Adobe Considers Withdrawing from Asian Markets

Max Groff writes "This brief ZDNet article (printer-friendly version) describes how Adobe is considering leaving its Asian markets due to the apparently high levels of piracy across the Pacific. This change would not only cut off the marketing of Adobe products to Asian markets, but also halt the development of much of the company's Asian-language software."

Comments

Adobe/Macromedia "Greatest Hits"

[Duke of URL]

A professor at a local US University handed our help desk a CD labeled "Adobe & Macromedia's Greatest Hits, Vol. II"

She wanted us to install Photoshop and Dreamweaver off the disk. The help deskers explained how it was a pirated copy, and how her dept. could legally purchase the software for significant discount for educational purposes. She protested, saying it was legit because she'd paid 5 dollars for it on her travels in Malaysia.

Re:Adobe/Macromedia "Greatest Hits"

[efuseekay]

5 dollars, that makes it about 20 Ringgit Malaysia. Which means she's been scammed! You can buy Adobe Macromedia Vol. II for 7 Ringgit!

Ha! Those western foreigners, so easily scammed!

Costs of Piracy

[mESSDan]

Chizen said in the article that it can cost up to $750,000 to produce a Chinese-language version of a product, and extensive piracy makes it difficult for Adobe to recoup those costs.

That's like selling what, 10 copies of photoshop? ;)

Re:Costs of Piracy

[2nd Post!]

Well, let's see :)
$595 profit per copy translates to 1,260 copies to break even, assuming $5 in distribution and manufacturing costs.

$195 per copy translates to 3847 copies to break a slight profit.

Now, if China's piracy rate is 90% and Adobe isn't breaking even, then, at full price, then 1,260 copies is 10%, meaning then there are about 12,600 copies of Photoshop 6.0 running around. If we're talking $200 versions, then there are 38,470 copies of Photoshop 6.0 running around.

Of course this is all meaningless math games.

Re:Could be an opening for Microsoft...

[rebug]

You betcha! I gave up Premiere and Photoshop for Windows Movie Maker and Paint long ago.

I can't wait until Micrsoft provides all my software!

Really?

[Carnage4Life]

She protested, saying it was legit because she'd paid 5 dollars for it on her travels in Malaysia.

This is a great example of the wackiness of intellectual property law as it applies to software, in the eyes of most consumers. Because, for just about anything else except software, she'd be right!

Cool, if I'm ever pulled over by a cop and have a happen to have some marijuana or hashish on me, I'll just tell him I bought it in Amsterdam since it's legal there and I paid for it fair and square.

That should keep me out of jail.

Adobe's Racism.

[Anonymous Coward]

This is nothing but racial profiling. Adobe is trying to keep the Asian man down. This is no way to be showin' props to MLK on his B-day weekend.

oh no!

[Suppafly]

Then how are we supposed to be able to buy or download cheap pirated versions of adobe software in the US??

There! That'll teach 'em not to be poor!

[cryptochrome]

How dare they not pay for software like Photoshop, especially when it's at the eminently reasonable price of $600! The nerve!