bought software - now have licensing problems
I am trying to get to the bottom of this.
Last year I bought Adobe "Master Collection" CS4 from a website.
The site had an faq not very unlike the one on THIS site:
http://adobeoem.com/pages/FAQ.html
and a price tag for the software very close to this:
http://adobeoem.com/software/Download-Adobe-Creative-Suite-5-Master-Collection.html
These are HUGE discounts on the software.
They go on to explain that the reason they can do this is because the software is OEM....that the manuals and installation CD's are NOT included, thus reducing the cost significantly.
Is what this site is doing LEGAL?
What recourse might I have against them if they are not legal?
The bottom line is.....I paid for software that I now am not able to use. And even though I enjoyed deep discounts....I still DID pay $349 for it, which is no small thing for me.
As you might imagine....this really pissed / pisses me off.
Adobe Support says they can't help. They say that (the now defunct) rdiscounter.com website where I originally purchased the software was not an authorized reseller.
So I was like, "great they're off the hook because rdiscounter was not an authorized reseller!"
Like I said....I just want to find-out what recourse I might have.
Last year I bought Adobe "Master Collection" CS4 from a website.
The site had an faq not very unlike the one on THIS site:
http://adobeoem.com/pages/FAQ.html
and a price tag for the software very close to this:
http://adobeoem.com/software/Download-Adobe-Creative-Suite-5-Master-Collection.html
These are HUGE discounts on the software.
They go on to explain that the reason they can do this is because the software is OEM....that the manuals and installation CD's are NOT included, thus reducing the cost significantly.
Is what this site is doing LEGAL?
What recourse might I have against them if they are not legal?
The bottom line is.....I paid for software that I now am not able to use. And even though I enjoyed deep discounts....I still DID pay $349 for it, which is no small thing for me.
As you might imagine....this really pissed / pisses me off.
Adobe Support says they can't help. They say that (the now defunct) rdiscounter.com website where I originally purchased the software was not an authorized reseller.
So I was like, "great they're off the hook because rdiscounter was not an authorized reseller!"
Like I said....I just want to find-out what recourse I might have.
meko72
At this point there is nothing really you can do except to report them and go back to Adobe and buy a "Regular License"
Here is the domain registrant info.
Sounds like he is from Russia. Probably not much you can do from here. But there are some phone numbers. Maybe try calling them.
Of course it will probably be like those credit card commercials....
Idari Yonetici / Registrant
(Admin)
Ad / Name Alexey Rastov
Adres kvartal Aviagorodok d.3 kv.64 Bataysk Rostovskaya oblast 346880
Tel +7.8632904000
Faks +7.8632904000
E-posta e-posta gizlidir
Guncelleme / Updated
Teknik Yetkili / Tech
Ad gizli
Ad / Name Alexey Rastov
Adres kvartal Aviagorodok d.3 kv.64 Bataysk Rostovskaya oblast 346880
Tel +7.8632904000
Faks +7.8632904000
E-posta e-posta gizlidir
Guncelleme / Updated
Muhasebe Yetkilisi / Billing
Ad gizli
Ad / Name Alexey Rastov
Adres kvartal Aviagorodok d.3 kv.64 Bataysk Rostovskaya oblast 346880
Tel +7.8632904000
Faks +7.8632904000
E-posta e-posta gizlidir
Guncelleme / Updated
Sounds like he is from Russia. Probably not much you can do from here. But there are some phone numbers. Maybe try calling them.
Of course it will probably be like those credit card commercials....
Idari Yonetici / Registrant
(Admin)
Ad / Name Alexey Rastov
Adres kvartal Aviagorodok d.3 kv.64 Bataysk Rostovskaya oblast 346880
Tel +7.8632904000
Faks +7.8632904000
E-posta e-posta gizlidir
Guncelleme / Updated
Teknik Yetkili / Tech
Ad gizli
Ad / Name Alexey Rastov
Adres kvartal Aviagorodok d.3 kv.64 Bataysk Rostovskaya oblast 346880
Tel +7.8632904000
Faks +7.8632904000
E-posta e-posta gizlidir
Guncelleme / Updated
Muhasebe Yetkilisi / Billing
Ad gizli
Ad / Name Alexey Rastov
Adres kvartal Aviagorodok d.3 kv.64 Bataysk Rostovskaya oblast 346880
Tel +7.8632904000
Faks +7.8632904000
E-posta e-posta gizlidir
Guncelleme / Updated
Sounds like you got some pirated software. You could report the company to your local BBB or the BBB in their state and file complaints with the attorney general.
