CS4 student licensing/registration... whoops I'm not a student

mellowshipslinky

I just got my mits on a copy of CS4 design premium, at a much reduced price thanks to my wonderful friend and her student discount. I, of course, have to register this copy in order to get the serial numbers to activate it. I am now 6 months a graduate, so I imagine adobe wouldn't really like me using their student licensing anymore... but I don't know if they have any way of finding out, or if they even do anything or care, when the person who registered the product isn't the the same as the one who purchased it.

So I'm wondering... can I register using my name and information? Or do I have to use my friend's name? Would I have to use her name AND her info, or could I use her name then my own info (address etc)? They do ask for your graduation year, which is what started me wondering about all this.

Thylacine

While I haven't bought it, I imagine it doesn't really matter. I can't think that they would go check up on the school status of every single person to buy their product. As far as I know, the checking that they do is at the purchase of the product...I think you can only buy it at a school store if you're a currently enrolled student.

The biggest thing is that the student version is sold with the agreement that you will not use it to make a profit. If you're using this professionally but freelanced I don't know how easy or hard it is to get caught. Also, you may not be able to upgrade or if you do upgrade it will probably be close to the cost of the full product.

mellowshipslinky

hrm. I would technically be using this for work. I am one of two people at my office that prefers using a mac, but I've been forced to use a PC because they didn't have software for my mac at work. Switching back and forth between my mac at home and a pc at work is driving me insane, because my key commands are getting all messed up, and I just kinda hate PCs. So I figured this would be a decent solution to my problems.

I got a student copy of CS1 for my mom way back when, and I believe she registered it under her own name... suppose I'll ask her about it.

The whole upgrading thing is an interesting issue to bring up though. I might have to investigate that.

Jasconius

As long as you aren't using it to make a commercial product you are fine.

If your work is going somewhere for a business profit then technically you need a full license. If you are just playing around or learning, then Adobe won't really care if you have an educational license.


Adobe probably won't come at your door with pitchforks if you do use it for a commercial product, but if you ever get audited, they will want to see paper trails for your software and an educational license will raise eyebrows.

MushroomStick

My understanding is that Adobe has no stipulations about not using student versions to pull a profit. Also, if the educational versions can't be upgraded, that's a new thing.

burntheladle

From memory, when I looked into getting a student version of adobe, you had to send in a copy of your student id to register it... This was awhile ago though, so I could be misremembering?

supabeast

If you are doing this at work, your employer needs to pay for the software. Using it for commercial work without paying the commercial rate is unethical at best; and on the off-chance your employer is hit by the BSA with a licensing audit, it could be costly.

mellowshipslinky

burntheladle wrote: »

From memory, when I looked into getting a student version of adobe, you had to send in a copy of your student id to register it... This was awhile ago though, so I could be misremembering?

Well, I just went with my friend to our university's bookstore, which is when she presented her ID. When I go to the registration page, it has a field where you can enter your student number, but it's not required. If you purchase it elsewhere or not in person, then maybe that's when you have to send a copy of your ID?

mellowshipslinky

supabeast wrote: »

If you are doing this at work, your employer needs to pay for the software. Using it for commercial work without paying the commercial rate is unethical at best; and on the off-chance your employer is hit by the BSA with a licensing audit, it could be costly.

Hm, maybe I'll uninstall the CS3 on my laptop and switch it to my work computer, then put this student cs4 on my laptop. I primarily use my laptop for personal projects, aside from the occasional days I work from home.

Zeon

Did you tell your boss what youre planning to do? I think my boss would probably fire me if he found out i did something like that, because the fine for having improperly licenced/pirated software is a whole fucking lot more than the cost of a commercial copy of CS4.

Seriously i think youre missing the point that what youre doing here is technically illegal and can get your company into a lot of shit.

MushroomStick

Everything I can find online, even faqs on Adobe's website, say that the only difference between a student license and any other license they offer is that you have to be a student or faculty to buy it. It can be upgraded and used the same as any other personal/commercial/volume/etc... licenses.

That being said, if this is going on a work computer, why the hell do you need to pay for it? I don't care if the software only costs $5, your boss should be footing the bill.

Hypatia

I could be wrong, but my understanding of it is that Adobe offers those educational ones at the universities without any kinds of stipulations. You don't have to be the person who bought it to use it or register it, just use your regular name.

The way that they make up for this is that each student and/or faculty is only allowed to purchase 1 copy of that software, to prevent people from selling it. So if your friend bought a copy and gave it to you, just register it as yourself. Just know that she can't buy a copy for herself now, she'd have to buy a different version/product.

Topweasel

mellowshipslinky wrote: »

supabeast wrote: »

If you are doing this at work, your employer needs to pay for the software. Using it for commercial work without paying the commercial rate is unethical at best; and on the off-chance your employer is hit by the BSA with a licensing audit, it could be costly.

Hm, maybe I'll uninstall the CS3 on my laptop and switch it to my work computer, then put this student cs4 on my laptop. I primarily use my laptop for personal projects, aside from the occasional days I work from home.

People like you bug me. Under no circumstances should an un licensed or self-owned licensed software go on a work computer. A.) If its important and needed your work should pay for it, if they won't then you don't need it. B.) You don't like to use a PC, well deal with it. Most business's use PC's. Really Really hate them then why lower your standards. Find a job that allows you to use a Mac.

Final point if you hate using a PC. Why would you install your private copy of your newer (cooler) software on the machine you hate.


p.s. Leave the legal software on the work PC and leave the student version on the home lptp. It will never be part of an audit and no one will know you did any work on it.