adobe.com/questions-517/does-adobe-scan-offer-a-way-to-not-utilize-the-adobe-cloud-11536 |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|access-date=2025-09-22 |website=Adobe Community}}</ref>, [[Forced account|require an account]] to access and do not offer any option to opt out of syncing all documents created in these applications with Adobe's cloud servers. Similarly, the new non-Classic versions of Lightroom are fundamentally built around uploading all images to Adobe's cloud.
 
There is no end-to-end encryption, i.e., Adobe has full access to all of these files. Disabling internet access allows the user to work offline, but any files created in the affected apps will immediately sync to the cloud in the background as soon as the device is connected to a network again.
 
As an American company, Adobe is subject to the United States Cloud Act, which requires all US companies to grant the US government access to any user data, even if stored on servers outside their jurisdiction, and to comply with requests to help with spy operations upon request.
 
===Tracking users' eBook reading activities===
In 2014, it was revealed that Adobe Digital Editions, Adobe’s e-book reading application, reported extensive information about users' reading habits back to Adobe. This included several unique identifiers, such as which e-books were added to the application, when each one was opened, and for how long, as well as the percentage read and page navigation information.
In 2014, it was revealed that Adobe Digital Editions, Adobe’s e-book reading application, reported extensive information about users' reading habits back to Adobe. This included several unique identifiers, such as which e-books were added to the application, when each one was opened, and for how long, as well as the percentage read and page navigation information.


All of this information was transmitted completely unencrypted in plain text. This meant that someone else using the same public Wi-Fi as another user would have been able to track their reading activities in real-time, entirely undetected.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gallagher |first=Sean |date=8 Oct 2014 |title=Adobe’s e-book reader sends your reading logs back to Adobe—in plain text |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/10/adobes-e-book-reader-sends-your-reading-logs-back-to-adobe-in-plain-text/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251220184934/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/10/adobes-e-book-reader-sends-your-reading-logs-back-to-adobe-in-plain-text/ |archive-date=20 Dec 2025|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[ArsTechnica]]}}</ref>
All of this information was transmitted completely unencrypted in plain text. This meant that someone else using the same public Wi-Fi as another user would have been able to track their reading activities in real-time, entirely undetected.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gallagher |first=Sean |date=8 Oct 2014 |title=Adobe’s e-book reader sends your reading logs back to Adobe—in plain text |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/10/adobes-e-book-reader-sends-your-reading-logs-back-to-adobe-in-plain-text/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251220184934/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/10/adobes-e-book-reader-sends-your-reading-logs-back-to-adobe-in-plain-text/ |archive-date=20 Dec 2025|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[ArsTechnica]]}}</ref>


===User information leaks and data breaches===
===Transition to subscription-based software (''2013 - Present'')<!-- Might need a moderator to rename the Adobe Creative Suit activation article to a title which reflects the whole subscription transition -->===
In 2013, credit card information and personal data of 38 million users were exposed in a data breach.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Patel |first=Maaz |date=26 Mar 2023 |title=The Adobe Attack of 2013: A Cautionary Tale of Cybersecurity Failure |url=https://medium.com/@maazptl240602/the-adobe-attack-of-2013-a-cautionary-tale-of-cybersecurity-failure-1ef4ec74eb64 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250413174341/https://medium.com/@maazptl240602/the-adobe-attack-of-2013-a-cautionary-tale-of-cybersecurity-failure-1ef4ec74eb64 |archive-date=13 Apr 2025|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[[Medium]]}}</ref>
{{Main|Adobe Creative Suite activation}}
 
Adobe initially distributed its software with perpetual licenses, allowing its users to make a one-time payment to own and access a specific application or, through Adobe's Creative Suite, a collection of applications. In 2011, Adobe introduced Creative Cloud, a subscription service that provides users with access to individual applications or multiple applications for a monthly or yearly fee. In 2013, Adobe discontinued Creative Suite.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />  
In 2019, Adobe left approximately 7.5 million Creative Cloud customer records publicly accessible online due to gross negligence. The database was not protected with a password.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cimpanu |first=Catalin |date=26 Oct 2019 |title=Adobe left 7.5 million Creative Cloud user records exposed online |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/adobe-left-7-5-million-creative-cloud-user-records-exposed-online/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260208162655/https://www.zdnet.com/article/adobe-left-7-5-million-creative-cloud-user-records-exposed-online/ |archive-date=8 Feb 2026|access-date=16 Mar 2025 |website=[ZDNet]}}</ref>
 
