Adobe Inc's (NASDAQ: ADBE) recent update to its terms and conditions has caused a backlash from professional users, who are concerned about the company's rights to access and use their content.
What Happened: According to 9to5Mac, Adobe has updated the terms and conditions for its apps, including Photoshop, requiring users to agree to the new terms to continue using the software. This change has sparked outrage among professionals, who fear that Adobe is claiming extensive rights over their content.
The new terms state that Adobe may access user content through both automated and manual methods for content review. Users must grant Adobe a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free sublicensable license to use, reproduce, publicly display, distribute, modify, create derivative works and translate the content.
Designer Wetterschneider, who works with clients like DC Comics and Nike (NYSE: NKE), voiced strong objections on X, formerly known as Twitter, urging professionals to cancel their Adobe subscriptions and posting a screenshot of Adobe's terms of use.
"Here it is. If you are a professional, if you are under NDA with your clients, if you are a creative, a lawyer, a doctor or anyone who works with proprietary files - it is time to cancel Adobe, delete all the apps and programs," the X user said. "Adobe can not be trusted."
Benzinga contacted Adobe for comment on the company's terms and conditions update.
Wetterschneider@StretchedwienerHere it is. If you are a professional, if you are under NDA with your clients, if you are a creative, a lawyer, a doctor or anyone who works with proprietary files - it is time to cancel Adobe, delete all the apps and programs. Adobe can not be trusted.
Movie director Duncan Jones also expressed frustration, questioning the new agreement on Twitter.
Concept artist Sam Santala highlighted that users cannot raise support requests or uninstall the apps without agreeing to the new terms. Some are speculating the terms might be intended for the creation of thumbnails or CSAM scanning.
Why It Matters: The controversy surrounding Adobe's new terms and conditions has been escalating. According to 80.lv, users of Photoshop and Substance 3D are now required to provide Adobe with unlimited access to their creations. This includes projects under NDA, which has raised significant privacy concerns.
Jérémie Noguer, product director for Substance 3D, said that Adobe is "not accessing or reading Substance users' projects in any way, shape or form nor are we planning to or have any means to do it in the first place," 80.lv reports. Despite this, the community remains skeptical and dissatisfied.
The backlash from Adobe users highlights the growing tension between tech companies and their users over data privacy and control.