[spodek]

> Me: So you’re telling me I should download an illegal copy of your software, and use my legal serial with it?

> Support: Yes Sir, that will work.

Seems to me if they tell you you can do something with their product, you aren't pirating. You're following their instructions, though I'm no lawyer.

[samstave]

The way this brief interaction is constructed would lead one to surmise that the SOFTWARE is not what is protected/IP/sold to you... it is the LICENSE key.

Thus, downloading software should never be an offence.

He paid for the serial, not the software..

[csomar]

Or more precisely, he paid for the license. He can use the serial in multiple computers, but that'd be illegal too.

[rosser]

Actually, IIRC, Adobe's EULA says you can install the software on multiple (up to 2) computers, but only use it on one at any given time.

[streetnigga]

Well for one I think without giving a hash value for the data to be downloaded, say a known good torrent, this can only result in tears for the end user. Adobe pirate releases, notorious for being infected.

But to the point of your comment I would be wary of just considering it downloading. If, again using the bittorrent file transfer idea, you download a copy you could very well be considered to be making available the intellectual property for illegal obtainment. I personally wouldn't want to be stating "support said it was OK" if my ISP or an IP protection firm's lawyers take action. Since Adobe has worked with ISPs to monitor and issue complaints I wouldn't put this out of the realm of possibility.

[samstave]

>"wouldn't want to be stating "support said it was OK""

In this case - does he have an email or chat session proving that support said it was ok?

[znowi]

It is the license that gives you the right to use the software. How you acquire the software is of little importance, as long as you have (and paid for) the license.

It works for Windows as well. It is perfectly legal to use an "illegal" DVD to install the OS, given you have an appropriate license.

[jrockway]

Well, the theory is that you need a license to make a copy of the software when it loads from disk into memory. Depending on your outlook, that could be fair use, and the license is optional. The license removes all ambiguity -- if you agree to these terms, then we won't come after you for making a copy of the software.

In the US, courts have gone both ways.

[kenrikm]

Well, good thing it's so easy to pirate. Older versions only required blocking Adobe servers in your hosts file. The newer ones just need replacement of a single lib. Why do I know this? because I tried to purchase their software and was DENIED "We're sorry but we can't approve your application to purchase Adobe CC.

[mschuster91]

Yeah, and replacing amtlib.dll is something which does not work very well. Crashes all the time.

[kenrikm]

Under OSX it's been completely stable AFAIK, YMMV.