Photographers take stand against Adobe
Adobe CS3
Photographers across Europe are encouraging a continent-wide boycott of Adobe's Creative Suite 3.
The software package was launched a fortnight ago, amid claims that it is the most significant launch in Adobe's history, and was reviewed exclusively in this magazine (BJP, 28 March).
However, the launch has been tainted by accusations that photographers in the US and Canada are being offered a far lower upgrade price than their counterparts in Europe.
On the Adobe US site, an upgrade to CS3 is priced $199, but this is only available to customers who live in the US or Canada. UK photographers are redirected to the Adobe UK site, where the upgrade is priced £162.32 (which is around $319).
Photographers have already set up a petition online at www.gopetition.com/petitions/fair-pricing-for-european-software.html. This states: 'We, the undersigned, request that Adobe revises its pricing for Europe and apply fair pricing for European countries. If this is not possible, we request a valid explanation of why Adobe sells its products 190% of the US price to its European customers.' This had gathered 797 signatures as BJP went to press.
BJP reader and petition signatory Nick Walker from the Golf Picture Bank reports that photographers are also mobilising to bombard Adobe's CEO with letters. In an email he explained: 'A large number of Adobe users will be sending letters by email directly to the mail box of Bruce Chizen, Adobe's CEO. I believe such group action against Adobe is unprecedented. We are hoping that Photoshop users will hold off from purchasing CS3 until Adobe thinks again about its grossly unfair pricing strategy.' Walker's own open letter to Chizen is published in BJP's letter pages this week.
Adobe, however, has responded quickly and firmly to the accusations, and looks set to stick to its policy. In a statement sent to BJP, it says: 'Indeed, pricing is higher in Europe on many goods, not just software, so it's important to understand why. We set pricing in each market based on customer research, local market conditions and the cost of doing business. Unlike the economies of scale achieved in the large homogenous US market, the EU has 10 major languages, and four major currencies. The costs of doing business in European markets are significantly higher per unit of revenue than in the US.
'It is worth pointing out that Adobe's customers set high expectations in terms of seminars, training, events and value-added reseller channels.
We have a long history of serving our customers in local markets the way they want to do business. We therefore incur these additional local costs and have to reflect them in our business model.'
