The US government is taking legal action against Adobe for allegedly engaging in deceptive practices related to its subscription services. According to the Department of Justice, Adobe has been accused of enrolling customers in expensive subscription plans without clearly disclosing important terms and conditions. This has resulted in harm to consumers who may be unaware of the costs associated with their subscriptions.
The lawsuit claims that Adobe hides crucial information, such as early termination fees, in the fine print and behind optional textboxes and hyperlinks. Customers who attempt to cancel their subscriptions are reportedly faced with a complicated and burdensome process that includes navigating through multiple webpages and pop-ups. Additionally, customers who try to cancel over the phone or via live chat may experience dropped calls or disconnected chats, further complicating the cancellation process.
The Department of Justice also named Adobe executives Maninder Sawhney and David Wadhwani in the lawsuit, alleging that they were involved in the deceptive practices. The FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection director, Samuel Levine, expressed frustration with companies like Adobe that make it difficult for consumers to cancel subscriptions after signing up.
Adobe’s shift from selling software for lifetime use to subscription-based services in 2012 has been a point of contention for many users, particularly creatives who rely on Adobe products like Photoshop and Illustrator for their work. The subscription model has often been criticized for its high costs and the difficulty of canceling services.
This legal action against Adobe is part of a broader trend of increased regulatory scrutiny of the company. In 2022, Adobe’s attempted acquisition of Figma was abandoned due to antitrust concerns raised by European regulators. These recent developments highlight the importance of transparency and consumer protection in the digital services industry.