===Paywalls Pantone colors and changes user files===
Adobe and Pantone change colors in users' existing files in Photoshop and Illustrator to black unless they pay an additional $15/month. <ref>{{Cite web |title=You now have to pay to use Pantone colors in Adobe products |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/1/23434305/adobe-pantone-subscription-announcement-photoshop-illustrator |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260207012227/https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/1/23434305/adobe-pantone-subscription-announcement-photoshop-illustrator |archive-date=7 Feb 2026|website=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Adobe Just Held a Bunch of Colors Hostage |url=https://www.wired.com/story/adobe-pantone-color-subscription-fee/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251220045003/https://www.wired.com/story/adobe-pantone-color-subscription-fee/ |archive-date=20 Dec 2025|website=Wired}}</ref>
 
===Adobe Animate discontinuation===
On February 2, 2026, Adobe announced to users via e-mail that Adobe Animate, formerly the Adobe Flash Professional series of apps, was announced to be discontinued starting March 1, 2026. The full text of the e-mail reads as follows: <blockquote>We’re contacting you to let you know that Adobe will be discontinuing Adobe Animate on March 1, 2026. As an existing Animate user, you may continue to use Animate, but please note that technical support will no longer be available after March 1, 2027.


Please note that access to your Animate files and project data will end on March 1, 2027. To ensure a smooth transition, we encourage you to export your Animate FLA and XFL files to other formats such as SWF, SVG, and MP4 files before this date.
As of 2025, the only means to access up-to-date versions of many Adobe applications legally is through Creative Cloud. Additionally, the activation servers for perpetual licenses of previous versions of these applications have been shut down, which prevents consumers from activating the software using a legitimate copy and a serial number.{{Citation needed|date=29 Mar 2026}}


Customers with a Creative Cloud Pro plan can use other apps to replace some Animate functionality, including Adobe Express Premium for quick creation of animated videos and graphics and Adobe After Effects for more complex keyframe animation using the Puppet tool. All Creative Cloud members can also use free animation presets in Adobe Express to animate text, images, and design elements.
Creative Cloud offers various subscription options, including monthly plans (with monthly or annual billing) or prepaid yearly plans. There are also plans for individual applications and bundles containing multiple applications. Prices of individual applications range from $22.99 per month or $263.88 prepaid annually. The Creative Cloud Pro subscription, which includes 22 applications and additional extras such as 100 GB of cloud storage, is priced at $69.99 per month or $779.88 per year prepaid.{{Citation needed|date=29 Mar 2026}}


For more information about the discontinuation of Adobe Animate, review this Adobe Help Center article. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Adobe Support.
Plans billed annually but paid monthly have a cancellation fee 14 days after purchase. This fee is set at 50% of the remaining contract balance. For example, if the user cancels the plan in the seventh month of an annual plan that costs $69.99 per month, they will incur a fee of $174.98. Prepaid annual plans do not offer refunds or cancellation options after the 14-day period.{{Citation needed|date=29 Mar 2026}}


We thank you for being an Animate user and a valued Creative Cloud member,
===iPad edition users' documents forced into the cloud with no opt-out (''2021'' - Present)===
{{Main|Adobe forces iPad edition users' documents forced into the cloud}}
Some of Adobe's iPad applications, including, but not limited to, the digital painting application Adobe Fresco<ref>{{Cite web |author=PaulaArtist2 |date=2021-12-13 |title=[How To] Save work locally / work offline |url=https://community.adobe.com/t5/fresco-discussions/how-to-save-work-locally-work-offline/m-p/12390252 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222202234/https://community.adobe.com/questions-646/how-to-save-work-locally-work-offline-307290?postid=5880549#post5880549 |archive-date=22 Feb 2026 |access-date=2025-09-22 |website=Adobe Community}}</ref> and the document scanning application Adobe Scan<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tagra |first=Ria |date=2021-06-14 |title=Does Adobe Scan offer a way to not utilize the Adobe Cloud |url=https://community.adobe.com/t5/adobe-scan-discussions/does-adobe-scan-offer-a-way-to-not-utilize-the-adobe-cloud/m-p/12104402 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222202347/https://community.adobe.com/questions-517/does-adobe-scan-offer-a-way-to-not-utilize-the-adobe-cloud-11536 |archive-date=22 Feb 2026 |access-date=2025-09-22 |website=Adobe Community}}</ref>, [[Forced account|require an account]] to access and do not offer any option to opt out of syncing all documents created in these applications with Adobe's cloud servers. Similarly, the new non-Classic versions of Lightroom are fundamentally built around uploading all images to Adobe's cloud. Disabling internet access allows the user to work offline, but any files created in the affected apps will immediately sync to the cloud in the background as soon as the device is connected to a network again.{{Citation needed|date=29 Mar 2026}}


