With the release of Adobe’s Creative Suite 2, Adobe Activation became an issue for most users of Adobe’s software, because it only allows for one installation of their software. This meaning that legitimate users, who did buy the copy, wouldn’t be able to install it on, say, their desktop and laptop, so they can work whenever they’re far from home (which should abide to their terms - they don’t allow simultaneous use of 2 copies with 1 license, and that’s pretty much OK).

One other problem would be when a user changes hardware on their machine, or when they suddenly have to re-install their operating systems (consider users of windows, who from time to time have to burn it all down, or OSX users who’ll be upgrading to Tiger next week) - activation will not allow them to re-install their software without a few calls over to Adobe explaining the situation. This is, I need not say it, ridiculous.

One other thing that needs to be pointed out is that Adobe may increase sales because piracy will be brought down with Adobe Activation, but how does that benefit their own customers? If sales go up, and revenue goes up, where’s the price drop? Where does the money go? They’re making more money, but what are they doing with it? They’re not lowering prices on their software, so, someone’s filling up their pockets and getting some new cars.

Companies should probably take this sort of issue into consideration. And if it is about the users after all, shouldn’t they be doing what the users need them to?