James,
Sure, you can do that. However, if you should install Photoshop on a 2nd PC, such as a laptop or on a PC where you work, then the intent is that you are allowed to use it at any given time on one PC exclusively. That is, if Photoshop is open and running on one PC, it should not be running on the other. That’s what the license says, just as road signs say "Speed Limit ##". 😉
Daryl
I have called Adobe on this and have had two people tell me that I do not need another license for this, and others at Adobe have told me the opposite.
The eula states that I can install and use it on one computer (and on another computer for my own exclusive use when the first computer does not have Photoshop running.) Note that the eula uses the phrase "exclusive use" only when talking about the second computer. Yet some at Adobe say that the phrase "exclusive use" really applies to the first computer as well. In other words, they say that only the register user is allowed to use the software at any time.
The same would apply to other Adobe products. So (if what some at Adobe have said is correct) a father cannot go out and buy Adobe Photoshop Elements for the whole family to use on one computer. Instead, if he has a wife and three children say, he has to get five licenses for everyone to use the software – even if the famly owns only one computer.
Can anyone shed some further light on this?
James…
I think you are getting a bit too deep into this… Come on now… Install the software and enjoy it. Should you be using photoshop on a laptop while at the same time a family member decides to use it on your desktop… I really don’t think you have to worry about any black helicopters landing on your front lawn to arrest you! (grin)
Good on you for trying to be honest. But let’s not get nuts here. You paid for the software. Use it as you feel comfortable. But really… if you are on the road with your laptop, and you wish to use photoshop… are you REALLY going to call home first to see if anyone is using it there??
Relax… you are worrying about nothing.
Happy photoshopping!
Glen in Orlando
James,
Perhaps the best thing to say, is that I think it is very unlikely that Adobe would ever attempt to prosecute anyone for allowing others in their family to use an Adobe product on the single PC to which it was installed, regardless of whether it was also installed on a 2nd "exclusive use" PC. If you think about it, doing such things would require them to monitor each PC on which their products are installed and that would not only be rather difficult, but also invasive to a degree that it would likely create a user backlash. Further, they’d have to be able to monitor who is using the PC, and that is even less likely to occur. Adobe’s greatest concerns are those who casually pirate their software to others, hence their implementing product activation to help curb that, as well as those who more deliberately attempt to pirate or sell bootleg software on a larger scale. Other than that, I think the only time you’d really find them showing much concern about invididual installations, is on a corporate level, should some company attempt to run more licenses than what their volume license allows.
For a home-use PC, I believe it is reasonable to say that any Adobe product is being installed as a site-licensed product rather than as a single-user license.
Regards,
Daryl
Yet some at Adobe say that the phrase "exclusive use" really applies to the first computer as well
If this is true (I doubt it) then it is garbage. What about a business where there is a night shift … Adobe expects two copies of PS on the computer. How about a Kinkos? Will they have to buy a new license for every person who wants to rent a computer to use Photoshop?
I think someone at Adobe is giving you a wrong interpretation of the EULA.
As for "exclusive use" for the second installation, I could see a clever lawyer beating that in court by saying that allowing a child to use the computer when you are not on it is a use you are making of the license.
Finally, what Daryl said is correct. Adobe is not going to object in any way. They just want to prevent people from buying one copy of the software and having dozens of users in a business or school using it.
Let’s sprinkle some reality here…
James is the only one who is really going to be using Photoshop. When he is away from the computer, his kids are not going to be using Photoshop. They’ll be on MySpace and IM’ing with pedophiles. He has nothing to worry about. 🙂
