- Title: Venezuela designers turn to piracy after Adobe announces it will cut service
- Date: 10th October 2019
- Summary: POSA WORKING AT HIS COMPUTER VARIOUS OF ADOBE WEBSITE LOGOS OF ADOBE SOFTWARE
- Embargoed: 24th October 2019 01:32
- Keywords: Adobe Venezuela sanctions U.S. software developer designers products
- Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- Country: Venezuela
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA002B0DN1HJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Venezuelans desperately explored piracy workarounds on Tuesday (October 8) to continue using Adobe programs after the software developer said it will cut access to its products for the country's users, citing U.S. sanctions.
Critics said the move demonstrated the unintended consequences of the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration.
San Jose, California-based Adobe Inc., whose products like Photoshop and InDesign are widely used by designers, illustrators and digital marketers, said on Monday (October 7)it was "deactivating all accounts in Venezuela" to comply with the sanctions, which are part of Washington's effort to oust socialist President Nicolas Maduro.
A slew of Venezuelan creative professionals took to social media to argue that Adobe's move would have a devastating impact on freelance designers and marketers, who are already struggling with a hyperinflationary economic collapse.
Adobe said its software will stop working in Venezuela on Oct 28.
Critics of U.S. policy toward Venezuela pointed to Adobe's announcement as the latest example of how the Trump administration's steady escalation of sanctions has hurt ordinary people without succeeding in ousting Maduro, who is accused of corruption and human rights violations.
(Production: Efrain Otero, Liamar Ramos) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: Footage contains computer game or software screenshots. User is responsible for obtaining additional clearances before publishing this clip.
