Abobe CS2 Suite for Free

[iamVFX]

How I prove that my key was generated by Adobe and not by a keygen, if you know what I mean?

Especially when there's one key for all http://www.peeep.us/9bfbec14

[mattmos]

Secondary download links, handy!

http://noelchenier.blogspot.ca/2013/01/ ... -free.html

[Hirazi Blue]

This seems to be official (?)
(and I edited my post just for this,
so it now doesn't include the part iamVFX quotes in his reply!):

http://forums.adobe.com/message/4974662#4974662

On behalf of Adobe Systems Incorporated ...

You have heard wrong! Adobe is absolutely not providing free copies of CS2!

What is true is that Adobe is terminating the activation servers for CS2 and that for existing licensed users of CS2 who need to reinstall their software, copies of CS2 that don't require activation but do require valid serial numbers are available. (Special serial numbers are provided on the page for each product download.) See <http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1114930>.

You are only legally entitled to download and install with that serial number if you have a valid license to the product!

The person quoted here, Dov Isaacs, apparently works for Adobe (linkedin)

[iamVFX]

it’s quite obvious, someone at Adobe made a mistake and one of his/her interns will be out of a job by now...

But they wrote they were aware about that

Quote from Adobe employee:

Yea CaptainSmingey we are aware that the software is available for all users with an Adobe ID. Please keep in mind that due to the age of these software titles it is likely that they will not function properly on modern operating systems.

[TwinSnakes007]

Man, I wonder how all this will play out. Every 'tech' site I know covered this story as "Free CS2". The direct links are in the wild as well and are still functional because the host server directory that host the files is still unprotected.

The CS2 suite sells for over $1k on Amazon right now.

[iamVFX]

Here's the keys from my villa on the beach, you can go there and have fun, but remember: you better not enter it or I call the police!

[TwinSnakes007]

From an Adobe employee:

The Adobe execs are preparing an official statement concerning what happened today, and it will be released shortly to the public.

Edit:

Adobe has admitted the error in the information provided. After the news got released to CBS, El Reg, Gizmodo, and Forbes, they realized the cat was out of the bag.

The keys provided on the direct download site work fine. There is no documentation in the process to inform you that you must have a registered copy of CS2 and they acknowledge that mistake. The activation servers are no longer online and the keys provided are standalone offline activation for universal installations.

Adobe's reps have said that they realize this was a bit of a mishandled situation, but they also don't have any way to track who has the files or whom installs them. They do not intend to take any action on this.

They do ask that you do not upload the files to other sites or post on torrents. If you're going to download the files, please do so directly form Adobe to ensure secure files free of any nastiness.

[Bullit]

Well it seems Adobe will pretend nothing happened letting everyone in the limbo.
After all there wasn't nothing to say the download was illegal for those with Adobe ID.

There is also the maybe curious fact that Adobe After Effects CS2 was not in the list of available applications...

[Hirazi Blue]

@TwinSnakes007 - Could you please add a source to your final (edited in) quote? The part saying

Adobe's reps have said that they realize this was a bit of a mishandled situation, but they also don't have any way to track who has the files or whom installs them. They do not intend to take any action on this

is of some importance, as it seems to be missing from the only "official" statement I have been able to find so far (see below). And the legality of usage for those who have already downloaded and installed it before Adobe figured out its mistake is as of yet unclear.
That said, the download page is back up again without any additional text to restrict the "unauthorized" usages of the software. Bizarre...

Effective December 13, Adobe disabled the activation server for CS2 products and Acrobat 7 because of a technical glitch. These products were released over 7 years ago and do not run on many modern operating systems. But to ensure that any customers activating those old versions can continue to use their software, we issued a serial number directly to those customers. While this might be interpreted as Adobe giving away software for free, we did it to help our customers.

(Source: blogs.adobe.com)

Not because I doubt your quote, BTW, just because these kinds of statements are important enough to be sourced!

Yet another pointless update:
According to electronista.com Adobe apparently/quite probably views the downloads as "pirated versions".

In response to the unexpected pirating, the company will now verify that users have existing CS2 licenses when downloaders attempt to create an Adobe account to download the software. However, pirated versions of the activation-less versions will likely have gone viral in the interim.

A great PR move, I'd say.

[iamVFX]

Now you can download it here without Adobe ID: http://www.adobe.com/downloads/cs2_downloads/index.html

While you see official keys and download links, you can't use them, it's illegal and unethical

[luceric]

it's funny and disappointing that on the web now people feel justified to download the DRM free cs2 mirrored on third party sites, as though it is more legal than the cs6 on other pirates sites.

[origin]

Just read the installer's license. I did a quick look at it and it seems its the same license as usual - if you obtained the software and serial keys from official adobe site, you're a legal owner...
I think Adobe made a mistake putting this online, it's weird they don't take down links/turn this into some we're-cool-corporation-here-try-our-products campaign
instead they post on forums if the software is legal to use or not - lol.

[iamVFX]

it's funny and disappointing that on the web now people feel justified to download the DRM free cs2 mirrored on third party sites

What's about first party site, i.e. Adobe site? If I download it from Adobe page and use their key will I become a pirate? Is Adobe the new Pirate Bay?

[TwinSnakes007]

Like I've said all along. It's all a marketing plow IMO. Its not a coincidence that an advertisement for CS6 in the Cloud is at the top of the page.

[luceric]

it's funny and disappointing that on the web now people feel justified to download the DRM free cs2 mirrored on third party sites

What's about first party site, i.e. Adobe site? If I download it from Adobe page and use their key will I become a pirate? Is Adobe the new Pirate Bay?

nobody going is going to court or going to get arrested over this, but in my opinion that "gotcha!" logic wouldn't hold in court because you have made no transaction with Adobe or any legal allowed entity to obtain a license of this software. The serial number is not anything legal, it's just something to facilitate tracking. You can have serial numbers without having a license, for example if the license has been revoked or if you upgraded.

[iamVFX]

The serial number is not anything legal, it's just something to facilitate tracking.

I did a quick look at it and it seems its the same license as usual - if you obtained the software and serial keys from official adobe site, you're a legal owner...

Well, I don't know what to think then