Adobe Is Suing Forever 21 For Stealing Photoshop

In a suit filed this week in California District Court, the software company Adobe, in addition to the slightly less well-known companies Autodesk and Corel, claim that Forever 21 has “willfully, intentionally and maliciously” been using unauthorized versions of their programs.

This news is hardly surprising: Forever 21 has a lengthy history of cutting corners, though usually the people hurt by those cost-saving decisions are employees (or designers whose work they copy). As The Verge points out, this new suit alleges that Forever 21 did not use “adequate licenses” for the products Adobe, Autodesk and Corel produces, which range from Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to Autodesk CAD to Corel Paintshop Pro. In case you’re not familiar, these are all design programs, and costly ones at that; the licenses big companies use for their employees can get really pricey. While previously a CD was required to install these products, online licensing has meant that people have found new, creative ways to pirate and share them.

Adobe, Autodesk and Corel allege that:

…without Plaintiffs’ authorization, Defendants have: (a) copied and reproduced certain of the Adobe Products, Autodesk Products, and Corel Products; and (b) circumvented technological measures that effectively control access to the Adobe Products, Autodesk Products, and Corel Products (collectively, the “Access Control Technology”).

The Verge notes that Adobe etc. “has thoroughly documented [Forever 21’s violations], providing registration numbers and dates for each instance.” Adobe, Autodesk and Corel also say that Forever 21 “continued their infringing activities even after being contacted by Adobe regarding the infringement.” The companies are asking for damages and attorney’s fees. Oh and that Forever 21 cease using the pirated programs. Makes sense.