To help you stay compliant, here are some answers to frequently asked questions about Adobe® Acrobat® licensing.
Yes, with some important restrictions. You may install and use (including processing files for other people) Acrobat on a single computer. Once installed, you may use the software to create, view, manipulate, secure, and/or print PDF files for yourself or for others. However, you may not allow other people or computers to: (1) access or use the software via an internal network (even if such people or computers are taking advantage of Acrobat network features such as "watched folders") unless such users also have valid licenses or (2) access or use the software through any other network resource (such as the Internet or other public network). In addition, you may not automate any function or feature of the software (including but not limited to the creation, viewing, manipulation, securing, or printing of PDF files from your computer) if such automation processes requests from other unlicensed users and/or machines (including, without limitation, automation through use of scripts and batch processing).
Yes, with some important restrictions. Acrobat is licensed per computer, so you or other people may use the copy of Acrobat installed on that workstation. However, you may not allow other people or computers to: (1) access or use the software via an internal network (even if such people or computers are taking advantage of Acrobat network features such as "watched folders") unless such users also have valid licenses or (2) access or use the software through any other network resource (such as via the Internet or other public network). In addition, you may not automate any function or feature of the software (including but not limited to the creation, viewing, manipulation, securing or printing of PDF files from your computer) if such automation processes requests from other unlicensed users and/or machines (including, without limitation, automation through use of scripts and batch processing).
Yes, provided that (1) such use is limited to licensed users on your internal network and (2) you procure a license for each such user that accesses, uses, or otherwise receives beneficial use of such software. No other network use is permitted. Alternatively, you can purchase an Acrobat Distiller® Server license for Microsoft® Windows® NT®, Solaris™, or Linux®. Distiller Server software is available in two versions: 100 user and unlimited user. The Distiller Server license permits up to 100 users (or unlimited, as applicable) within your internal network to access and use the Distiller Server software. However, you cannot purchase one copy of Acrobat and allow unlicensed users to share Acrobat Distiller over a network.
Under the terms of the End-User License Agreement, you can use the Acrobat Distiller watched folders on a network to automatically distill Adobe PostScript® files into Adobe PDF files only if you have purchased either one license of Acrobat for every user who needs to access Acrobat Distiller or one license of Acrobat Distiller Server for each set of 100 nonconcurrent users using a specific enterprise local or wide-area network. Once you create a PostScript file, you can send it over the network to the Acrobat Distiller watched folder and Acrobat Distiller automatically converts the file into an Adobe PDF file. You can even set up your PostScript file destination to be the watched folder, which makes the process even more convenient.
You can use Acrobat Distiller to create Adobe PDF files in a document management system as long as each user who is converting files is licensed to use Acrobat. You can also purchase an Acrobat Distiller Server license for each set of 100 nonconcurrent users who require access to the document management system.
The term "internal network" is intended to refer to a private, proprietary network resource accessible only by employees and/or contractors working for a specific corporation or similar business entity. The term "internal network" specifically excludes the Internet or any other network community open to the public, including, without limitation, membership- or subscription-driven groups, associations, or similar organisations.
Yes, provided that such user has authorized access to the internal network. Adobe considers connection by secure links to your internal network, such as VPN or dial-up, to be the same as a direct connection to your internal network.
No. Users outside your internal network may not use your installed copy of Acrobat, or Acrobat Distiller Server, as applicable, including, without limitation, using such software (1) either directly or through commands, data or instructions (e.g., scripts and/or batch processing) from or to a computer not part of your internal network or (2) via Internet or Web-hosted services.
Yes, provided that (1) such use is limited to authorized computers on your internal network and (2) you procure a license for each such user (or computer, as applicable) that accesses, uses, or otherwise submits requests to your workstation. No other network use is permitted. Alternatively, you can purchase an Acrobat Distiller® Server license for Windows NT, Solaris, or Linux. Distiller Server software is available in two versions: 100 user and unlimited user. The Distiller Server license permits up to 100 users (or unlimited, as applicable) within your internal network to access and use the Distiller Server software
No, you may not use Acrobat as a component in a broader automated document fulfillment process that ultimately results in the delivery of a PDF file outside the internal network. However, you may use Acrobat Distiller Server (unlimited version) as a component of a broader automated document fulfillment process that ultimately results in the delivery of an Adobe PDF file outside the internal network, provided that any Adobe PDF file you create and deliver to a recipient outside the internal network must be distilled from a source document you have created and not from source materials submitted to you from a source outside the internal network (such as .ps, .doc, .ppt, or similar file format).
For example: Acceptable: A customer requests a document service from a licensee (such as a .ps, .doc, .ppt, or similar file format). The licensee's Web server receives the request, builds a customized source document to satisfy customer's document request, and as a last step in the process, creates an Adobe PDF file to be routed in accordance with the customer's instructions.
Not acceptable: A customer requests a document service from a licensee and, in connection with such request, submits source materials (such as a .ps, .doc, .ppt, or similar file format). The licensee's Web server receives the request, creates an Adobe PDF file from the file submitted by customer, and routes such PDF file in accordance with the customer's instructions.
Yes. The unlimited user version of Acrobat Distiller Server is licensed "per CPU." This means that you must have a license for each processor of the machine on which you intend to run the software. On a single processor system, you'll need one copy of the software. On a dual-processor system, you'll need two copies of the software; on a three-processor system, three copies of the software, and so on.
You can view the End-User License Agreement supplements for the software online.
Fonts are also intellectual property, with End-User License Agreement terms that need to be abided by.
