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ACUTEpeak 47ranked #22 of 42people’s rank #28 · preview
Case 022 · Software · Admitted 2013
The Enshittification of Adobe
The Enshittification of AdobeIn 2013 Adobe stopped selling perpetual licenses for its flagship creative software and moved customers to the subscription-only Creative Cloud. Subsequent years brought add-on costs such as a separate Pantone color subscription, recurring price increases, and a 2024 terms-of-service update that users read as permitting AI training on their work. In June 2024 the Justice Department and FTC sued Adobe and two executives for hiding early termination fees and obstructing cancellation, a case Adobe settled in 2026 for $150 million in penalties and customer relief.
First symptom
May 2013
Symptoms on file
6
Categories
3
Prognosis
Acute
1 privacy · 2 pricing · 3 lock-in
Alternatives
The Paper Trail
| Date | Category | Symptom · rating · source |
|---|---|---|
| 2013-05 | lock-in | Creative Suite discontinued in favor of subscription-only Creative CloudAdobe announced it would no longer sell perpetual licenses for Creative Suite, making Creative Suite 6 the final boxed release and moving Photoshop, Illustrator, and its other flagship applications to the $50-per-month Creative Cloud subscription. The change drew significant criticism from customers who preferred owning the software outright.↳ CBS News |
| 2022-10 | pricing | Pantone colors moved behind a separate subscriptionAfter Pantone's licensing deal with Adobe ended, Pantone color books were removed from Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, and PSD files using Pantone spot colors began rendering those colors as black unless users bought a separate Pantone Connect subscription of about $15 per month. The change affected files regardless of when they were created.↳ PetaPixel |
| 2024-06 | privacy | Terms-of-service update sparks AI training backlashAn updated Adobe terms-of-use prompt stating the company could access user content 'through both automated and manual methods' led many creators to conclude Adobe could train AI on their work, prompting a viral backlash. Adobe called it a misunderstanding and on June 24 issued revised terms stating it would not train generative AI on customer content.↳ TechRadar |
| 2024-06 | lock-in | FTC and DOJ sue Adobe over hidden fees and cancellation obstaclesThe federal government sued Adobe and two executives, alleging the company hid an early termination fee equal to 50 percent of remaining payments on its 'annual paid monthly' plan and made cancellation difficult through transfers, dropped calls, and resistance from representatives. The complaint alleged violations of the Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act.↳ Federal Trade Commission |
| 2025-05 | pricing | Creative Cloud All Apps rebranded as Pro with a price increaseAdobe renamed its Creative Cloud All Apps plan to Creative Cloud Pro in North America and raised the individual price from $59.99 to $69.99 per month effective June 17, 2025, bundling expanded generative AI credits. A cheaper Standard tier retained the previous apps but limited AI features.↳ AppleInsider |
| 2026-03 | lock-in | Adobe agrees to $150 million settlement over subscription practicesAdobe agreed to pay $75 million in civil penalties and provide $75 million in customer relief to resolve the 2024 federal complaint over hidden early termination fees and difficult cancellation. The order requires Adobe to disclose termination fees clearly before enrollment and to offer simple cancellation methods.↳ U.S. Department of Justice |
The Wall
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<a href="https://enshittification.xyz/adobe"><img src="https://enshittification.xyz/badge/adobe.svg" alt="Adobe on the Enshittification Index"></a>The Enshittification Index · 42 case files · no source, no entry · updated Jun 2026
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