You're not alone companies have found themselves in trouble with piracy as well.
http://www.hgexperts.com/article.asp?id=6418
You're not alone companies have found themselves in trouble with piracy as well.
http://www.hgexperts.com/article.asp?id=6418
Companies who found themselves in hot water typically did not have a solid program for auditing or enforcing their own rules or the terms of their software licenses. Meyers Industries (http://www.allbusiness.com/legal/trial-procedure-fines-penalties/10230097-1.html), Taney Cunningham Equipment (http://www.bsa.org/country/News%20and%20Events/News%20Archives/en/2009/en-03312009-taney.aspx), Nuvelo, Inc. (http://www.bsa.org/country/News%20and%20Events/News%20Archives/en/2009/en-03242009-calisettlement.aspx), Graham Downes Architecture, Inc. (), Styles for Less, Inc. () and Web US Mail (), all have written checks they would rather have not written for software license violations. They spent money on lawyers, auditors and fines that could have been spent on pay raises, equipment upgrades or even paid to investors as profits.
If you brought this software with your Credit card Then I would check to see if you have buyers protecion but if its been a year it might be hard.
I wouldnt try calling him, it probably fake. I would report it to the BSA.org
I wouldnt try calling him, it probably fake. I would report it to the BSA.org
I dont think that the Better Business Bureau would work since this site is not on US, Canda soil.
ASKER
This has been a painful lesson, emotionally and financially.
And it wasn't like the software was free. It was still a tidy sum I paid. I just figured I'd stumbled upon this awesome site that sold the software for (sorta) cheap because of the nature of the software (no manuals, no CDs). Seemed to make sense. And I know Adobe allows you to download and try their software and purchase a license. This seemed like the same deal.
I guess if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
And it wasn't like the software was free. It was still a tidy sum I paid. I just figured I'd stumbled upon this awesome site that sold the software for (sorta) cheap because of the nature of the software (no manuals, no CDs). Seemed to make sense. And I know Adobe allows you to download and try their software and purchase a license. This seemed like the same deal.
I guess if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
ASKER
So.....what about the links to this other site I posted?????
Are they also a scam?
Are they also a scam?
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Judging by the fact that adobeoem.com built their site to look JUST like Adobe.com, I would say it too is a scam.
They are trying to deceive people into buying their products.
Don't do it! Resist! Resist!!!!!!!!
They are trying to deceive people into buying their products.
Don't do it! Resist! Resist!!!!!!!!
Yeah BBB is not going to do much good unless a company has a presence in the US. You might report them to the FBI. I always feel better making some sort of complaint.
When caught the FBI does make companies pay.
http://washingtondc.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel10/wfo052810.htm
When caught the FBI does make companies pay.
http://washingtondc.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel10/wfo052810.htm
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ASKER
Is there any way to tell if
rdiscounter.com
is now doing business as someone else? Did they close up shop and are at it again under a new domain name?
rdiscounter.com
is now doing business as someone else? Did they close up shop and are at it again under a new domain name?
@knowlton
I am sure they cover their tracks well. You might need to call the A-team for this one.
I am sure they cover their tracks well. You might need to call the A-team for this one.
ASKER
>>> call the A-team for this one.
LOL...
Indeed!
LOL...
Indeed!
ASKER
I've been e-mailing back and forth with someone at adobe on this.
He asked me for the serial number for the software.
That might be possible if rdiscounter.com had not closed it's doors, I suppose.
He asked me for the serial number for the software.
That might be possible if rdiscounter.com had not closed it's doors, I suppose.
@knowlton Can we help with anything else?
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ASKER
thx