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Product Activation Center

Several Adobe products include activation technology that helps prevent unauthorized copying of the software.

Activation is an interactive representation of the license agreement between Adobe and its valued customers. Activation protects the intellectual property and innovation at the heart of the software industry.

Adobe is committed to eliminating unauthorized use of its software in a manner designed to have a minimal impact on licensed users, and since June 2008, has made the activation process even simpler. Versions of Adobe software that incorporate activation are provided under the same license as those that do not include activation.

What happens during activation?

When a customer installs an Adobe software product that requires activation, versions of software released since June 2008 (including Adobe® Acrobat® 9 and Creative Suite® 4 products) will automatically attempt to activate when the application detects a connection to the Internet. The license information will be sent to Adobe and verified without any action needed by the customer.

Activation does not transmit any personally identifiable information, except to the extent that IP addresses may be considered personally identifiable in some jurisdictions, nor does it hinder licensed users' ability to use the software the way they always have under the Adobe product license agreement.

More information on previous software versions