The Creative Cloud Team</blockquote>The e-mail contained a link to a now-deleted help article, stating that the reason for this was their belief that "as technologies evolve, new platforms and paradigms emerge that better serve the needs of the users." New customers would no longer be able to download Animate after March 1, 2026, and existing customers would have until March 1, 2027 to download the software that they had paid for. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-02 |title=Animate End of Life FAQs |url=https://helpx.adobe.com/animate/kb/end-of-life.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260203121443/https://helpx.adobe.com/animate/kb/end-of-life.html |archive-date=2026-02-03 |access-date=2026-02-15 |website=Adobe Help Center}}</ref> This means that users who purchased licenses to use Adobe Animate had the ability to download that software taken from them despite paying for a license to do so. However, after backlash from artists using the software, Adobe backtracked and stated that Animate would be in "maintenance mode", claiming that they will provide security fixes for the software but no new features. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-03 |title=Adobe Animate maintenance mode FAQs |url=https://helpx.adobe.com/animate/kb/maintenance-mode.html |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-04 |website=Adobe Help Center |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260205042636/https://helpx.adobe.com/animate/kb/maintenance-mode.html |archive-date=5 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Felecia |date=2026-02-03 |title=Adobe will discontinue its Animate software after 25 years |url=https://www.technobezz.com/news/adobe-will-discontinue-its-animate-software-after-25-years-2026-02-03-zg2t |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222202542/https://www.technobezz.com/news/adobe-will-discontinue-its-animate-software-after-25-years-2026-02-03-zg2t |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|access-date=2026-02-03 |website=technobezz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Preran |date=2026-02-03 |title=Update on the status of Adobe Animate |url=https://community.adobe.com/announcements-539/update-on-the-status-of-adobe-animate-1548459 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222061248/https://community.adobe.com/announcements-539/update-on-the-status-of-adobe-animate-1548459 |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|access-date=2026-02-03 |website=Adobe Community}}</ref>
===Paywalling Pantone colors and changes user files (''2022 - Present'')===
{{Main|Adobe paywalls Pantone colors and affects user files}}
In 2022, Adobe removed access to Pantone colors across its Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator Creative Cloud applications, unless an additional $15/month is paid. Consumers reported that the colors in some older PSD files were turning black.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weatherbed |first=Jess |date=1 Nov 2022 |title=You now have to pay to use Pantone colors in Adobe products |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/1/23434305/adobe-pantone-subscription-announcement-photoshop-illustrator |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260207012227/https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/1/23434305/adobe-pantone-subscription-announcement-photoshop-illustrator |archive-date=7 Feb 2026 |access-date=29 Mar 2026 |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stokel-Walker |first=Chris |date=2 Nov 2022 |title=Adobe Just Held a Bunch of Colors Hostage |url=https://www.wired.com/story/adobe-pantone-color-subscription-fee/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251220045003/https://www.wired.com/story/adobe-pantone-color-subscription-fee/ |archive-date=20 Dec 2025 |access-date=29 Mar 2026 |website=Wired}}</ref>


==Products==
==Products==


===Adobe Creative Cloud===
===Adobe Creative Cloud===
Adobe's previous line of creative software has been joined into a broader ecosystem called the ''Adobe Creative Cloud.'' The Creative Cloud includes updated versions of the previously purchasable software:
Adobe's previous line of creative software has been joined into a broader ecosystem called the ''Adobe Creative Cloud.'' Some of Creative Cloud's products include:


*Photoshop
*Photoshop
Line 88: Line 79:
*Illustrator
*Illustrator
*XD
*XD
*and many more


Included with the Creative Cloud, depending on plan options, Adobe also offers cloud-based storage, typefaces, stock photos, and other stock files.
Depending on plan options, Adobe also offers cloud-based storage, typefaces, stock photos, and other stock files.


==References==
==References==
Retrieved from "https://consumerrights.wiki/w/Adobe"